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Situated in a strictly rural section, the church prospered and grew, with no major difficulties until the year 1847. Then dissention did rear its ugly head and resulted in the building of Siloam Church, just across the Pennsylvania line. The bitterness between these two congregations continued for more than sixty years. The cause of this split, while seemingly very childish to us, was very serious and very real to them. It appears that the boys and girls of Bethel formed a singing society which would meet at the different member’s homes and practice singing, including the hymns then being sung in the Methodist churches. As their singing ability developed they decided to ask the trustees to allow them to sit in a group at the church services and to be allowed to nail a four-inch strip of wood upon the pews in front of them upon which to rest their hymnals. In other words, they wished to form a church choir. Then the trouble started, part of the congregation being in favor and others decidedly opposed to the innovation. The arguments waxed back and forth and resulted in the anti-choir faction withdrawing from Bethel and building Siloam in 1852.

In 1873, the members decided to build a new church at the Opposite end of the graveyard. In preparation for this, on July 30, 1873, they entered into an agreement with John B. McCay, who owned the adjoining farm. The trustees agreed to transfer to Mr. McCay the lower end of the property, consisting of 69 perches upon which the stone church stood and Mr. McCay agreed to transfer to the trustees two acres on the upper end of the lot and to pay one-tenth of the cost of the new church, the payment not to exceed $1200.00.

The church was built of serpentine stone and brick. It was dedicated on Dec. 13, 1874. The old church did yeoman service as a farm building until 1940, when it was torn down. On Mar. 1, 1914, a storm unroofed the church, caved in the rear wall and damaged the interior. Repairs were made immediately. The old horse-sheds were removed in 1938. There is a large and well-kept cemetery beside the church. There are a number of graves with field stones for markers. The oldest tombstone that the writer could find is that of Thomas Webster who died on Oct. 25, 1800. On the tombstone of Mary Galbreath who died on Apr. 17, 1861 is the following inscription:

“Remember me as you pass by As you are now so once was I As I am now so you must be Prepare yourself to follow me.”

This inscription, slightly varied, appears on several tombstones in Dela-ware. During the last century it was popular to have a four-line verse in-scribed on tombstones. According to Mr. Wm. V. Sipple of Milford, the monument dealers had booklets containing a large number of verses appropriate for tombstones from which many customers would make selections. The above-mentioned verse appeared in these booklets, which resulted in its selection, very often.

Additional land was purchased from W. P. Missimer on Sept. 25, 1907 and Apr. 8, 1913.” (1)

Marker Text:

“The roots of this congregation can be traced to the efforts of Methodist pioneer Thomas Webb, who visited this area to spread the message of his faith in the years prior to the American Revolution. Influenced by his sincerity and eloquence, a local society of Methodist was organized circa 1775. The first meetings were held in the homes of its members. Around 1780, a log meeting house was constructed on land provided by Robert Cloud. Known as Cloud’s Chapel, this building served the congregation until 1799, when it was replaced by a stone structure that became known as Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1873, the members decided to build a church at the opposite end of the adjoining graveyard. Additional land was obtained, and a new serpentine stone and brick building was completed and dedicated in 1874. After nearly a century of use, the need for a new sanctuary arose, and the present church was constructed. The building was formally opened on October 15, 1972.” (2)