Near Canehill in Washington County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Bethlehem Methodist-Episcopal Church South

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 21, 2023

1. Bethlehem Methodist-Episcopal Church South Marker

Inscription.
This is the site of
the first church established
in Washington County Arkansas
Bethlehem
Methodist-Episcopal
Church South
established April 17th, 1827

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is April 17, 1827.

Location. 35° 52.078′ N, 94° 27.55′ W. Marker is near Canehill, Arkansas, in Washington County. It can be reached from East Munyon Road (County Road 442) 0.3 miles south of State Route 45, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Bethlehem Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16659 E Munyon Rd, Canehill AR 72717, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northwest Arkansas,

on the Ozark Plateau,

in the Cherokee Heritage Region,

and in Osage Territory.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ozarks.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

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one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bethlehem Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Hermannsburg-Dutch Mills (approx. 1.9 miles away); R. L. Leach Grocery Store (approx. 1.9 miles away); Fruit Cellar (approx. 4.4 miles away); Dr. William and Laura Welch House - 1855 (approx. 4.4 miles away); Zebulon and Eunice Edmiston House – 1872 (approx. 4½ miles away); Washington County Cane Hill College (approx. 4.6 miles away); Archie Leonard Reed Sorghum Shed (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canehill.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Battle of Cane Hill (was approx. 4½ miles away but has been confirmed missing); Confederates Fall Back Before Union Assault (was approx. 4.6 miles away but has been permanently removed); The Troops Who Fought at Cane Hill (was approx. 4.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Bethlehem Methodist-Episcopal Church South. Excerpts from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the church cemetery:

In
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 21, 2023

2. Bethlehem Methodist-Episcopal Church South Marker
1827, the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church South was constructed by John Bankston. At the time of its construction the church was located on the main road between the towns of Vineyard and Canehill … Circa 1910 the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church South was moved to the town of Morrow; thus the only thing that remains of historic Bethlehem is the old weathered gravestone of some of the county's earliest settlers.

In 1826 a group of six families led by Hugh Simpson settled near Canehill. The pioneers settled on Indian land and shortly after soldiers from Ft. Gibson rode in and destroyed their crops in an attempt to force them off of the land, but this effort failed. Shortly after the soldiers had left the families returned to their land. These settlers built the Bethlehem Methodists Episcopal Church South in 1827, a year before Washington County was officially open to settlement.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.