Bethlehem Baptist Church – Barnwell County, South Carolina
South Carolina | SC Picture Project | Barnwell County Photos | Bethlehem Baptist Church
 |
|
Bethlehem Baptist Church in Barnwell dates from the early 1800s. By the 1850s, Barnwell’s Baptist congregation had grown too large for the building so a new church was built at another location. The free and enslaved African-American members asked for and were granted permission to use the old church building for their own services. In 1868, the African-American congregation was formally chartered as Bethlehem Baptist Church.
This image is copyrighted. You may not use it without written consent.
The original building was built in 1829 for Barnwell Baptist Church and used by Bethlehem Baptist Church until 1898 when the current church was erected on the same site. Salvaged materials from the original structure were used in the construction of the new church.
Because it is a well-preserved example of the independent black churches that proliferated in the South after the Civil War, the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
This image is copyrighted. You may not use it without written consent.
In the early 1900s Bethlehem’s congregation was instrumental in the founding of Morris College in Sumter and the establishment of a high school for African American students in Barnwell.
SCIWAY thanks Melissa Roberts for submitting these picture in December 2010.
5 Comments about Bethlehem Baptist Church
January 31st, 2013 at 8:46 pm
My family surnames are Jones and Dingle. Any information will be appreciated. Thank you!
January 31st, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Trying to research my family history led me to believe that many of my ancestors were members of the church from the mid 1800′s – mid 1900′s (many of my relatives may still be members). I’ve learned that many were buried in the cemetery (that was moved because of the Santee-Cooper Project). Can you help to confirm this information….PLEASE!
July 21st, 2012 at 6:31 pm
I was told that a great great grandfather of mine was the church trustee in the late 1800′s, early 1900′s. His name was John Washington. Are you able to verify this information
February 28th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Hi Adriene!
We don’t have any access to records from Bethlehem Baptist Church, but a great place to start would be to take a look at our Barnwell genealogy resources. Here you’ll find links to other genealogists and to historical archives in this area. We hope this helps, and good luck! SCIWAY
February 28th, 2011 at 12:34 am
From about the 1800s into the 1900s the Childs and Weathersbee families have lived in Barnwell County. Are there any old records of the members of Bethlehem Baptist Church? I’m trying to research and record my family history.
Comments