| Bethel United Methodist Church "We live, love, grow and serve for God's glory." |
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| 16101 Swanson Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 / Office (301) 627-4515 / Fax (301) 627-3793 / email - bethelum@ verizon.net |
Our History |
| History |
Bethel's Pastors Robert B. Wierer 1961-1962 E. McCulloh 1962-1964 Roy E. Moore 1964-1980 Henry C. Thompson III 1980-1989 James M. Hunt 1989-1996 Galen R. Menne 1996-1999 George A. Aist 1999-2004 Chris Owens 2004-2007 Jennifer Fenner 2007-2010 Ingrid Wang 2010- |
Late in 1960, Dr. Oris Robinson,
Superintendent of the Washington East
District, requested the assistance of the
Rev. Robert Wierer, pastor of Mt. Oak
Church at Mitchellville, to find a location
for a church near Upper Marlboro. Rapid
growth in the area, along with the fact that
it was the only county seat in Maryland
where there was not a church associated
with the Baltimore Conference, led to such
a search. A suitable site was located at
the corner of Swanson Road and Rt. 301
and the land was purchased from Mrs.
Jessie Swanson.
The first gathering of the congregation
was on July 30, 1961 at Frederick Sasscer
High School in Upper Marlboro. Services
were held at the high school and the
church was chartered on January 6,1963.
The congregation had a service of ground
breaking for a new building on August 8,
1963 and entered the new building for
the first service on August 29, 1965. A
service of consecration was held on May
1,1966 led by Bishop John Wesley Lord.
The church celebrated its silver
anniversary on October 10-11,1987. .
Superintendent of the Washington East
District, requested the assistance of the
Rev. Robert Wierer, pastor of Mt. Oak
Church at Mitchellville, to find a location
for a church near Upper Marlboro. Rapid
growth in the area, along with the fact that
it was the only county seat in Maryland
where there was not a church associated
with the Baltimore Conference, led to such
a search. A suitable site was located at
the corner of Swanson Road and Rt. 301
and the land was purchased from Mrs.
Jessie Swanson.
The first gathering of the congregation
was on July 30, 1961 at Frederick Sasscer
High School in Upper Marlboro. Services
were held at the high school and the
church was chartered on January 6,1963.
The congregation had a service of ground
breaking for a new building on August 8,
1963 and entered the new building for
the first service on August 29, 1965. A
service of consecration was held on May
1,1966 led by Bishop John Wesley Lord.
The church celebrated its silver
anniversary on October 10-11,1987. .