Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage
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Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Plymouth, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1840; 1870 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000168 |
| Added to NRHP | March 19, 2007 |
The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage is a very old and important church building in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is located at 6 Sever Street. This church is special because it is one of the few African Methodist Episcopal (AME) churches in eastern Massachusetts. The AME Church is a Christian denomination started by African Americans.
The church community began in 1866. The building itself was first built around 1840 for businesses. It became a church in 1870. This historic site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. It is a lasting part of the African-American community in Plymouth.
Contents
About the Bethel AME Church
The Bethel AME Church is just a short walk south of Plymouth's main downtown area. It sits on Sever Street, in a neighborhood with many homes. The church building is a simple, one-and-a-half-story structure made of wood. It has a pointed roof and wooden siding.
The Church's Style
The church building shows a mix of two old architectural styles. These are called Greek Revival and Italianate. You can see this in the columns at the corners and the decorative brackets under the roof. The front of the church looks balanced, with two windows on each side of the main door. These windows have small decorative tops. The front door has a small porch with columns.
The Parsonage House
Behind the church, about 20 feet away, is the parsonage house. A parsonage is a home where the church's pastor or minister lives. This house is also a one-and-a-half-story wooden building. It was built in 1895.
A Place for the Community
The exact year the church building was first built is not known. Maps from 1830 show the land was empty. But by 1858, the building was there. Before it became a church, it was used for many different things. It was a gym, a shoe shop, and even a school.
A New Home for the Congregation
In 1870, the AME church community bought this building. The African-American population in Plymouth was small. In 1850, there were 138 African Americans recorded in the town. Members of this community started the AME church in 1866. They first met in a small house on Billington Street. They needed a bigger place, so they bought the current building.
Pastors and Their Work
Many of the church's pastors were not paid much, or sometimes not at all. They often stayed for only a short time. To support themselves, they would do other jobs in addition to their church duties. This shows their dedication to their religious mission and the community.
See also
