The History of the Bethel United Methodist Church
Submitted by John Smith for The Lawrence Register website
Back in the early 1870s, a group of pioneer Methodists felt the need for a community church where they could come together with their families to worship. They were Redman and Lucinda Lake, John L. and Susan Brammer, William O. and Mary Eaton, Charles and Susan Rose, Peter and Julia Hamlin, Robert T. and Emaline Eaton, Isaac and Lelia Hamlin, Harry and Emma Brammer, John C. Smith, Ann Nichols, Mary Kerr, Fanny Nichols, Jane Booth, and Clara Brammer.
Others were added to the class, and for several years, services were held in the Town House-school house, and the Lord met with them. Their class leader, Charlie Rose, always led the singing, and they did enjoy the old Methodist hymns.
The group was in the Marion Circuit. A pastor and assistant filled preaching. Some early ministers were Hamilton, Donahue, Cherrington, and Patterson.
Photo courtesy of Chesapeake School website
As time passed, some felt they should have a church for the services and not have to meet in the school building. John Brammer and Robert Eaton rendered the task of raising money for a church. They successfully subscribed enough to warrant a building committee appointed to begin the church. The committee was composed of J. D. Hamlin, John L. Brammer, William O. Eaton, Charles Rose, and Robert T. Eaton. Robert T. Eaton gave the land upon which the church now stands.
In the village of Bradrick, Ohio, stood a Methodist Church, at one time the only one between Rome Chapel and Burlington. People from miles around worshipped in this church. As time passed, different communities built churches nearer home so that the congregation of the old Bradrick Chapel had divided, and it had to be closed from lack of support.
The Methodist Conference voted to sell the building, and the Town House Committee bought it for $100.00. William Wiseman moved it from Bradrick to the site it now stands. This was in 1886. The church was named Bethel, meaning House of God, at the suggestion of Robert Eaton and Charles Rose.
There was a minister named Arbuckle on the Proctorville charge who had a wonderful revival in that church, and he was the one who dedicated the old Bradrick Chapel to Bethel Chapel and the Lord.
On July 12, 1936, Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated the golden anniversary of their church with a monumental celebration. A committee consisting of Mrs. Stella Childers, Mrs. Jennie Eaton, Mrs. Rachel Hall, Mrs. Garnet Whitley, the pastor Rev. Carl Hicks, and the Superintendent of the Sunday School, Mrs. Cora Lemley, and Mrs. Stella Smith planned and carried out a wonderful day.
At noon a most elaborate dinner was enjoyed under the beautiful old trees on the lawn. A huge cake with fifty candles was baked and donated by Mrs. Curtis Hicks. One of the first pastors, the Rev. M. L. Alspach, and his wife from Ironton were present.
Greetings were read from the absent ministers by Mrs. Stella Smith, including District Superintendent Robert B. Foster of Portsmouth, Rev. and Mrs. Horace L. Sheldon of Seamon, Ohio, and Mrs. W. H. Tope of Elgin, Ill., Rev. and Mrs. Earle T. Scott of Letart Falls, Ohio.
Special singing was furnished by the 26th St. Baptist Choir and a quartet including Nellie, Stella, Dorothy, and Peggy Cumpton of Huntington, friends of Miss Bessie Hall and whose singing was very touching and spiritual.
The afternoon program was given by Rev. Clifford Suiter, Rev. John Ellis, and Rev. Roscoe Templeton. Songs by Mrs. Etha Wheatley of Huntington, Emma Belle, Carolyn and Johnna Jean Eaton, and Clara Elizabeth Kelley, with Mary Belle Voorhees at the piano. There were recitations from Ralph Hall and Joanna Ray Riley. Mrs. Jennie Eaton and Mrs. Cora Lemley gave church history. Mrs. Mary Gibson sang “The Church by The Side of The Road,” which closed a memorable day.
In 1961 the church building was raised, and educational facilities were built in the basement. There are four classrooms and a fellowship hall.
The church broke away from a three-church charge and had a pastor of its own, Rev. Kinner Vanover of Ironton, Ohio.
From: “Centennial Celebration Bethel United Methodist Church 1886 – 1986”, August 17, 1986.
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