The historic records of the earliest beginnings of our church were not preserved over the years. Taking the verbal accounts of those who recalled the church’s inception, these facts were ascertained: that the church was established by Reverend G.C. Coleman, former pastor of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. There were several dates mentioned as the the date of inception of the Bethany Baptist Church. The years were 1904 and 1910.

Upon checking the minutes of the Mt. Carmel Church, we learned that Reverend G.C. Coleman served as pastor of that church until 1910. He could not have logically established Bethany under his leadership until he resigned his duties as the pastor of Mt. Carmel.

On the third Sunday of May, 1925, the Bethany Baptist Church- consisting of five members meeting on the third floor in a building on Arch street near fifty -sixth street- called the reverend James H. Saunders to its pastorate.