Bethel Baptist Church (Birmingham, Alabama) facts for kids
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Bethel Baptist Church, Parsonage, and Guardhouse
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Bethel Baptist Church in 1993
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3233, 3232 and 3236 29th Avenue North, Collegeville, Birmingham, Alabama |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000455 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 5, 2005 |
| Designated NHL | April 05, 2005 |
Bethel Baptist Church is a very important historical church located at 3200 28th Avenue North in the Collegeville area of Birmingham, Alabama. From 1956 to 1961, this church was the main meeting place for the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). This group was led by Fred Shuttlesworth. They worked hard in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement.
The ACMHR used peaceful protests and legal actions. They fought against segregation, which meant keeping people of different races separate. This included separate places for eating, traveling, going to school, and working. The church and its leaders played a big part in the 1961 Freedom Ride. This event helped make sure that public transportation was open to everyone, no matter their race. This was based on decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The church's historic buildings, located nearby on 29th Avenue North, were recognized as important. They were added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on November 13, 1996. Later, on April 5, 2005, they became a National Historic Landmark and were added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, the U.S. Government suggested it to UNESCO. This means it might become a World Heritage Site in the future, along with other important churches like the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and the 16th Street Baptist Church.
History of Bethel Baptist Church
The original church buildings are close to the newer church. The old church was at the corner of 29th Avenue North and 33rd Street North. Its parsonage (where the pastor lived) and a guard house were across 29th Avenue North.
Building the Church
The church building was constructed in 1926. It has a mix of different architectural styles, including Gothic and Renaissance designs. The guard house and the parsonage are simpler, ranch-style homes. The current parsonage was built in 1957. It replaced an earlier one that was next to the church. That first parsonage was damaged by an explosion in 1956.
Fred Shuttlesworth's Leadership
Fred Shuttlesworth was the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church from 1953 to 1961. Under his leadership, the church became a center for civil rights activities. The church buildings faced challenges during this time. They were damaged by explosions on three different occasions. The first time was on December 25, 1956. Another incident happened on June 29, 1958. The last time was on December 14, 1962.
