Bethel A.M.E. Church
PO Box 62
196 North Main St
Port Deposit, MD 21904
 
Pastor Rev. Michael Thompson
Church:   410 378-4828
Fax:         410 378-2177
Pastor:    443 612-0514
Hall:       410 378-3745
 
Services:    Sunday Morning Study 10am
             Morning Service 11am

BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HISTORY 1911~PRESENT
 

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church located at 196 North Main Street in Port Deposit, Maryland was the first missionary work of Rev. Jeremiah Miner. Bishop Richard Allen sent Rev. Miller to Cecil County, in 1818 while attending the second Baltimore Annual Conference.

The first church was established in 1848 from praying mission meeting at the home of Rachel Gibson. Later from this group emerged William Griffin, Henry (Pop) Hall, Ed Vance, John (Pop) Sears and his wife, Soloman Tillman, Pop Young, Jerry LaRue, Cassi~ Martin, Frances Hughes, Ellen Thomas, Thomas & Mary Ringgold, Henry Jones, Plato Hilton, Ruthie Grayson and Lewis Smith who were the first members of Bethel. Rev. George Boddy and Evangelist Viner Scott visited them regularly.

After the mission was well under way, the Rev. John Wesley Martin was the first minister to take charge. In the summer of 1877, in Patterson Woods, a great camp meeting was held and many were added to the church. At a revival held at the first church by the late Bishop Wayman, 103 persons were concerted at one time excepting Christ in their life.

To make room for the Tome School, (now known as the Tome Institute) and 4s property, the first church Bethel Hollow was sold by the Trustees of Bethel Port Deposit and the Trustees of Mt. Zoar Conowingo for the sum of $2,900.00. These were lots 6 and 24 that were sold.

The congregation held meetings in a tent for a number of years in the winter they would meet in the Church Hall while the second church was being built. It was completed in 1911.

During the pastorate of Rev. J. R. Nelson the new addition was built onto the back of the church.

In Rev. M. B. Simpson's administration, land was purchased next to the church.

During the tenure of Rev. Rufus L. Bond, who served from 1950 to 1968 the present church was completely gutted and destroyed by fire on November 6, 1966, except the four stonewalls which remained standing. The church was insured for $13,00.00.

It was necessary then to hold services at the Church Hall at Rock Run, which was later destroyed by fire. It was imperative then that services be moved back into Bethel Church that was in the rebuilding process. The building had only the four stonewalls, sub Roor, roof and windows.

Rev. Leo Anderson came the first Sunday in December 1968. During his tenure, Bethel Church's building process was now completed. The old parsonage was sold and the new parsonage was purchased.

A loan was requested for $10,00.00 that was denied by Cecil National Bank. Kenneth Stewart had the idea to canvas the community and asked each family to donate $100.00, $50.00 or what they could in the memory 'of deceased love ones. The amount of $738.00 was collected.