Mansfield in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Bethlehem Baptist Church

Photographed by QuesterMark, September 27, 2026

1. Bethlehem Baptist Church Marker

Inscription.
Founded in 1870 as the Colored Baptist Church of Mansfield, this congregation is the oldest continually existing church in the community and one of the oldest historically African American churches in Tarrant County. It began as newly freed men and women gathered in homes, brush arbors and temporary locations, including a schoolhouse, to worship in the years after Emancipation. Around 1890, the church officially adopted the name Bethlehem Baptist Church. The Reverend Green Medlin served as the first pastor. Other early leaders include the Reverend J. P. Phillips, the Reverend C. C. Carson and the Reverend L. E. Billingslea.

In 1894, J. H. Wright conveyed one acre of his land to church trustees Ben Wyatt and Jessie Mitchell. On this site, members erected a building and parsonage in 1895. The new church building became a center of activity for Mansfield’s African American community, including health education and school integration efforts. Several long-time Mansfield families, including the Briscoes, Mannings and Moodys, were active at Bethlehem. In 1957, the church purchased an adjoining 0.96 acres from Jennie V. Hearne. In

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1976, Bethlehem purchased the nearby 3.725-acre site of Willie Brown School from Mansfield Independent School District. This facility had been the school for the area’s African American students during the time of segregation. The church rehabilitated the school building as a church and parsonage. The following year, Bethlehem sold the original site. From the new location, Bethlehem continued to expand, constructing several new buildings for use by the community. For over one hundred years, Bethlehem has served the spiritual and daily needs of the surrounding Mansfield community.

Erected 2024 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 24312.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 32° 33.399′ N, 97° 9.739′ W. Marker is in Mansfield, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is on West Broad Street 0.1 miles west of Morgan Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1188 W Broad St, Mansfield TX 76063, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Bethlehem Baptist Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by QuesterMark, September 27, 2026

2. Bethlehem Baptist Church and Marker

this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery (approx. ¾ mile away); Ralph Sandiford Man (approx. one mile away); History of the Man House (approx. one mile away); Ralph Man Homestead (approx. one mile away); Man's Barn and Land (approx. one mile away); Masonic Lodge Building (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Farr Best Theater (approx. 1.3 miles away); Mansfeild Mill (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mansfield.

More about this marker. The dedication ceremony for this marker was held Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 1:30pm.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2026, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 29, 2026, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.