ourhistory

OUR HISTORY

Our History
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lynn, Massachusetts, was organized in 1857 by a small group of dedicated African American families. It is the oldest established African American church on the North Shore. As the African American population slowly increased, Bethel changed. A brick building replaced the original structure and a parsonage was built. The spiritual life expanded. Bethel's ministers and members were leaders in the community in support of human and civil rights, and were successful in opening the doors of opportunity in areas of business, banking, education, medicine, law enforcement and fire fighting.
As with any congregation there were periods of growth as well as lean times. In 1980 vandals set fire to the church and it had to be demolished. As the church continued the struggle throughout the 1980s to rebuild, God blessed Bethel with a new building. Members of the Friends Meeting House planned to close their church located at 72 Silsbee St., Lynn, Massachusetts. Bethel was able to acquire it. The new church was dedicated on November 20, 1987. It is lovingly referred to as "the church with the sweet, sweet spirit."
Under the dynamic leadership of its current pastor Rev. Jay B. Broadnax, Bethel has been blessed with tremendous spiritual growth including Bible study, Christian fellowship, service and stewardship, as well as the prayer ministry, the prison ministry, the children's and women's dance ministries, the men's choir, and the youth community outreach activities. Bethel continues to serve its community through its mission work of supporting programs that shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, and minister to the sick.