Posted: 9:46 PM - Jun 16, 2004
Michael McKay
I was out at Bethel earlier this evening and noticed the repair work coming along. I am sure it will be finished in time for our August meeting.

These repairs would not have been possible without the contributions of those who support Bethel and it's ongoing operations.

If you are interested please click on this address to learn more:

http://www.geocities.com/mckyrbnsn/bethel

Posted: 11:33 AM - Jun 19, 2004
Michael McKay
Here's an article that appeared in today's edition of The Winchester Star about the repairs going on at Bethel. A link to it has been saved on the "Memorabilia" page in the Bethel section of the website.

http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinche ... a_beth.asp

Please note in this article though that they still are referring to the building as a "former Quaker Meeting House" which I believe is misleading.

It has been said that Quakers once worshipped on the site now occupied by Bethel and that they built a log meeting house structure but the Baptists (from Buck Marsh) moved in around 1809 and took over the spot. (It is believed that the Quakers had abandoned the location sometime prior to that.)

In the 1830s the present day Bethel Meeting House was constructed by the Baptist Congregation and it was used as a place of worship for about 100 years until it was closed in 1830.

In 1841 Beverly Brownley McKay organized The Bethel Memorial, Incorporated which is covered on this website.

The Quakers never used the building that now stands today. That was always a Baptist Meeting House.

Also, it is important to note that "Meeting House" was not exclusively used by the Quaker faith. Meeting House was commonly used to refer to any church building not belonging to the Anglican (or Established) Church in the colonies. This was prior to the War of Independance when only Ye Established Church was allowed to call their houses of worship "Churches". All others were called "Meeting Houses".

"Meeting House" was carried on by the Quakers while the other denominations started calling their houses of worship "Churches". There are some exeptions though. Mennonites sometimes use "Meeting House" as do some other groups.