Bethel Baptist Institutional Church
Encyclopedia
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church is a historic Baptist church in Jacksonville
, Florida
, in the United States
. Founded in 1838, it is the city's oldest Baptist congregation. Its building built in 1904 at 1058 North Hogan Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on April 6, 1978.
congregation in Jacksonville. At its inception it had only six charter members, four whites and two blacks, the latter of whom were slaves of white members. Membership quickly grew, with most early congregants being black slaves who received day passes from their masters to attend. The first meetings were held at "Mother Sam's", a local plantation, and in 1840 a dedicated meeting house was erected at Duval and Newnan Streets. This, the first church building in Jacksonville, was sold to Presbyterians in 1844. In 1861 a permanent church building was built in the west LaVilla
neighborhood at Church and Julia Streets.
Bethel Baptist remained an interracial church until after the American Civil War
, when the decision was made to segregate
the congregation by race. At this time members were facing a split over which pastor to follow, and white congregants took the opportunity to try and force the blacks out of the church. They took their case to court, but the court ruled in favor of the blacks, who were in the majority, determining that they were the rightful owners of the Bethel Baptist name and property. As a result the whites formed Tabernacle Baptist Church, which was eventually renamed First Baptist Church, now one of the largest churches in the United States.
Tabernacle Baptist purchased the Church Street Property from Bethel Baptist Church, as was required by the court, and in 1868 Bethel Baptist relocated to a large new building on Union and Pine Streets. In 1895 this was replaced with a large brick building, but this burned in the Great Fire of 1901
, which destroyed much of downtown Jacksonville. In 1904 the current edifice was built by Utica, New York
architect M. H. Hubbard. The new building combined elements of Greek Revival
and Romanesque Revival architecture
.
Through this time Bethel Baptist continued to grow considerably, but political infighting led to parts of the congregation splintering off and founding new churches. By 1890 there were 1200 members and the church received over $3000 in pledges every year. In 1894 it was recognized as an Institutional Church by the state of Florida, authorizing it undertake social and educational work.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1838, it is the city's oldest Baptist congregation. Its building built in 1904 at 1058 North Hogan Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on April 6, 1978.
History
Established under co-pastors James McDonald and Ryan Frier, in 1838, Bethel Baptist is the oldest BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
congregation in Jacksonville. At its inception it had only six charter members, four whites and two blacks, the latter of whom were slaves of white members. Membership quickly grew, with most early congregants being black slaves who received day passes from their masters to attend. The first meetings were held at "Mother Sam's", a local plantation, and in 1840 a dedicated meeting house was erected at Duval and Newnan Streets. This, the first church building in Jacksonville, was sold to Presbyterians in 1844. In 1861 a permanent church building was built in the west LaVilla
LaVilla, Jacksonville, Florida
LaVilla is a neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida and former independent city, located just west of downtown. Jacksonville's first suburb, it was annexed by the city in 1887. It is primarily an African-American neighborhood, and its northern section was considered "the mecca for African American...
neighborhood at Church and Julia Streets.
Bethel Baptist remained an interracial church until after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when the decision was made to segregate
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
the congregation by race. At this time members were facing a split over which pastor to follow, and white congregants took the opportunity to try and force the blacks out of the church. They took their case to court, but the court ruled in favor of the blacks, who were in the majority, determining that they were the rightful owners of the Bethel Baptist name and property. As a result the whites formed Tabernacle Baptist Church, which was eventually renamed First Baptist Church, now one of the largest churches in the United States.
Tabernacle Baptist purchased the Church Street Property from Bethel Baptist Church, as was required by the court, and in 1868 Bethel Baptist relocated to a large new building on Union and Pine Streets. In 1895 this was replaced with a large brick building, but this burned in the Great Fire of 1901
Great Fire of 1901
The Great Fire of 1901 in Jacksonville, Florida was one of the worst disasters in Florida history and the largest urban fire in the Southeast. It was similar in scale and destruction to the 1871 Great Chicago Fire.-Origin:...
, which destroyed much of downtown Jacksonville. In 1904 the current edifice was built by Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
architect M. H. Hubbard. The new building combined elements of Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
and Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
.
Through this time Bethel Baptist continued to grow considerably, but political infighting led to parts of the congregation splintering off and founding new churches. By 1890 there were 1200 members and the church received over $3000 in pledges every year. In 1894 it was recognized as an Institutional Church by the state of Florida, authorizing it undertake social and educational work.