Picture this. Horses and chickens roaming freely on church grounds. This wasn’t some far-off fairytale. It was the reality at First New Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago many years ago.
First New Bethany Missionary Baptist Church. Its roots stretch back to 1867. It began as “The Baptist Church of Bridgeport”. Meetings were held in Healy Hall at the corner of Mary Street and Archer Avenue. The name briefly changed to “South Chicago Baptist Church”. Twenty years later it incorporated as “Bethany Baptist Church”. It started the process of finding a new home in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Brighton Park Baptist Church joined Bethany in 1888. Elsdon Baptist Church merged in 1894.
Imagine the scene. A simple note in the church records states “A motion was carried that the trustees be instructed to give notice to the owners of the horse and chickens to remove them from the church property”. This charming detail reveals a simpler time. A time long before the church’s current impressive structure.
First New Bethany Missionary Baptist Church wasn’t always grand. The church saw many changes and developments throughout its history. In 1917 the first Vacation Bible School took place. Miss Eileen Prickett became Bethany’s first missionary in 1944 serving in India. In 1947 Bethany helped a German Baptist church in Hamburg. They sent much-needed goods after World War II. The 75th anniversary in 1942 brought extensive interior repairs. The kitchen Sunday School room and the entrance hall were all renovated. A church ball team was formed in 1959. The 1960s saw the acquisition of a parsonage and a bus. Further renovations took place. In the 1970s the Greystone building was purchased to serve as a youth center. The adjacent lot provided needed parking. In 2012 the men of the church restored the auditorium’s original beadboard and repaired the plaster walls.
First New Bethany Missionary Baptist Church stands as a testament to faith. It’s a place where generations have worshipped. It’s a place where history unfolds within its walls. The church continues to serve the McKinley Park neighborhood. It remains faithful trusting in God’s continued support.