Bethany Gospel Chapel, Newport News, VA
From BrethrenPedia
Contents
History
Bethany Gospel Chapel in Newport News dates back to the turn of the century when five families met each Sunday to Break Bread in the home of William Dunning, who was a shipyard coppersmith. It met in the 300 block of 49th Street.
At about the same time, by 1908, a different group, led by John Millar, Sr., formed a Sunday school in a nearby building that had been used by Calvary Baptist and a Pentecostal group. Millar met Mr. Dunning and was so impressed with the type of services held at Dunning’s home that he made his building available for the assembly services. Old Dominion Land Co. owned the building which was rented to the Brethren for $5 per month.
A few years later the growing assembly purchased a house and land and for $1,200 and organized under the name Gospel Hall. The first trustees were Henry O. Eggleston, T.J. Murphy, and John Millar, Sr.
Expansion led to plans for a new building in 1938. The Hampton architect was Custer Robinson who designed the chapel on the Easthampton Methodist Church. "They had a steeple and we didn't, but otherwise the two buildings were much the same." The first meeting held in the new Newport News Gospel Hall at 82 - 29th Street was in May 1940.
By 1951, there was a hive from Bethany known as Deep Creek Gospel Hall aka Union Gospel Chapel. B.L. Redford gave gospel meetings there that year.
In 1961, the name was changed to Bethany Gospel Chapel. Around 1962, when the area around the area was becoming more commercialized, the assembly moved to 40 Ballard Road in a residential neighborhood, where more children could have easy access to hear the Gospel. Construction of Bethany Gospel Chapel was begun in September 1963 and the chapel was dedicated in June 1964. The congregation numbered 125-150 in 1963, and had outgrown their Sunday School quarters. Officers in 1963 included John Millar, Jr., his brother William O. Millar, Bailey as the SS Supt., and J.P. Dale as chairman of the board of trustees.
They have had many types of community outreaches from Vacation Bible School, etc. In the 1980's, some families hived off of Bethany to plant another assembly, but it was short-lived.
Conferences
1937
Newport News, VA: Conference was held Jan. 1-3. Fifteen preachers were present. Benjamin Bradford, S. McEwan, Fisher Hunter, Jas. Smith, William Smith, Mehl, Calderhead, Crocker, Cather, Reager, Nugent, Monypenny, Wilson, McCloud, and Craig. Conference was much enjoyed.
Visiting Itinerants
1934
July: S. McEwen, George Winemiller and John Monypenny each had meetings while passing through Washington D.C. Brethren McClure and Monypenny took meetings in the afternoon and evening on June 3 in New York City. George Winemiller had a week's meetings in Newport, a week in Matoaca and a week in Petersburg and Richmond, all in Virginia. Bro. Monypenny visited the same assemblies and had one meeting in each, and two in Richmond. Messrs. Benjamin Bradford and W.H. Hunter are expected for meetings in Petersburg and Newport News.
1943
Harold G. Mackay ministered here in 1943, while ministering elsewhere in the South. See Plumsteadville article.
1945
1964
J.M. Davies, missionary to India for 40 years, was the guest speaker when Bethany moved to their present location, as advertised in the Daily Press of Newport News on May 17, 1964.
1984-1985
Bethany Gospel Chapel provided "Help for the Family" community outreach events in the 1980's, including David Stiefler, from Blasdell, New York, who taught on the twelve disciples for a week of evenings in March, 1984 & November, 1985, featuring black light & "scene-o-felt" illustrations.
1987
Worth Ellis did a week's worth of gospel meetings Oct. 4-11;
Locations
- William Dunning's home @ 300 block of 49th St. & nearby SS
- Huntington Ave. & 35th Sts. +1929-1940
- an old frame building initially used as a mission of Calvary Baptist Church, then as a Pentecostal meeting;
- 82-29th St. aka 29th & Casino 1940-1962
- 40 Ballard Rd. 1962-present
Alumni
Also See
- Bethany's Facebook page
- William O. Millar assembly history
Sources
- Robert L. Peterson's history of assemblies in Virginia
- Assembly Annals 1943
- Light & Liberty 1934 & 1937;
- Newspapers.com
- Daily Press 1961-2018
