Old Bethel United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bethel United Methodist Church
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This is Old Bethel United Methodist Church, built about 1797-1798, and moved to Calhoun Street in 1880.
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 222 Calhoun St., Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1797-1798 |
| Architectural style | meetinghouse plan; portico added in 1880s |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001693 |
| Added to NRHP | April 21, 1975 |
Old Bethel United Methodist Church is a very old church in Charleston, South Carolina. You can find it at 222 Calhoun Street. It is the oldest Methodist church building still standing in the city today.
This church was first built around 1797 or 1798. It was for the Bethel Methodist group. After 1854, the building was moved. It was then used by the church's black members. The white members used a new church built that same year. In 1882, the white Bethel Methodist church gave this wooden building to the black church members. They moved it across Calhoun Street in April 1882.
Both the old and new churches were listed as important historical places. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Contents
A Church with a Long History
This building was first built at 55 Pitt Street. This was near Calhoun Street, which was then called Boundary Street. It was built between 1797 and 1798. It served the Bethel Methodist Church. This church was mainly for white members.
The building was a simple meeting house. Black members, both free and enslaved, were part of the Methodist church. They were allowed to sit in the galleries. Sometimes, they had their own worship services.
Important Changes and Protests
In 1818, some black members left the church. They joined Rev. Morris Brown and the Hampstead Church. This church later became known as Emanuel AME Church. It was started around that time in Charleston. This happened after a disagreement with white members at Bethel. The new church was built on the north side of Calhoun Street.
In 1834, some black members at Bethel Methodist protested. They did not like being limited to sitting only in the galleries. Nine members were removed from the church. In protest, 165 other members also left. A church historian from that time said this was a big challenge for Methodism in Charleston.
A New Church Building
As the church grew, the Bethel Methodist group decided to build a new church. This new building was in the Greek Revival style. It was finished in 1854. Before the new church was built, they moved the older wooden building. It was placed at the back of their land. This old building was then used only by the black members who stayed with the church. The new church was used only by white members.
Old Bethel Methodist Church Today
After the American Civil War, the black congregation had a new leader. This was Henry Cardozo. He later became a politician. His brother, Francis Lewis Cardozo, was also famous. He became the Secretary of State of South Carolina. Henry Cardozo also served in government. He was a county auditor and later a state senator.
After the Reconstruction era, in April 1882, the white church officially gave the wooden building to the black congregation. They moved it to Calhoun Street. It got a new address and was renamed Old Bethel Methodist Church. At that time, black churches were not allowed south of Boundary Street. So, they placed it on the north side of Calhoun Street.
After the church was moved, a new front porch was added. This porch has four tall columns. The inside of the church is simple. It still has the galleries where people used to sit.
In 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren joined together. This happened at a meeting in Dallas, Texas. After this, the church was renamed Old Bethel United Methodist Church. The church was fixed up in the 1970s. Today, it is still used by a group of about 200 people.
Both this old building and the 1854 Bethel Methodist Church were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
