The "Strawberry Street Forever" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Parked my car on East Strawberry Street in the southeast section of the city of Lancaster and crossed the street for my photo shoot.  In this section of the city, with rows and rows of primarily two-story row homes,

The graveyard of the Bethel AME church.

it is rare to find any large grassy areas, but that isn't the case today as I wandered through the beautiful crocus-covered, grassy graveyard of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.  This small church was at one time a stop on the underground railroad that ran through the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania to points to the north and east.  It was on June 10, 1817 that about fifty free people of color gathered at the home of James and Elizabeth Clendenin to map out plans for a separate house of worship for African-Americans in Lancaster.  Two distinct committees were created; (1) one comprised of three men-of-color who would speak on the behalf of the free people and (2) another committee of six white men from nearby Episcopal and Lutheran churches whom the first group would approach for advice.  Wasn't long before the two committees met and adopted resolutions of support for the fledgling church.  It is said, but not totally documented, that the African church first gathered for services in a tavern on East King Street.  One of the three men-of-color from the committee worked at the tavern and so it was assumed that was the site for the first home of the African church.  The church grew and eventually in 1821 they had saved enough money to buy land to build a proper church for worship.  The land they purchased was in the neighborhood once known as Adamstown and Mussertown; now known as Churchtowne.  On February 11, 1821 the Reverend Christian Endress from Trinity Lutheran Church preached the dedicatory sermon.  

Early photo of the AME Church in Churchtowne.

During most of the first fifty years of existence, the people of Bethel risked their own lives to help Southern slaves escape on the Under- ground Railroad.  There was even a group of women who were known as the Tent Sisters who made clothing to help the slaves change their appearance.  Two lumber merchants in the area, Stephen Smith and William Whipper, who had close ties to the church, were what was called conductors on the Underground Railroad.  They helped build secret compartments in railroad cars to conceal those escaping to the east by train.  It was thought that the Bethel Church was originally called St. James African Methodist Church, since it was believed that they were affiliated with St. James Episcopal Church on nearby Duke Street, my home church, since the city directory of 1843 refers to the new church as St. James African Church.  

Front of today's Bethel AME Church.

Then on March 27, 1848 the trustees of the Bethel Church incorpo- rated the church as "The African Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Lancaster."  A year later the city contributed $150 to help build a Sunday school house.  The school was also used as a school for African Americans during the week.  On April 26, 1870 the Bethel congregation celebrated the ratification of the 15th amendment to the Constitution which gave African Americans the right to vote.  

Tombstones of Veterans line the graveyard.

Nine years later though two young men were seen running from a burning Bethel Church.  Arson was suspected, but the building was still structurally sound.  A few months later the building had a new brick facade.  Today, the church has an overlay of formstone and behind it on Strawberry St. stands the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Cultural Center.  The church is a vibrant part of the community and I enjoyed walking through the cemetery, viewing the tombstones of African Civil War veterans who forever will rest in Bethel's cemetery.   As I stood in front of the church with my camera, I pictured in my mind a rousing Sunday service full of excitement, music, prayer and the love that made this church so special.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Gravesite of an African Civil War Veteran.

The majestic front door of the church.  Hard to imagine how many historical and special people have walked through these doors since the church was first built in 1821.

Message board telling of the services held at the church.