BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (BETHEL A.M.E.), 241 HILTON AVENUE, VAUXHALL, NEW JERSEY WAS FOUNDED IN 1921 IN A HOME ON SPRINGFIELD AVENUE IN VAUXHALL, AS ST. MICHAEL A.M.E. CHURCH. THEY LATER MOVED TO 317 CARNEGIE PLACE. REVEREND H.M. KEMP WAS THE PASTOR.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE CHURCH RELOCATED AND MOVED INTO THE OLD MACEDONIA CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF ATLANTA AVENUE AND AUGUSTINE PLACE; FROM THERE BACK TO A HOUSE LOCATED AT 292 CARNEGIE PLACE.
REALIZING THE NEED FOR A PERMANENT PLACE OF WORSHIP, THE MEMBERSHIP, (25), PURCHASED PROPERTY ON HILTON AVENUE AND BEGAN TO BUILD. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH EDIFICE WAS COMPLETED AND THE CORNERSTONE LAID AND DEDICATED BY RT. REVEREND WILLIAM HEARD WITH REVEREND COOPER OFFICIATING IN 1923. REVEREND PLOWDEN WAS THE PASTOR.
REVEREND J.H.ELLIS BEGAN BUILDING THE CURRENT CHURCH EDIFICE IN 1956. THE CHURCH WAS COMPLETED UNDER REV. ELLIS’ ADMINISTRATION AND WAS DEDICATED ON JUNE 23, 1963 BY RT. REVEREND BABER. AFTER RENDERING FAITHFUL AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO BETHEL CHURCH, REVEREND ELLIS PASSED FROM LABOR TO REWARD ON APRIL 8, 1968.
REVEREND GLADWIN A. FUBLER WAS APPOINTED TO PASTOR BETHEL VAUXHALL IN 1982. HE WAS TO REMAIN BETHEL’S PASTOR FOR 23 YEARS, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS RETIRED AT AGE 75 AT THE NEW JERSEY A.M.E. ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN 2005. DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION, A TWO FAMILY HOUSE AND SEVERAL PARCELS OF LAND WERE PURCHASED.
REVEREND DEBORAH L. BROOKS WAS APPOINTED IN 2005 TO PASTOR BETHEL; REVEREND BROOKS WAS THE FIRST FEMALE TO SERVE AS BETHEL’S PASTOR.
TWENTY-ONE PASTORS HAVE SERVED BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH, VAUXHALL, NEW JERSEY FROM 1921 – 2009. THE TWENTY-SECOND AND CURRENT PASTOR, REVEREND DENNIS E. HUGHES WAS APPOINTED TO BETHEL ON AUGUST 9, 2009. REVEREND HUGHES HAS DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP BY ENHANCING THE CURRENT AND ESTABLISHING NEW MINISTRIES SUCH AS THE WEDNESDAY MORNING CONFERENCE PRAYER, INCREASING CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE, REINSTATING THE SENIOR LUNCH PROGRAM, IMPLEMENTING NUMEROUS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHURCH EDIFICE, AS WELL AS OTHER CHURCH OWNED PROPERTIES, INCLUDING THE MEN’S ROOM, ALTAR, REHABILITATION AND RENOVATION OF THE TWO FAMILY HOME. A SUMP PUMP WAS INSTALLED TO PREVENT FLOODING, A NEW FURNACE WAS INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FURNACE AND THE LONG AWAITED CHAIR LIFT, ENABLING ALL MEMBERS TO WORSHIP TOGETHER AS ONE…JUST TO NAME A FEW.
REVEREND DENNIS E. HUGHES CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE TO THE MINISTERIAL STAFF, OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BETHEL VAUXHALL AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF UNION/VAUXHALL. REVEREND HUGHES’ DEDICATION AND WORK IS RESPECTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL.