Charleston County · Marker 10-136
New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
3754 Old Charleston Rd., Johns Island vicinity
Front inscription
New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church organized in 1888. Tradition holds that members initially worshipped under a brush arbor. They then built at this site a two-story wood frame church that included a central tower and pedimented portico. Early members were mostly local farming families.
Reverse inscription
In the 20th century, New Bethel AME Church became an important institution for the Red Top section of Charleston County. It was used as a community meeting place and hosted a county health clinic in the 1930s to 1950s, providing prenatal and other care to local Black residents. The church was rebuilt in 1982.