Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church

This congregation traces its roots to 1809, when a house of worship was constructed to serve many local residents who were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. First known as Elzey Moore’s Meeting House, the church was formally renamed Wesley Chapel in 1825. After Wesley closed in 1852, members living near the seafaring village of Lewisville held services in local homes. In 1855 they built a church at this location on land bought from Bayard Moore, and it became known as Sailor’s Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1880 Lewisville was formally renamed Bethel, reflecting the importance of the church in the community. The present church was built in 1884, and its name was later shortened to Bethel M.E. Church. After services ended at St. John’s Methodist Protestant Church in 1902, many of its members joined the Bethel congregation, and their former church was acquired and converted into the Community Hall. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 2004 the congregation chose to reclaim the historic name Sailor’s Bethel Church.

Bethel, Delaware · United States