Bethel Baptist Church
a.k.a. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
801 Andrews, Houston, TXBethel Baptist Church (1923, 1950) is home to one of Houston's most significant and prominent African American congregations. The church is the second and last organized by the Reverend John (Jack) Henry Yates, an early leader of Houston's African American community. Reverend J.R. Burdett, sixth pastor, led the congregation to build Unit I of a new sanctuary in 1923 as designed by Houston architect John L. Blount. In 1950, Reverend W. H. Dudley completed Unit II as originally planned under the design and construction direction of James M. Thomas. Bethel Baptist Church is among the most distinctive mid 20 century churches in Houston and is associated with the city's most active African American architects for churches in the 20th century. Despite recent declines in membership, Bethel remains one of the few active congregations in Fourth Ward. The property is being nominated under Criterion C in the area of Architecture at the local level of significance.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.