184 Kelley Street
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Last updated July 3, 2025
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Directions from Stuart's Little Record Shop House to site 18:
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Freedman Ambrose Dallard and several others purchased land in 1870 to establish “Colored United Brethren in Christ Church” and a cemetery. Ambrose and the other trustees were unable to make payments and lost ownership of the lots. In 1892, Ambros and his son-in-law, George A. Newman, attempted to reestablish a congregation. In Virginia, the Church of United Brethren in Christ supported African American congregations during the postbellum period. In Rockingham County, the church supported the establishment of the Long’s Chapel congregation in Zenda in the 1860s. The Brethren supported black congregations through its Freedmen’s Mission. Theodore K. Clifford, a free-born African American and Union army veteran, joined the Brethren Virginia Conference in 1887 and headed the Freedmen’s Mission until he died in 1908. Ambrose Dallard and George Newman invited Theodore to Newtown to organize a black Brethren congregation.
The congregation held their first meeting on November 12, 1892, at the Newman residence, where they planned the construction of the new church. The building committee comprised Ambrose Dallard, Howard M. Dallard, and George A. Newman. Ambrose Dallard and his wife, Harriet Dallard, donated land in 1893 to the United Brethren Church trustees to build a church. The building committee kept a record of the construction progress. In July 1893, the church employed Ambrose Dallard, his brother Reuben Dallard, and George A. Newman to perform carpenter work for one dollar a day. The construction was completed on November 28, 1893.
The congregation raised funds for the church through community events, including festivals and entertainment. The congregation also held “bush meetings” for its members. Early congregations of the denomination often met under brush arbors before permanent buildings. In 1898, the church held a lecture on Cuba, the same year the Spanish-American War started, and in 1903, it hosted several debates.
After the church opened for service, the church struggled and thrived under different ministers. The church closed in 1909, and many members joined the John Wesley Methodist Church. The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination acquired the church building in 1919 and has served as an AME church since. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was established in Philadelphia in the late 18th century. Bethel AME Church was the forts AME church and gave its name to the church on Kelley Street. From 1949 to 1953, under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Cotton, is a time remembered as very active. During the pastorate of Rev. E. C. Lloyd from 1963 to 1965, a rear addition was built, which included a social hall and parsonage. The Bethel AME Church is still active today.
The congregation held their first meeting on November 12, 1892, at the Newman residence, where they planned the construction of the new church. The building committee comprised Ambrose Dallard, Howard M. Dallard, and George A. Newman. Ambrose Dallard and his wife, Harriet Dallard, donated land in 1893 to the United Brethren Church trustees to build a church. The building committee kept a record of the construction progress. In July 1893, the church employed Ambrose Dallard, his brother Reuben Dallard, and George A. Newman to perform carpenter work for one dollar a day. The construction was completed on November 28, 1893.
The congregation raised funds for the church through community events, including festivals and entertainment. The congregation also held “bush meetings” for its members. Early congregations of the denomination often met under brush arbors before permanent buildings. In 1898, the church held a lecture on Cuba, the same year the Spanish-American War started, and in 1903, it hosted several debates.
After the church opened for service, the church struggled and thrived under different ministers. The church closed in 1909, and many members joined the John Wesley Methodist Church. The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination acquired the church building in 1919 and has served as an AME church since. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was established in Philadelphia in the late 18th century. Bethel AME Church was the forts AME church and gave its name to the church on Kelley Street. From 1949 to 1953, under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Cotton, is a time remembered as very active. During the pastorate of Rev. E. C. Lloyd from 1963 to 1965, a rear addition was built, which included a social hall and parsonage. The Bethel AME Church is still active today.
