Bethlehem "Brick" Church

 The land on which Bethlehem Church stands was deeded in 1787 and was the first tract of land set aside for a Methodist Church in Dorchester County.  The first "Methodist Meeting House", later called "Bethlehem Chapel", was built in 1787, across the road from the present brick church.  Freeborn Garrettson, the "overseer of Methodism in the area", wrote in his journal, "I preached in the little new chapel on Taylors Island June 11, 1787".  This wooden chapel served the congregation until 1857 when the present brick building was constructed at a cost of $3231.49.  The original building was sold at auction to Judge Levi D. Travers for $120.00, and was used for farm storage  The chapel finally collapsed in the 1950's.  Bethlehem Church is now owned and preserved by the Grace Foundation of Taylors Island.

The Bethlehem Graveyard, across from the church, is cared for by an organization known as “The Bethlehem Graveyard Endowment Fund, Inc.”  Effective in 2009, the graveyard and the fund are now owned by the Grace Foundation.