Our MissionTo worship God in spirit and truth, and spiritually equip disciples to witness to the unsaved.
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Our VisionNew Bethel is a church where God is freely worshiped, the Bible is the source of authority, love abides, there is no respect of person, and disciples is taught and practiced. A church where Community outreach and community service are part of our Christian responsibility.
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Our Church History
According to the minutes of the Rolesville Baptist Church, a number of Blacks were released to form a new church in 1864. It was stated in these minutes also, that the White Brethren helped the black brethren organize by instructing the Black in worship and leading their own services. The local white people contributed money toward the church construction program. Isham Young, a white man, gave the land for the first church. Today this is a black cemetery.
As found in New Bethel Church books of minutes of 1882 and from pencil notes included it is recorded:
“The first action to form a Black church took place in the Temperance Hall within Rolesville on the fourth Sunday in April 1867. Nothing was done at the meeting but to take a list of members which were as follows: Isaac Jeffreys, Peter Lee, George Lee, Charles Montague, James Freeman, Arthur Alston, Boling Dunn, Daniel Fleming, Sarah Dunston, Rhody Watkins, Mary Watkins, Ma Linnery Feffers, Mary Jones, Moriah Montague, Dicey Massey, Silas Perry and Henry Parrish.”
As found in New Bethel Church books of minutes of 1882 and from pencil notes included it is recorded:
“The first action to form a Black church took place in the Temperance Hall within Rolesville on the fourth Sunday in April 1867. Nothing was done at the meeting but to take a list of members which were as follows: Isaac Jeffreys, Peter Lee, George Lee, Charles Montague, James Freeman, Arthur Alston, Boling Dunn, Daniel Fleming, Sarah Dunston, Rhody Watkins, Mary Watkins, Ma Linnery Feffers, Mary Jones, Moriah Montague, Dicey Massey, Silas Perry and Henry Parrish.”
At first this newly organized church for Blacks was called Second Baptist Church of
Rolesville or sometimes later Colored Baptist Church of Rolesville. During the years from 1864 when members of the white church were released from Rolesville church until 1867, these members met to organize. Or money shortage may have caused the delay. Mr. Walter Young stated that the 1882 record books which he held gave the church the name New Bethel Baptist Church of Rolesville. The leaders forming the church constitution were Rev. Beverly Stanford and Rev. Alex Ander Ellis. The first action was to elect church officers. Deacon names were: J. C. Jeffreys, K. P. Young, Peter Leigh. Frank Baker became secretary and C. H. Montague became first treasurer. Pastors were voted in to serve a four year term over a period of our history. Mr. Garland Young related the following facts which were agreed upon by Mr. Walter Young, an early leader that the first building was of logs with its gable end facing Smithfield Road, later Wendell Road, now Young Street, was on the opposite side of the road from our present facility. Isham Young is believed to have given the land. H. W. and A. E. Montague in November 1886 purchased the present land site. Trustees at that time: Daniel Jeffreys, A. B. Fleming and Peter Lee. A second structure was erected soon near the old well about 1887. The second building on this site was a wooden building with its sides parallel to the road with door in its sides and windows on the side and the end. A third building was placed just west of the second building under the leadership of Rev. J. W. Powell. The wings were started, but not completed for several years. Between 1931 and 1936, Mr. Walter Young said the wings were finished. The cornerstone of the church states it as being organized in 1867, Constitution 1881 and remodeled in 1943. In the sixties, a cement pool was built on the grounds for annual baptisms. The fire department came and filled the pool. Afterwards it was emptied and covered till the next revival and baptism in September. |
Brick veneering was added around 1943 as well as steam heat from radiators and
electricity. In 1965 under Pastor W. A. Morgan’s leadership a separate Educational Building was constructed. This facility had seven classrooms upstairs, a dining hall, a kitchen and restrooms. Mr. Sidney Young was chairman of the Church Finance Committee and Walter Young was Chairman of the Building Committee and the Church Treasurer. Some of the other leaders: Clerk Daniel Jeffreys, C. F. Purefoy, F. R. Freeman, S. D. Upchurch, F. D. Fowler, Charles Jeffreys, Mary Lou Dunston Young, Lanis Fowler, Bertha Horton, Recording Secretary, and Roosevelt Miller, Ollie Harris and James Hinton, Sunday School Superintendent. In 1975 Deacon Walter Young had served as Chairman of the Deacon Board 40 years. The Pastors of this church have been: Rev. Beverly Stanford 1867-1868 September Rev. G. W. Harris 1868-1872 (also first Moderator of the Wake Association) Rev. G. W. Perry 1872-1900 Rev. J. J. Worlds 1900-1913 Vacancy 1913-1915 Rev. D. S. Saulter 1915-1919 Rev. J. W. Powell 1920 -1939 Rev. C. H. Heath 1940-1963 (until his death) Rev. W. A. Morgan 1963-1985 Rev. Joseph C. Lovelace 1985-1986 Rev. Ronald Lowery 1987-1995 Rev. Lenwood V. Long, Sr. 1996-2019 Rev. Michael L. Eley Sr. 2020-present |