History :

In the year 1820, John Crookman owned a small storehouse that was located on a part of the present church cemetery. This young merchant, a member of Wicomico (now Coan Baptist Church), allowed the building to be used for occasional church meetings and as a Sunday School for local members of Coan Baptist Church. Salem Meeting House, an arboreal affair, was built to take care of the increased attendance and could only be used in mild weather. It remained an arm of Coan until 1878 when a new Baptist Church was born named Bethany. The Reverend G.H. Northern presided at the first business meeting on February 2, 1878. At this meeting the Reverend James T. Eubank was called as pastor at a salary of $100.00 per year. In the spring of 1897, Bethany joined in a field with Gibeon and Totuskey Churches, known at this time as the Village Baptist Field. A new house of worship to replace Salem Meeting House was started in 1900 at a cost of $1800.00 to $2000.00. This new building was the same as the main body of the present building, except the entrance was toward the East facing the cemetery. On August 11, 1901, the church ordained its first candidate to the Gospel Ministry, Brother E.L.K. Tune. The crowning feature of the Reverend J.M. Street's ministry was the planting of the missionary spirit in the church. During this pastorate, the Woman's Missionary Society was organized. In 1914 the church was blown off of its foundation by a freak tornado. Later, two new wings were added. The main entrance was changed to its present location. Between 1952 and 1955, the baptistery with the memorial window was installed in the church sanctuary. Seven new Sunday School rooms were added to the rear of the church building, and the memorial windows were installed. On May 1, 1966, two new wings were completed and dedicated at a cost of $92,900.00 and the sanctuary was brick veneered. Brother Randolph Michael Newsome, Jr. was ordained to the Gospel Ministry on March 18, 1979. A new 15 passenger van was purchased in April 1992. This vehicle has been very useful in transporting children, youth, and adults to church-related activities. Our church was made more beautiful by the installation of a steeple on November 4, 1992. We participated in a World Mission Conference in September 1994. Missionaries from many areas of the world inspired us to be more "mission minded." Since the beginning of Bethany in 1878 with annual receipts of $128.00, the church progressed to the annual budget of $130,000.00 in 1995. With God's help, we press on to even greater achievements and a greater concern for all mankind.