OUR HISTORY
As Mother Bethel of Mississippi approaches its 150 year anniversary, only through understanding where we've come, can our community truly appreciate the Lord's favor. Our wonderful structure is just a building. The faithful leaders, congregation, members, and community, under God's guidance are responsible for the amazing and remarkable history of Bethel AME of Vicksburg Mississippi.
Many of the African-American leadership of the State of Mississippi has come from the AME Church, including educators, businessmen, professionals, political leaders, and ministers.
Bethel AME Timeline
1863: The Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton into the defensive lines surrounding the fortress city ofVicksburg, Mississippi.
January 1864: Bethel AME Church Founded by Reverend Page Tyler, a missionary from Indiana
Reverend Dr. T.W. Stringer: The first Pastor of Bethel. He was a freeman from Canada. He established the T.W. Stringer Grand Lodge of Freemasonry for the State of Mississippi in Vicksburg. Mississippi's first Masonic Lodge established at Bethel.
Hiram Revels: The first African-American United States Senator, first president of Alcorn University was a member of the Mississippi AME Church
1871 Alcorn State University Founded: Hiram R. Revels resigned his seat in the United States Senate to become Alcorn's first president.
I.T. Montgomery: The only African-American member of the Mississippi Constitutional Convention of 1890, and active member of Bethel AME. His death in 1924 was mourn throughout the nation.
1887 Town of Mound Bayou Founded: It is notable for having been founded as the first all African American town in 1887 by former slaves led by Isaiah Montgomery. Dr. Montgomery was also a founder of Campbell College at Bethel AME.
1890 Campbell College Founded: Founded at Bethel AME under the leadership of Dr. Isaiah Thornton Montgomery. Campbell College was the first African American college to be established without the aid of whites. Sponsored by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it had campuses at Vicksburg and Friar’s Point. These were consolidated in 1898 and moved to Jackson near Jackson State College. Campbell College was absorbed by Jackson State University in 1965.
John R. Lynch: The first African-American Congressman from Mississippi, and member of Bethel AME of Vicksburg.
Bethel AME And Member Legacies:
Four (4) Vicksburg Schools were named for members of Bethel: (JGH) Bowman High School; Rosa A. Temple High School; (LC) Jefferson Junior High School; and (GM) McIntyre Elementary School. Beulah Cemetery, Vicksburg’s largest African American cemetery with over 5,500 graves containing the city’s most prominent African American families, was started by members of Bethel; and the first Black Funeral Home in Vicksburg, Jefferson Funeral Home, was founded and owned by members of Bethel.
Bethel AME and Alcorn State University:
Bethel produced two (2) Alcorn State University Presidents, Hiram R. Revel and L. J. Bowman. Hiram Revel, was also on a pastor of Bethel.
Bethel AME and Jackson State University:
Campbell College was the first African American college to be established without the aid of whites. Sponsored by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it had campuses at Vicksburg and Friar’s Point. These were consolidated in 1898 and moved to Jackson near Jackson State College. Campbell College was absorbed by Jackson State University in 1965.
Bethel AME and Masonry in Mississippi:
The first Black Prince Hall Masonry in the State of Mississippi, Stringer Lodge, formed at Bethel in 1875 by T. W. Stringer who was pastor at the time.
