Our History

Our church was organized on December 6th, 1772. This was three and a half years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the time the church was organized it was meeting near Big Bluestone Creek so they called it Baptist Bluestone Church. In 1800 the church changed locations and around that time the name was changed to Bethel Baptist Church. This church has always been involved in mission work and church planting over the years. It also had a hand in organizing the Virginia Baptist Education Society and helping establish other schools and universities. We are blessed that God has used Bethel Baptist to do his work in the past and we are excited to see how he will continue to use us in the present and into the future!

Some fun history facts  about our church

1853     The church resolved to build a house of worship which they completed the next winter.

1854     The present Church property was obtained and a wooden building was constructed.

1918     The interior of the sanctuary was renovated.

1926     Discontinued the use of oil lamps and gas lamps were installed.

1938     Discontinued use of gas lamps and electric lights were installed.

1947     Four rooms were added to the main building.

1951     The center support in the sanctuary was removed. The old wood stoves were replaced with coal stoves and central heating was installed. Modern pews installed.

1954     The ceiling was lowered using sound -proof blocks, new light fixtures were installed, interior walls of sanctuary were improved.

1956     Five rooms were added, two restrooms were installed (prior to this water was drawn from rock spring south of the present fellowship hall).

1961     The entire wooden structure was covered with a brick veneer. A vestibule and steeple were added.

1966     A second unit of five electric heated classrooms were added.

1967     A parsonage was built on adjoining property north of the church.

1971      Two windows were removed from the back of the rostrum and a modern baptistry was installed replacing the outside baptismal still located in the creek behind the Church.

1975     New lighting (modern hanging brass fixtures and dimming controls) were installed in the sanctuary.

1976     Installation of ceiling tiles and carpet in aisles and pulpit area in sanctuary. Water treatment system was installed at parsonage.

1978     Insulated the church building.

1979     Chair rails were installed in classrooms, seat cushions were installed on pews, central heating and air system was installed in the sanctuary. New well dug to replace the old                                                               one and a new pump was installed.

1985     The detached Fellowship Hall was built.

1993     Hailstorm destroyed many windows in the sanctuary and classrooms.  Stain glass windows were installed in the sanctuary. Memorial plates honoring Bethel veterans. Bethel                                                                Brotherhood given permission to build the stew building. 

1996     Installed stain glass windows given by families in the entrance/vestibule.

1999     Playground completed. Pews, communion tables and chairs were refinished and repaired.

2000     New baptistry drapes installed and backing for piano and organ installed.

2001      Added two new classrooms with basement and a metal shed building was donated.

2003     Shed was added to the back of the stew building. Disaster Relief trailer was purchased by Brotherhood. US flag, pole and lights installed.

2004      Virginia Flag and Christian Flag were added to the flag pole.

2005     Shelter for Disaster Relief trailer donated. Seventeen passenger van donated. 

2006     Room renovated for the church library. Work completed and the library opened.

2006     Cement pad poured at the stew shed. Put on new shingle roof at parsonage. Installed light on corner of Fellowship hall.

2008     New hymnals purchased.

2009     Replaced one propane furnace in the basement. Installed stain glass window protection covers. Installed 18 windows on the outside of the church.

2010     Replaced heat pump at the back of the church. Installed new half- moon pad added to side walk at both steps on the front of the church for wheel chairs. Added railing around the front porch.

2011     Replaced heat pump in the stew building and installed sidewalk from Fellowship Hall to Stew Building. Painted sanctuary and foyer. Remodeled ceiling in the sanctuary.

2012     Repaired kitchen floor in the parsonage. Window repairs done at parsonage.

2013     New shutters hung on the Fellowship Hall windows. Painted inside the parsonage and installed laminate flooring in the parsonage dinning room.

2014     Extensive repairs done to the kitchen at the parsonage.

2015     Two heat pumps replaced at the Fellowship Hall.

2016     New water fountain installed in the church. New floor installed in the church office, painted and installed new desk and chair.

2017     Replaced heavy tables in the Fellowship Hall with new lighter ones.

2018     Added church website, Facebook and Instagram. Added new deck at the parsonage and took down dividing wall between living room and dinning room at parsonage adding a beam to leave it open.                    Installed new vinyl flooring in classroom next to the church office.

2019     New sub-floor and joists, as well as new plumbing under the sink installed the parsonage. New dishwasher installed at the parsonage. Added an Eco-Water System Neutralizer at the parsonage. New                sound  system: including a new sound board, speakers, monitors, pulpit mic, 6 hand held mics, a snake cable, mic cables, 2 outdoor speaker stands, 6 stools, laptop, two 75 inch TV's and mounts and                  all cabling to communicate with the laptop. Installed new Security System church wide inside and out (with exception of the sanctuary) and a laptop for viewing the camera feeds. Painted and                             updated nursery décor and toys. Installed new stone tile in fellowship hall kitchen.

2020     Replace 21 wood windows with vinyl (tilt/insulated) windows at the church. Repaired ceiling in the church foyer. Replaced 5 storm doors around the church. Removed concrete tiles and replaced                         with brick tiles on the front porch of the church. 

2021     Installed brick surround and LED light scrolling programable sign near the road.  Painted back classroom with backdoor.

2022     Removed carpet and installed vinyl flooring in the nursery. Extensive repairs and painted interior of the parsonage. Pressure washed and stained deck at parsonage.