The congregation of Bethel Baptist Church in Gloucester will convene at 10:30 a.m. Sunday to celebrate the church’s 150th anniversary.
They will meet at the Founder’s Tree, a tree that marks the location where the original congregation first worshipped more than a century ago. Dr. Dorothy Cooke will serve as worship leader and the Rev. Michael W. Jackson will lead the 11 a.m. service.
Following lunch, the church bell will toll 150 times to begin the 3 p.m. service. The Rev. Vincent Pryor of New Mount Zion Baptist Church will be the worship leader for this service and will be accompanied by The Rev. Stevens Burrell of Gleaning Baptist Church of Harcum.
Representation from all six of Bethel Baptist’s daughter churches is expected, said Cooke, as well as descendants of the original founders. A special litany, written for the anniversary, will also be read. It is titled “Celebration of Our Legacy.”
...