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HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
MEETING TIMES
Monthly, as scheduled
Provide evidence of the history of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hampton, Virginia. The group collects bulletins of church services, resolutions, programs, pictures, obituaries, histories of each organization and documents provided by fellow church members.
Led by: Sis. Saundra Boswell
WHAT WE DO
HISTORY
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) was organized in August 1864, in what was then known as Camp Hamilton, New Tabb’s Field by Father Peter Sheppard. Father Peter Sheppard, who was a local preacher in St. John A.M.E. Church, Norfolk, Virginia, and six lay persons, Sisters Caroline Segal, Sarah Parker, Brothers Merrit Thomas, James Segal, Thad Peeden and Randall Gooden were instrumental in organizing the new church. The group built a house of worship on Oak Street, now Wine Street, in the City of Hampton. After several years of ardent and persistent labor, a lot was purchased, and the first brick church was erected on Lincoln Street in 1887.
More history provided on our ABOUT page.
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