About Us

The Bethlehem Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1839 with the following charter members:  Elzia Arterburn, Eleanor Boles, Martha Chism, Nathan B. Chism, Clancy Daniels, Jane England, Nancy Eubank, William B. Eubank, Quincey Fitzgerald, James Johnston, Sarah Johnston, Elizabeth Lane, Martin Payne, Catherine Ray, and Jefferson Turner.

In 1840, John and Elizabeth Johnston donated land for the first church building.  Their deed of gift named Elzia Arterburn, Samuel Ray, and William Turner as the three original trustees of the new church.

In 1845, the congregation changed its affiliation to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and remained so until the Methodist Church was reunified, in 1939.

In 1870, James and Elizabeth Lee and G.W. Smith deeded the initial gift of land for a “burying ground” for the church, which became Bethlehem Cemetery .

In 1872, the church authorized the addition of a second floor to the meeting house to accomodate a Masonic lodge.  In 1953, this original building was sold to H.A.M. Henderson Lodge #515, F&AM, to make way for the new Bethlehem United Methodist Church building.

 —-  Charles R. Arterburn

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On June 8th, 2021 Bethlehem Church became an independent, non-denominational church with the following charter members: Charles Burnett, Debbie Burnett, Kinleigh Burnett, Mariah Burnett, Melissa Burnett, Nick Burnett, Taryn Burnett, Barbara Dandurand, Brandon Dandurand, George Dandurand, Megan Dandurand, Sally Ethridge, Beth Gentry, Carrie Headrick, Paul Mills, Sheila Mills, David Taylor Jr., Dean Thomas, Charles Turner, Michelle Turner, Janice Short, Jill Wilborn, and Sarah Wilborn.