Caseyville in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Old Bethel Baptist Church
Photographed By Jason Voigt, July 1, 2021
1. Old Bethel Baptist Church Marker
Founded in 1809 by Rev. James Lemen, Sr. In 1840 the 200 members made it the largest Baptist congregation in Illinois. A 40' x 60' frame building was built by the members in 1840. Rev. John Mason Peck preached at the dedication service. The church was a center of antislavery sentiment and the building was believed to be a station on the underground railway. The church supported missionary efforts and religious education, including the first Protestant seminary in Illinois at Rock Springs. The congregation moved to a new sanctuary in 1977. Attempts to preserve the building were unsuccessful. It was dismantled in 1981.Erected 1988 by Old Bethel Preservation Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Churches & Religion • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1809.
Location. 38° 38.684′ N, 89° 57.729′ W. Marker is in Caseyville, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is on Bethel Meadows Road north of Bethel Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower (approx. 1.7 miles away); Glenwood Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); The Freedom Tree (approx. 2.1 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Spanish War Veterans (approx. 2.1 miles away); City of Collinstown Uptown Tour (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Collinsville Historical Museum (approx. 2.2 miles away); The 1986 Additions to the Library Building (approx. 2.2 miles away).
Also see . . . Bethel Baptist of Caseyville. Official website for the church (Submitted on July 2, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Photographed By Jason Voigt, July 1, 2021
2. Old Bethel Baptist Church Marker
Wide view of marker
Photographed By Jason Voigt, July 1, 2021
3. Bethel Baptist Church
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 2, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
