We continue our celebration of 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 with histories of wonderful historic DeLand buildings. 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 The oldest church congregation in DeLand and the oldest AME church in Florida is located at 226 E. Howry Avenue. In 1878, a group of African American residents met to worship under a brush arbor at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Collett on Voorhis Avenue near the current church. By 1881, the members had built a small wood-framed building near the current church for worship. After 25 years, Bethel AME decided to expand, and John A. Lankford of Chicago, official architect for the national AME Church, designed a new Gothic Revival Style church for the congregation. Construction began in 1907 on the wood-framed masonry building. The men of the church did the labor, molding concrete blocks mixed with Florida sand onsite. They carved their initials into the stones at the base of the building, and laid the cornerstone on April 27, 1907, under the direction of the Rev. S. C. Baker, pastor. Now listed on the DeLand Register of Historic Places as historically significant at the local level, the church features steeply pitched gable roofs, two towers with pyramid style roofs, and Gothic arch window openings and doors. The roofs and towers are covered in pressed metal shingles above the rusticated block foundation. The interior features a wood-paneled domed ceiling, a curved chancel rail, curved pews and a beautiful stained-glass window installed in 1919. On the south façade, three flat roof and gabled additions have altered the original structure. The church built an annex in 1954 under the Rev. F.A. Massey’s pastorate, which was renovated in the early 1970s under the Rev. Carl F. Brinkley, a longtime pastor, with members David Watts, Lewis Gibson, Amos Cleveland and Curtiss Jones providing the labor. In recent years, the interior has been refurbished and preserved, while maintaining the beautiful wood millwork. Today the historic church continues as a place of praise and community spirit under the pastorate of the Rev. Reginald Johnson. For the complete article, please visit https://www.delandhouse.com/article_bethel_ame #HistoricPreservationMonth #historicbuildings #historicplaces #WestVolusiaHistory (fb)

🇺🇸The West Volusia Historical Society remembers and honors the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. (fb)