Bethany United Methodist Church, Gloucester Point, will celebrate its 130th anniversary with Homecoming activities on Sunday beginning with an 11 a.m. service of worship and celebration with former minister, the Rev. Steve Young, as guest speaker.
A covered-dish luncheon will follow the service in the fellowship hall with an afternoon service of music and remembrance in the sanctuary at 1:30. Members and their community friends are invited, a release said.
The church began in 1887 as a small, one-room Sunday school, named Gloucester Point Chapel, a mission of Bethlehem Methodist Church in Bena. In 1897, work began on a main sanctuary across the road (now Old Route 17) from the original building. In 1904 the sanctuary was ordained Bethany Methodist Church and joined other churches in the Virginia Conference, sharing one minister with Bethlehem.
By 1922, two wings and a choir loft were added to the main sanctuary, and in 1950, a basement, consisting of four classrooms, kitchen, and large...