Bethel A.M.E. Church Relocation Groundbreaking

Bethel A.M.E. Church Relocation Groundbreaking

On Saturday morning, June 25, 2022 over one-hundred people attended the official groundbreaking for the Bethel African American Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church that will soon be relocated to a site in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland.

In short, the church building was originally constructed in Oakland, Maryland at some point in the late 1890’s. However, the congregation itself may well have existed at least a decade earlier. At some point, and primarily due to racial tension and fear, the black residents left the area and the church building was taken over by the community. The building was eventually purchased by a member of the Amish community and relocated to a farm south of Oakland in 1935. There it has remained serving as a blacksmith and harness building until recently purchased by the town of Mountain Lake Park, which will have it restored and relocated to this new location. It is proposed the church building will serve as a place for learning and enlightenment.

A much more comprehensive history of the Bethel A.M.E. Church building is contained at Oakland, Garrett County, Md. Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Numerous regional and statewide leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as local and state elected officials attended and/or participated in the event. In addition, among the honored guests were descendants of Bethel’s A.M.E. Church congregation.

Descendants of the Bethel A.M.E. Church of Oakland in attendance included: Tiffany R. Frazier, Tifani Fisher, Kijana West, Scarlett West-Spicer and Yvonne West Burroughs.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) officials in attendance included: Maryland NAACP President Willie Flowers, Garrett County, Maryland NAACP Branch #7139 President Daphne Gooding and Allegany County, Maryland NAACP Branch #7007 President Tifani Fisher.
State and County and Local officials in attendance included: Maryland State Senator George Edwards, Maryland State Delegate Wendell Beitzel, Garrett County Commissioner Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett County Commissioner Paul Edwards, Garrett County Commissioner Larry Tichnell and Mountain Lake Park Mayor Donald Sincell.

The groundbreaking ceremony was sponsored by the Diversity and Engagement Employee Group of the First United Bank & Trust

Notes:

Depicted in the groundbreaking photograph are, from left to right: Bethel A.M.E. Church descendant Yvonne West Burroughs, Garrett County NAACP President Daphne Gooding, Maryland NAACP President Willie Flowers, Allegany County NAACP President and Bethel A.M.E. Church descendant Tifani Fisher, Ravonah Stringfellow and Bethel A.M.E. Church descendant Scarlett West-Spicer.

The second photograph depicts Maryland NAACP President leading members of the Garrett County branch in prayer over the site of the relocation. The pouring of water symbolizes purity and allegiance to God.