A Brief History of Bethel
Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church was organized in 1836 in the log cabin home of
barber, Augustus
Turner. Mr. Turner’s home was located on Georgia Street. He had obtained an
A.M.E. Book of Discipline, which was used as a guideline in organizing his
group. After meeting for a time, the little society petitioned to be annexed to
the western Circuit of the church. The appeal was accepted by the Philadelphia
Conference and Rev. Paul Quinn was sent as the first "Circuit Rider"
to visit and preach for the group. Rev. Quinn later became a bishop in the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The little society was known in
those days as "Indianapolis Station." After the church
was admitted to
the circuit, it built a small frame house of worship on Georgia Street.
Early, the congregation took an active part in the affairs of the general church. As early as 1848 the membership contributed one hundred dollars to help defray the expenses of General Conference delegates, who journeyed to Philadelphia to the meeting. Later, in 1854, " Indianapolis Station" entertained the Annual Conference.
In 1866, a few members of the church organized what is now Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church. Rev. W. L. Lankford was Bethel’s pastor at that time. In April 1887, Bethel entertained the Bishops’ Council, at which meeting, plans were made for Bethel to entertain the General Conference again in 1888.
During these days, "Indianapolis Station" became known as the Vermont Street Church. Years later, it became formally known as "Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church."
{Historical information provided by Miss Frances C. Stout, Church Historian, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Indianapolis, Indiana}