| 1861-1901 |
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| RESTRICTED: Access is by microfilm only. Do not circulate originals without the permission of the primary search room archivist |
| Contact the Department of Special Collections for location. |
| Bethlehem Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church records. |
1781 First organized Methodist Church in Dorchester County was on Taylors Island
1787 First Methodist church built on Taylors Island for Methodist Episcopal Church, referred to as "Methodist Meeting House," later called Bethlehem
1857 New church built for Bethlehem Congregation, Dorchester Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia Conference
1860 Bethlehem Congregation reorganized as Taylors Island Station, Virginia Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church South. Withdrew from Methodist Episcopal Church in dispute over slavery.
1862 Taylors Island Circuit includes Antioch Church and Bethlehem
1866 Joppa Church at Tobacco Stick (now Madison) and Friendship (originally from Ennals Chapel) become part of circuit
1868 The name Dorchester Circuit substituted for Taylors Island Circuit
1887 Cambridge Circuit carved from Dorchester Circuit, including Antioch, Bucktown, Friendship and Milton. Dorchester Circuit made up of Joppa at Madison, Nazareth at Lakeville, Bethlehem at Taylors Island, Oak Grove (commonly called Golden Hill) and Zion
1891 Bucktown returned to Methodist Episcopal Church
1897 Dorchester Charge included Madison, James Island, Oak Grove, Taylors Island, and Lakeville
1939 Union of Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Episcopal Church South and Methodist Protestant Church. On the Eastern Shore, the Peninsula Annual Conference Methodist Church replaced Wilmington Methodist Episcopal Church Conference, Baltimore Conference Methodist Episcopal Church South, Virginia Conference Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Maryland Conference Methodist Protestant.
1944 Cambridge Circuit, Easton District of the Peninsula Annual Conference consisted of Antioch, Bethlehem, Bucktown, Joppa, Friendship and Milton
1955 Church Creek Circuit, Easton District included Chaplain Memorial, Bethlehem, Gethsemane, Joppa, Milton and White Haven
1958 Chaplain and Bethlehem Churches on Taylors Island merged. Chaplain was a former Methodist Episcopal church begun in 1888
1959 Church Creek Circuit, Easton District included Madison, Milton, Taylors Island, and White Haven
1965 Delaware Annual Conference merged into Peninsula Annaul Conference Methodist Church to become United Methodist Church |
