Bethel Methodist Church (Bantam, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bethel Methodist Church
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Front and southern side in 2013
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 mile north of Bantam, Ohio, on Elk Lick Road |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1818 |
| Architect | John Collins |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002020 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1978 |
Bethel Methodist Church is a very old Methodist church building. It is located in the countryside of Clermont County, Ohio, United States. This church was built in the early 1800s. A very important Methodist preacher named John Collins helped build it. Even though its original church group is gone, the building is still used today. It hosts special community events. The church and its nearby cemetery are important historic sites.
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What is the History of Bethel Methodist Church?
The first preacher at Bethel was John Collins. He came from New Jersey and moved to the Northwest Territory in 1802. People say he was the first Methodist preacher in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. However, Ohio's oldest Methodist church started in 1797. It was in a preacher's house in Milford.
Collins started many Methodist groups across southern Ohio. These included places like Bantam, Chillicothe, Dayton, Hillsboro, and Lebanon. The group in Bantam began in 1805. They named their church "Bethel." First, they built a church out of logs. But this log church did not last long. The church building you see today replaced it in 1818. Some big changes were made to the church in 1867. But the main part of the 1818 building is still there.
Why Did the Church Close?
The church group stopped meeting in 1968. This happened because the Army Corps of Engineers bought a lot of land. They were creating East Fork State Park. Everyone living in the area had to move away. So, no church members were left to continue worshiping at Bethel.
Today, the building is used only twice a year. A special service is held on Memorial Day. This service is with an American Legion group. Also, a "homecoming" event happens each fall. This event includes a church service.
What Does Bethel Methodist Church Look Like?
Bethel is a simple, local-style building. It is a rectangular building made of wood. The front of the church has a pointed roof, like a house. On top of the church's eastern side is a square bell tower. The church walls are made of overlapping wooden boards called weatherboards. It sits on a strong stone base.
The south side of the church has four sections. Each section has a window with twelve small panes of glass on the top and twelve on the bottom. Around the church is its graveyard. Hundreds of people are buried there. This includes many unknown soldiers. Also, the grandparents of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant are buried here. President Grant grew up in Clermont County.
Why is Bethel Methodist Church a Historic Site?
In 1978, the former Bethel Methodist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It earned this honor for two main reasons. First, its unique architecture is important. Second, it is connected to the famous preacher John Collins.
Close by, you can find another historic place. It is called the Elk Lick Road Mound. This is an ancient mound built by people of the Adena culture.
