History of Bethesda UMC

Bethesda's first Minister, George Manlove Clayton - Served 1924-1937

In response to an invitation from Mr. C.A. Davis, seven persons met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, 301 Harford Road, August 29, 1923, to consider the advisability of starting a Methodist Protestant Church in the community. The proposition was unanimously endorsed and another preliminary gathering assembled September 4th., at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Officers were elected and a temporary committee on chapel site and building material was appointed. It was decided to organize a Church Aid Society to meet weekly in the homes of its members, and make a free-will offering at each meeting.

The meeting of September 11th., was held in the Davis home. The Rev. W.P. Roberts was present and was called to the chair. The organization of the Church Aid Society, looking to the founding of a Methodist Protestant Church was effected, and officers were elected.

CHURCH SITE

At the regular meeting of September 25th, the temporary committee on sites and building material, submitted a most satisfactory report and was automatically discharged. At the request of President Humphreys a permanent committee on the chapel site was appointed. The lot on the northwest corner of Harford Road and Louise Avenue was purchased on October 25, 1923.

NAME

A vote was taken by ballot on December 16th to decide on a name for the church, resulting in the unanimous choice of BETHESDA. See John's Gospel, 5:1-15.

GROUND BREAKING

Ground was broken on March 12, 1924, for a chapel to be built under the supervision of Mr. G.B. Barrows. The service consisted of the reading of the 136th Psalm, by Mr. M.A. Francis, Sr., and prayer by Mr. G.B. Barrows. At the conclusion of the brief service, everyone present turned a shovel full of ground.

ORGANIZATION AND RECONGNITION

The members of Bethesda Church Aid Society met in Lauraville Church, March 13, 1924, with Doctor J.M. Sheridan, Superintendent of Church Extension, in the chair, and organized a Methodist Protestant Church. The Rev. W.P. Roberts, pastor of Eutaw Church, was also present and assisted Doctor Sheridan in receiving 32 charter members into Bethesda Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. G.B. Barrows was elected Messenger to the Annual Conference. At the Fourth Quarterly conference of Lauraville charge, Bethesda Church was recognized in due form, as a Methodist Protestant Church.

TEMPORARY QUARTERS

Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Barrows kindly tendered the use of their home, 5 Maple Ave., for worship and sunday School. the first service was conducted by Doctor Sheridan, Sunday, March 23, 1924.

MARYLAND CONFERENCE ENROLLMENT

Bethesda church was received and enrolled as a Charge, by the Maryland Annual Conference in its Ninety-Sixth session, held in Bethesda Church, Salisbury, MD, and the Rev. George Manlove Clayton was appointed first pastor, and entered upon his duties, Sunday, April 13, 1924.

CHAPEL OPENED

Sunday, May 4, 1924, was observed as Opening Day of the Chapel. the Sunday School assembled at the Barrows home at 10:00 A.M, and marched in a body to the chapel, singing, "Onward, Christian Soldiers." In the 11:00 A.M. service the pastor was assisted by Doctor T.H. Lewis, President of the General Conference, who offered prayer. At 3:00 P.M. a Platform Meeting was held. At 8:00 P.M., the pastor of the church preached by special request, taking for his subject the name of the church, "Bethesda"; choosing for his text, John 5: 2.

EXTENSION BUILT

The expanding work soon necessitated an enlargement of equipment, so on October 14, 1924, it was decided to build an additional room, 12' x 24', to the rear of the chapel, to be used by the primary and beginners departments of the Sunday School and church kitchen. All labor was done and donated by the men of the church and the cost of material was kept down to the lowest possible minimum. The committee on construction of this extension consisted of Mr. C.W. Gray, chairman, and Messrs. M.W. Pierce and M.A. Francis, Sr.

******Text taken from "Historical Sketch", written by Marie Nelson Mullinequx, Secretary, and read at the Sixth Anniversary, Tuesday, September 10, 1929, by Mrs. M.W. Pierce, Vice President.

ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS BUILT

The original stone building, fronting Harford Rd., was built in 1932 and housed the church sanctuary. Ground breaking for the current sanctuary was in August 1961...Cornerstone laying was in December 1961, and the consecration took place in May 1962. The current sanctuary extends out from the 1932 stone building towards Louise Ave.

MINISTERS SERVING THE BETHESDA CONGREGATION

George Manlove Clayton: 1924 - 1937

Leslie Edwald Werner Sr.: 1937 - 1939

Eugene C. Makosky: 1939 - 1940

William W. Patterson: 1940 - 1950

Joseph T. Riley: 1950 - 1956

Ernest Albert Otto: 1956 - 1956

T. Ward Kemp: 1958 - 1965

Gene R. Perry: 1965 - 1969

Maurice E. Vineyard: 1969 - 1976

Hayward Y. Rowh: 1976 - 1980

William E. Polk II: 1980 - 1991