Page 7 - history-related-to-methodism-and-early-settlement-in-florida-(esther-bernice-howell-haworth)-1961

History Related to Methodism and Early Settlement in Florida (1961) Esther Bernice Howell Haworth

Mrs. Alva Payne in her history of Bethel Methodist Church, in 1933 tells of Mrs.
Martha Perry’s description of “Old Bethel.” She states, “she told us of the good
meetings they had and described the building and furniture. The Church was a small
log building and was located about two miles northeast of this Church where we are
now assembled- The pulpit and floor were made of logs split in halves. Pegs were put
in half logs for seats.” In the early 1850’s the progressive Pioneer Members of “Old
Bethel” decided to build a new Church and the land was given by Simeon L.
Sparkman, and according to Mrs. Alva Payne the NEW CHURCH was first used in
the Spring of 1856.

"OLD BETHEL” AS COMPARED WITH
FORT CALL METHODIST CHURCH

It seems that the first Methodist building of note was at Fort Call, Florida. Mrs.
Stella Collins Layfield states in a Historical Sketch of Tus- tenuggee Methodist
Church that the Rev. J. C. Ley made the statement when he was in the community in
1845 “that when he came there was no Church” and he reports the building of one at
Fort Call- In the Appendix of FIFTY-TWO YEARS IN FLORIDA—by Rev. J. C.
Ley, Rev. McTyerre states; “As far as I know the first house of prayer that was
erected under my ministry—a small log house at Fort Call, with hewn puncheon floor
and seats—It was a rude building, but it answered the wants of the people there in
1845. Little did we think then of the nucleous of power then planted, nor that in after
years it should be said in triumph that this or that man was bom there." AND SO IT
IS WITH EQUAL PRIDE THAT WE PRESENT THE FOLLOWING LIST OF
CHARTER families of "OLD BETHEL METHODIST CHURCH:

Abram Isaac Robarts and Ann Andrew
Langley Bryant and wife Mary—
Wh. Niblack and wife Dennie Tyson
S. L. Sparkman
James Bryant
Langley Bray nt, Jr.
John S. Goodbread and wife Chairty Crews
C. H. B. Collins and wife Ann Mary Robarts
Zachariah Randall Roberts and wife Mary Vinzant Hancock
Arthur Roberts and wife Rebecca Bryant
The Elijah Mattox family
The earcly Cox family
The early Hancock family
The early Henry family
The early Fife family
The early Pritchard family
The early Hunter family
The early Perry family and,
“Old Bethel’s first five members (according to existing records): Zachariah
Randall Roberts, received in 1824, on profession of faith, by Rev. John L. Jerry. He
married Mary Vinzant Hancock (widow of “Cader” Hancock) July 27, 1847.

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