History and Background
The present building of the church commonly known as the “Church on the Hill,” has set upon its foundation since the year 1826.
There were three churches in Bethany in the early 1800s. Only the Bethany Center Baptist remains; it was organized in 1820, with the church building being built in 1826 ~ the site was donated by Deacon Abner Ashley ~ John Blain was the first pastor for the twenty-six members. When the house of worship was completed, the first to pastor it was Elder Bartemus Brayman. The year 1830 marked the beginning of the first Sunday School classes held at the church.
During its first 100 years the Church was served by 28 pastors; 399 persons had been baptized into its fellowship.
Presently, the bell from the Bethany Center Church is housed at the Bethany Town Hall. The story goes that during a windstorm around 1880 the church’s steeple was blown off the roof and across the road; the bell was taken to the Town Hall and has remained there since. A project is under way to bring the bell back to the church-grounds and display it upon the front lawn as a cornerstone, or landmark, of the community.
Church records date back to 1860 of names from the Bethany community who became members of this church. Records previous to that date, unfortunately, have been lost through time.
At present a research and transcribing project is on-going with intentions to bring names of former church members to the public for family and genealogical interest. More information will be forthcoming on this topic.
The church is not a building; a church is the people.
While times change, people do not. The basic needs must still be fulfilled to exist: food and shelter. While the physical body
needs nourishment to live and a shelter from the elements, the soul craves to be fed and cared for, also. Knowing about God is fascinating; knowing God personally is life-changing.
We are also amidst a community project to have the churches original bell returned from the Town hall. Much must be done for such an endeavor as this...
The following is a photo of the bell and information pertaining to it's history:
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The Old Bell Founder
(written by John H. Yates)
The old bell founder ! years ago,
He lived within our town;
He was a man of no great means,
A man of no renown;
Oft have I lingered near his shop,
To hear the sweet tones swell,
As he would test, with measured stroke,
A newly-molded bell.
……………
There is a life we all may live;
A work we all may do;
That will some joy and comfort give,
When life’s short day is through;
The good deeds’ done, the kind words said,
The earthly life lived well;
May speak to others, when we’re dead,
Like that sweet-sounding bell.
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Batavia, December,
1869
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This poem was written as a tribute to the man who made the bells for all of the churches in Batavia and also for Bethany Center Baptist Church.
James Cochran, a bell founder who traveled north from Pennsylvania (where he often had Benjamin Franklin come into his shop!), came to Genesee County in 1802, being one of our county’s first pioneers. He set up the Bell Foundry business on Bank Street, which at that time was affectionately referred to as “Dingle Alley” because of Mr. Cochran’s constant dingle in testing his bells.
James Cochran was a man of many talents and abilities. He not only cast bells, but made brass newels for staircases, window springs with rollers, and he invented ‘Cut Nails’; also, he is said to have made the first ‘Cents’ ever coined in America!
Presently, the bell from the Bethany Center Church is housed at the Bethany Town Hall. The story goes that during a windstorm, the church’s steeple was blown off and across the road; the bell was then taken to the Town Hall and has remained there since.
With the gracious assistance of the Town Highway Department, two members of the church climbed to the top of the town hall to examine the Bell, which is approximately three feet wide and estimated to be about 750 pounds. It is in extremely good condition, and shows the name of James Cochran and the year it was made, 1834.
A Bell Project has been formed to bring the Bell back to its home at the church. It is a valuable piece of our church’s history, as well as a part of the historic past of Bethany. The goal is not to re-hang the bell at the top of the church, but to display it in a prominent place on the front lawn, with the intentions being that it can become a cornerstone and landmark for the Bethany community.
For further information, you may contact the church office, or Linda Schmidt,
http://www.arkwebshost.com/family/bluebird/