|
Bethany Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 1875 at the home of Rene Julian located about one mile south of your present structure by the Rev. W.H. Peoples, a pastor on the Randolph Charge. The charter members were: Solomon and Lucina Allred Redding, Tobias and Phoebe Jester Julian, Joshua Marion and Sallie Julian Routh, Caroline Julian Barker, Sarah Julian Osborne, Rene Julian, Lindsay Julian, L.W. “Bud” Julian, Mary Patterson Julian, Elizabeth Love Julian, Isaac Julian, Esrom Trogdon, John Randolph Brown, Mary Davenport Smith and William Patterson.
The first trustees were Solomon Redding, Tobias Julian and Isaac Julian. In 1876, these men received from Mary Julian Routh, her husband Neese Routh and her brother Lindsay Julian two acres of land to be used as the building place for the church. In 1876 an arbor was erected and Rev. Z.C. Lineberry preached the first sermon in August 1876. Later in the 1870’s, the first church was completed. This was a wooden structure with three windows on each side and faced north-south. It was located about where our front porch and small yard area is today. Rev. W.H. Peoples preached the dedicatory service.
By 1900, membership had soared to over 100 and more space was needed. A new sanctuary was built facing east-west in 1903-04 at the cost of $300. A new pump organ was purchased and Ester Routh (White), daughter of Neese and Mary J. Routh, was the first organist. Claude Routh and John Jenkins dug the first well in 1908 and about the same time, Tom Hayes, Millboro depot agent, gave the church the mantel-type clock that adorns one of the sanctuary walls today. Six classrooms were built on the north side in 1935. Until that time, curtains were drawn across wires to divide the classes within the sanctuary.
In 1939, the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal South and the Methodist Protestant churches joined to form the Methodist Church. From 1921 until 1950 Bethany was on a four church charge with Bethel, Gray’s Chapel and Shiloh. In 1950, Bethany-Gray’s Chapel became a new charge and remained so until the churches went station in the mid 1970’s.
The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethern denominations joined on April 23, 1968 becoming the United Methodist Church.
|
|
Bethany’s History |
|
Serving the community since 1875. |
|
Remodeled in 1953 and again in 1996, Bethany continues to use the santuary built in 1903-04. |
