Broad Creek Hundred in Bethel in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 15, 2012

1. Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. The roots of this congregation can be traced to 1809, when a house of worship was constructed to serve the needs of the many residents of this area who were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. First known as Elzey Moore’s Meeting House, the name of the church was formally changed to Wesley Chapel in 1825. Following the closing of Wesley in 1852, members of the congregation who resided in the vicinity of the seafaring village of Lewisville conducted services in area homes. In 1855 they constructed a church at this location on land purchased from Bayard Moore. The church became known as Sailor’s Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1880 the name of Lewisville was formally changed to Bethel, reflecting the importance of this community institution. The present church was built in 1884, and its name was subsequently abbreviated to Bethel M.E. Church. With the discontinuation of services at St. John’s Methodist Protestant Church in 1902, many of its members joined the Bethel congregation. Their former church was obtained and converted for use as the Community Hall. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 2004 the members of the church elected to reclaim the historical name of Sailor’s Bethel Church.

Erected 2004 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number SC-191.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1809.

Location. 38° 34.232′ N, 75° 37.152′ W. Marker is in Bethel, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Broad Creek Hundred. It is at the intersection of Main Avenue and Main Avenue on Main Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or

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near this postal address: 7752 Main Ave, Bethel DE 19931, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shipcarpenters and Seamen Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Town of Bethel (within shouting distance of this marker); Bethel Shipyard (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bethel Community House (about 800 feet away); Portsville United Methodist Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); Paul Laurence Dunbar School (approx. 2.3 miles away); Mount Zion United Methodist Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); 709 West Street (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bethel.

Also see . . . Bethel Historic District - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church and Marker at left image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 15, 2012

2. Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church and Marker at left

The Nomination form for NRHP does not have any reference to this church specifically, but it is within the boundaries of the historic area.

The town of Bethel has grown very little since the commercial shipyards closed in 1918. Although the shipyards and the drawbridge no longer exist, the town retains a large number of houses that were built during Lewisville's seafaring days.

(Submitted on April 24, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Wilmington, Delaware.)

Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church with adjoining cemetery, along Main Street at Main Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 15, 2012

3. Sailor's Bethel Methodist Church with adjoining cemetery, along Main Street at Main Avenue

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.