HISTORY OF
BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH

According to the most authentic historical documents which have come down to us today, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church had its incipiency one year after the close of the Civil War.  The newly emancipated Fathers organized Bethel Society in 1866 in an old sword factory on Wayne Street near the corner of College Street.  After worshipping there for a short white, the Church was moved to Lincoln and Hampton Streets, the former site of the old Howard School.  The records indicate that this property, owned by the Bethel Society, was donated by the congregation to the city of Columbia for educational purposes.

The Bethel Society again moved to a blacksmith’s shop on the corner of Sumter and Hampton Streets.  In 1921, they erected a large frame building to house the growing congregation.  While this new building was in the process of erection, the Society was permitted to move to and worship in the First Presbyterian Church.  Upon completion of the building, the congregation moved to the Sumter Street site.  A cadre of highly trained ministers were to be assigned to the pastoral charge of Bethel.

It is said that the first Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church was a Reverend Brown.  It is indeed unfortunate that the historical documentation is so scant and, consequently, very little is known about the activities and achievements of the various administrations during the early years of the life of the Church.

The Church was named Bethel as a result of the following passage in the Bible, “…And Jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.  And he called the name of that place Bethel.”  (Genesis 28: 18-19)

It is said that the congregation split under Dr. R. E. Wall’s administration and several hundred members left and founded Sidney Park C.M.E. Church, located at 1114 Blanding Street in Columbia.

The administration of Dr. A. W. Timmons was one of the best in the history of the Church.  The church was rallying in order to build a new edifice, but death overtook this stalwart leader in the midst of his noble endeavors.

Dr. T. H. Wiseman was then called to the Seventh Episcopal District and assigned to the pastoral charge of Bethel A.M.E. Church.  Through the leadership of Dr. Wiseman, the Sumter Street edifice was completed in 1921 at an approximate cost of $75,000.  The structure was designed by one of the first Black registered architects in the United State, James Anderson Lankford.

Following Dr. Wiseman came Dr. E. A. Adams, the illustrious pastor who became Secretary of Education of the A.M.E. Church in 1946, one of the tall sons of South Carolina, who for three years gave Bethel A.M.E. Church a very businesslike administration.   The mortgage debt was greatly decreased during Dr. Adams’ pastorate.

Dr. Charles Leander Hill came to Bethel in November, 1944 and with noble assistance and loyal support of the Bethel congregation, succeeded in emancipating Bethel A.M.E. Church from the chains of its indebtedness.  In March, 1946, a “Mortgage Burning Rally” raised $20,068 which enabled the Church to cancel a $47,000 mortgage.

Records show that the Reverend J. Arthur Holmes was appointed Assistant Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church from July, 1947 to November, 1947.  Two other pastors were recorded.

In 1949, Dr. J. Arthur Holmes began his ministry that encompassed 43 years.  During his administration, many improvements were made to the interior and exterior of the Church.  An elevator and Rodgers organ were installed.  A debt-free parish house was built.  In 1970, the Church began its partnership in operation of the Bethel-Bishop-Chapelle Memorial Apartments, Incorporated, a $2.5 million housing project for two hundred low-income families in Columbia.  On September 26, 1982, Bethel Church celebrated its placement in the National Register of Historic Places (Washington, DC).  In June, 1985, the Church began a comprehensive expansion program which included the purchase of a one-half million dollar building at 1225-1227 Taylor Street in proximity of the Church.  This building was named the J. Arthur Holmes Activity Center, in honor of Pastor Holmes.  On August 31, 1986, Bethel A.M.E. Church celebrated A Class Restorations Service for its church pews.

In December, 1992, through divine providence and the wisdom of the Right Reverend John Hurst Adams, son of Bethel’s 18^th pastor (Dr. E. A. Adams), and the Presiding Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District, Reverend Ronnie Elijah Brailsford, Sr. was appointed as pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Bethel has experienced a renaissance, a revival, during Reverent Brailsford’s administration.  Sixty-five new ministries have been instituted to serve the congregation and the community.  The budget and membership have more than quadrupled; the overall budget is over $1 million per year and the membership has topped 1,200 with over 900 new joiners.  The administrative functions of the church have been automated and made more contemporary.

It was under Rev. Brailsford’s dynamic and visionary leadership that the congregation elected to relocate to 819 Woodrow Street.  This expansion of Bethel’s ministry entailed the purchase of a property valued at $5.0 million for $1.5 million.  The property includes 5 acres of land, a 680-seat sanctuary, 200-seat chapel, two three-story education and administrative buildings, a two-story Christian Life Center building, a gymnasium, five houses, 250 on-site parking spaces and 116 surrounding parking spaces.  It is reportedly one of the largest African Methodist Episcopal owned developed campuses in the world!  To God be the glory!

Motivated by the proud and illustrious history of Bethel A.M.E. Church and led by the Holy Spirit, we go forward in the name of the Triune God, the more noble Being, and to greater service in the Kingdom.  We shall lift high our motto of being a “Christ-centered, people-oriented, Word-teaching” congregation.