Bethel United Methodist Church
129 W. 4th Street, Lewes, DE 19958 ~ (302) 645-9426
 

Wanted: Historian!

In preparation for the 100^th Anniversary of Bethel United Methodist Church in the year 2010 the committee would like to have a book prepared to commemorate this occasion.  We are asking for a volunteer from our member-ship who will be willing to research and write a history of Bethel Church.  There is memorabilia available in the Historical Room for a starting point.  Please call: Joan Moore at 645-8093 if you are interested in this project.  Funds are now being received toward this event.

History of our Church:

     The spark of Methodism was set in Lewes in 1739, when the first Methodist sermon was preached Oct. 31 at a local inn by George Whitefield. That spark died out until 1779 when Mr. Freeborn Garrettson came on a preaching mission which established the Methodist presence.

     Though our congregation dates its origin back to July 6, 1779, the site for the current Bethel Church building was purchased in 1909 from John T. Jones. The cornerstone was laid the following year. This Gothic building was constructed under the leadership of the Rev. William R. Mowbray, pastor of the congregation from 1907 to 1911.
The building contains twenty-nine stained glass windows. Twenty-three of the windows are either memorials or were given to honor someone living at the time of the erection of the church.

      The sanctuary room contains a lancet window, measuring 12’ x 24’ based upon the well known painting “Christ in Gethsemane” by Johann Heinrich Hofman. The adjoining room has a large window of  “The Good Shepherd” by the German artist Bernard Plockhurst.

     Our Fellowship Hall was built in 1957. We have an outstanding historical room for all to visit and enjoy. The stained glass windows of this room came from Bethel’s second church (which no longer exists) at Mulberry and Church Streets. The windows were originally installed in 1892, and this restoration was completed in 1997.