The Bethel West African Methodist Church, Circular Road, was founded on the 16th February, 1910. It started in the house of Bro. Prince Doherty and Mother Macauley at Soldier Street. Few members from Centenary Tabernacle Church within the area of Circular Road decided to start this small church with the Rev. Thomas Shears who was the first Minister.

About ten members were welcomed in the service. They were holding their service in the afternoon at the house at Soldier Street. Later, a small meeting place was handed over to them for a period of six months. They were able to have a membership of twenty five and they started collecting funds to buy a land. 

There was confusion because Tabernacle Church did not want them to have another free church.The Rev. Green-Smith. a former Missionary from the Home Mission, helped to see that money was collected for the new Bethel Chapel.

Rev. A.E. Dymond decided to have the UMF Church to help Rev. John Browne-Nichols to see that Bethel Small Chapel be listed under the WAM Free Church. As a small growing church, the membership started growing and rose to about sixty. The Circular Road site was eventually bought.

On the 17th April, 1912, Foundation Stones for the erection and dedication of the New Bethel Chapel were laid by S.A. Gabbidon, S.T.R. Smith and R.E.M. Cole Esq. Rev. P.A.S.S.A Macauley , Rev. S.E. Leigh, Rev. W.E.A. Pratt, Rev. E.A.E. Cole and others were instrumental to see that Bethel came to the marks as the property of the West African Methodist Church. Rev. Taiwo Fewry, Rev. S.A.D. Davies, Rev. J. Remesa Coker also helped the work.

Bro. C.C. Thompson came and joined this small church from Christ Church. He and other members helped in their own ways to seek funding for the extension of the church. Mother Sarah Shears, Mother Gilpin and others were able to have the Women’s Connexional Association to help in funding of God’s work. A complete renovation, extension and rehabilitation of the edifice started in March 1972  and was completed in December 1980.

After extensive renovation work by a construction firm named Fredrick Bronson and Associate, owned by Bro. D.F. Shears, the church was reopened on 21st July, 1981. Various Ministers who have labored  - Rev. J.B. Nicholls, Rev. I.S.T. Fewry, Rev. J.A. Davies, Rev. J.M. Pratt, Rev. S.J. John, Rev. C.S. Remesa Coker, Rv. S.H. Turner, Rev. P.O. Williams, Rev. Janet Campbell, Rev. Billy Campbell, Rev. S.B. Thomas, Rev. Macmandus Macauley, Rev. S.P. Campbell-Coker and others.

In 2017, after the development committee was reformed, more development took place. This started with the launching service of a new organ project. Pledges and dash card contributions were means of raising funds for the project. In spite of problems encountered with inadequate funding, Bro. D.F. Shears spearheaded by donating one hundred and forty million leones to the Organ Project. Today, we have a modern three manual electronic grand organ.

More renovation work on the church’s edifice began in October 2018. Among others, the church was blessed with air conditioners, and a three phase EDSA meter was installed. By then, the electrification of the church edifice was on a single phase. The Church Meeting, however, decided, with the approval of the Trust Board, to re-electrify the entire church and replace the chandeliers.

The new chandeliers were donated by Sis. Princess Conteh, the lectern by the Hagan family, the tiling of the compound was done by Tower Group. The development committee worked assiduously and steadfastly together to complete the beautification of the church.

We would like to thank Bro. D.F. Shears, Sis. Princess Conteh, Bro. Kweku Hingston, Bro. Olubumi Constance Pratt, Bro. Joseph Techman Kanu, all Organizations of the church and all Bethelites for their valuable contributions and support.

On the 23rd April, 2023, the Chapel Steward, Bro. Raymond B.A. Faux, and team (Bro. David Williams, Sis. Eleanor Lewis and Sis. Olivette Wurie) spearheaded the decoration of the East window (over the Communion Rails. This was dedicated by the Circuit Superintendent, Rev. Jeffery C. Mac-Thompson.