Bethel Church, Jacksonville

The Bethel Church stands as a deeply significant historical landmark. Established in 1838, it is the city’s oldest Baptist congregation, originally founded to serve an interracial community, including numerous black slaves who were allowed to attend services.

After the devastation of the Great Fire of Jacksonville in 1901, the church was rebuilt in 1904 by New York architect M.H. Hubbard. The structure blends Greek Revival and Romanesque Revival styles but is regarded as an eclectic design, marking it as one of Jacksonville's most original “post-fire” creations.

The church’s distinctive architecture features a rectangular shape with a main story and basement, a central tower, and two smaller towers on adjacent streets. A cupola and multiple entrances add to its grandeur, while the complex also includes class and lecture rooms, supporting its role as a spiritual and educational hub.
As the principal religious institution for Jacksonville's black community, Bethel Baptist continues to hold deep cultural significance, both as a place of worship and as a historical testament to the resilience and growth of the city’s African American population. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, ensuring the preservation of its legacy.