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 historic church building 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 originally for the Bethel Methodist group. After 1854, the building was moved to the back of its lot. 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 churches were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Contents
The Church's Early History
This building was first put up at 55 Pitt Street, near Calhoun Street. This was between 1797 and 1798. It was built for the Bethel Methodist Church. This church was mainly for white members. The building had a simple rectangular shape, like a meeting house. Black members, both free and enslaved, were part of the Methodist church. They were allowed to sit in special areas called galleries. Sometimes, they even had their own worship services.
Changes and Challenges
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 in Charleston around that time. The members had disagreed with the white church about a building being placed on a black burial ground. Emanuel AME Church was later stopped in 1822. This happened after a planned uprising by Denmark Vesey, a leader in that church.
In 1834, some black members at Bethel Methodist protested. They did not like being limited to sitting only in the galleries. Nine members were asked to leave the church. In protest, 165 other members also left. A church historian from the 1800s said this was "the heaviest blow Methodism ever received in Charleston."
A New Church Building
As the church group grew, the Bethel Methodist members 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, the older wooden building was moved. It was placed at the back of their land. This older 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 church group had a new leader. This was Henry Cardozo, a pastor who later became a politician. His brother, Francis Lewis Cardozo, was also important. He was elected as the Secretary of State of South Carolina during the Reconstruction era. Henry Cardozo also served in government. He was the County Auditor for Charleston County. Later, he became a Republican state senator. He served from 1870 to 1874.
In April 1882, the white church officially gave the wooden building to the black church group. They moved it across the corner 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 what was called Boundary Street. So, they placed the church on the north side of Calhoun Street.
After the building was moved, a new front porch, called a portico, was added. It has four tall, fluted columns. These columns have special tops called Corinthian-type capitals. Inside, the church has galleries and a simple finish.
In 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren joined together. This happened at a national meeting in Dallas, Texas. After this, the church was renamed Old Bethel United Methodist Church. The church was updated in the 1970s. Today, it is still used by a church group of about 200 people.
Both this building and the 1854 Bethel Methodist Church were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
