The Building Of History
North of the city of Atlanta abides a quaint town with a unique African American history. Acworth, Georgia is nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, and the home of the historical Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bethel A.M.E.'s first congregations gathered in 1863 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The foundation of a thriving African American community is rooted in the Black church experience, and the nucleus of the Acworth African American community is Bethel A.M.E.
Bethel A.M.E. was built by the skilled hands of freed slaves, and has stood throughout time for 155 years. Bethel A.M.E.’s church history recalls General Sherman’s march throughout Georgia. At the end of the Civil War, there were 200 freed slaves remaining in Acworth. The emancipated slaves immediately became a vital part of the Acworth community, and took on a monumental task, and used their artistry and skill to build a church. After the end of slavery, members of the Bethel A.M.E. church and Zion Hill Missionary Baptist church shared church buildings. This tradition of alternating Sunday services lasted for many years until Zion Missionary Baptist church moved to a more contemporary church building in 1914; while the members of the Bethel A.M.E. remained in the original church building built by the freed slaves. Bethel A.M.E was built in 1878, and a bell tower was added in 1895.
The members of Bethel A.M.E. continued to thrive and became successful entrepreneurs and skilled workers. Despite the legislation of segregation within Acworth, Georgia their minds were not bound by restricting laws. African American residents of Acworth saw themselves as an important part of the small community, and became a people with a clear vision of hard work, education, and family. The Bethel church remained the light and inspiration for the African American residents of Acworth. Sunday mornings at Bethel A.M.E. became a weekly, sacred event that the community awaited with great anticipation. On Saturday evenings,one would witness the boys of the African American community of Acworth lined up in front of an elder’s house to get a fresh haircut for Sunday morning. Every Sunday morning dirt roads of Acworth leading to the church prepared for the great procession of Bethel church members dressed like royalty in their Sunday best, proudly marching towards the resounding ring of the church bell.
In the 21st century, the Bethel A.M.E. church bell still calls the remnants of the descendants of the original founders of Bethel and the Acworth community. Presently, on Sunday mornings if residents passed by the historical Bethel church they would hear the vibrant chimes of tambourines, the sound of rhythmic stomps of feet against the floor to celebratory songs of praise, clapping hands, and shouts of praise to robust sermons of hope and encouragement. The rustic church walls that the freed slaves once built, continue to house dedicated church members, and nurture a community through consistent fellowship and kindness.
Bethel A.M.E. was built by the skilled hands of freed slaves, and has stood throughout time for 155 years. Bethel A.M.E.’s church history recalls General Sherman’s march throughout Georgia. At the end of the Civil War, there were 200 freed slaves remaining in Acworth. The emancipated slaves immediately became a vital part of the Acworth community, and took on a monumental task, and used their artistry and skill to build a church. After the end of slavery, members of the Bethel A.M.E. church and Zion Hill Missionary Baptist church shared church buildings. This tradition of alternating Sunday services lasted for many years until Zion Missionary Baptist church moved to a more contemporary church building in 1914; while the members of the Bethel A.M.E. remained in the original church building built by the freed slaves. Bethel A.M.E was built in 1878, and a bell tower was added in 1895.
The members of Bethel A.M.E. continued to thrive and became successful entrepreneurs and skilled workers. Despite the legislation of segregation within Acworth, Georgia their minds were not bound by restricting laws. African American residents of Acworth saw themselves as an important part of the small community, and became a people with a clear vision of hard work, education, and family. The Bethel church remained the light and inspiration for the African American residents of Acworth. Sunday mornings at Bethel A.M.E. became a weekly, sacred event that the community awaited with great anticipation. On Saturday evenings,one would witness the boys of the African American community of Acworth lined up in front of an elder’s house to get a fresh haircut for Sunday morning. Every Sunday morning dirt roads of Acworth leading to the church prepared for the great procession of Bethel church members dressed like royalty in their Sunday best, proudly marching towards the resounding ring of the church bell.
In the 21st century, the Bethel A.M.E. church bell still calls the remnants of the descendants of the original founders of Bethel and the Acworth community. Presently, on Sunday mornings if residents passed by the historical Bethel church they would hear the vibrant chimes of tambourines, the sound of rhythmic stomps of feet against the floor to celebratory songs of praise, clapping hands, and shouts of praise to robust sermons of hope and encouragement. The rustic church walls that the freed slaves once built, continue to house dedicated church members, and nurture a community through consistent fellowship and kindness.
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