New Bethel Baptist Church, Baptist church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
New Bethel Baptist Church is a Baptist building in Tennessee featuring a gable-front design with three bays and weatherboard siding. The structure rests on a concrete foundation and reflects the rural architectural style of its era.
The church was built in 1924 and served its congregation for more than 90 years. In 1942, the federal government acquired the property for the Manhattan Project, fundamentally changing the area's purpose.
The congregation followed specific traditions where men and women sat on opposite sides of the church during services, reflecting social norms of the period.
The structure is located on Bethel Valley Road and remains under Department of Energy management. Visitors should arrange permission beforehand and plan ahead for access to the site.
During the Manhattan Project, scientists converted the building into a meeting space for discussions on nuclear physics and research. This unexpected repurposing shows how a religious structure became central to Cold War era science.
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