Bethel Baptist Church
- for other churches with the same name, see Bethel Baptist Church (disambiguation).
Bethel Baptist Church (sometimes Bethel Baptist Church-Collegeville) is a Baptist church located at 3200 28th Avenue North in Collegeville. It was organized on March 27, 1904. The pastor is Thomas Wilder, Jr.
1926 building
Bethel's original sanctuary is located a block away from the present church at 3233 29th Avenue North. It was built in 1926 of red brick with stone lintels and trim. The interior is outfitted with stained glass windows and carved wood pews for 450 congregants. A two-story wing facing 32nd Street houses mechanical rooms, bathrooms, classrooms and offices.
The exterior brick is striated on the street facades and common brick on the sides and rear. The original mortar was tinted with iron ore, but the joints have since been repointed with white cement mortar. The main floor level is indicated by a soldier course.
The church became notable for the leadership of its pastor, Fred Shuttlesworth during the Civil Rights Movement. It served as the headquarters of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and became a target of anti-integration violence. It was bombed three times: December 25, 1956; June 29, 1958; and December 14, 1962. The 1956 bombing destroyed the parsonage, leaving Shuttlesworth almost entirely unhurt. The apparent miracle strengthened his will to lead efforts for integration in Birmingham.
Since the construction of the new sanctuary the historic church has served primarily as a Civil Rights Movement shrine and museum. It is owned and maintained by the Bethel Baptist Church Historic Community Restoration Fund.
On April 5, 2005 the church, along with the 1957 parsonage and the James Revis residence across the street, which served as a guard house, were jointly granted National Historic Landmark status.
In December 2007, Bethel launched a $2 million fund-raising campaign for restoration of the original church and construction of a memorial garden. A national "Buy a Brick" campaign began in January 2008. During the city's Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Breakfast on January 21 Mayor Larry Langford announced that the city of Birmingham would increase its pledge to the campaign from $50,000 to $1 million.
Pastors
- P. M. Johnson, 1904-
- Lucious Jones
- Rev. Hawkins
- C. Z. Craig
- Rev. McKinley, 1910-
- Rev. McDaniel
- Milton Sears, 1916-1938
- J. S. Gamble, 1939-1941
- Chester Laster, 1942-1952
- Cornelious Brown (acting), 1952
- Reese Smith (acting), 1952-1953
- Fred Shuttlesworth, 1953-1961
- Herbert Gooden (pulpit conductor) 1961
- V. C. Provitt, 1961-
- Carter Gaston, 1975-1987
- William Battle (interim) 1987-1988
- Thomas Wilder, Jr, 1988-present
References
- Garrison, Greg (January 20, 2008) "Birmingham's Bethel Baptist, central to civil rights movement, focus of fundraising to save historic structure." Birmingham News.
- Singleton, William C. III (December 6, 2007) "'Buy a Brick' campaign to raise funds for restoration of Birmingham's historic Bethel Baptist Church." Birmingham News.
- Salvatore, Susan Cianci (April 2004) Bethel Baptist Church, Parsonage, and Guardhouse National Historic Landmark nomination.
- "Bombing in Alabama Injures 5, Wrecks Minister’s Home", New York Times.
- "Bomb Attempt Fails; Volunteer Removes Dynamite From Birmingham Church", New York Times.
- "Negroes Ask U.S. to Act in Third Bombing of Church", New York Times.
External links
- Bethel Baptist Church Collegeville website
- Bethel Baptist Church, Parsonage, and Guardhouse. National Historic Landmark summary listing