Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is a wooden-frame building in McClellanville featuring Gothic Revival design with a square steeple and peaked roof. The structure sits on Drayton Street alongside its cemetery, which together form the historic property.

The church was founded in 1872 when African American congregants separated from Duncan United Methodist Church to establish their own congregation. This creation followed emancipation and reflected the community's desire to worship independently.

The congregation serves as a gathering place for the local African American community and continues to host religious services and community events. Visitors can experience how the church remains a center of spiritual and social life in this rural South Carolina town.

The building is located in McClellanville, a small rural community in South Carolina that is easy to navigate on foot. Visitors should check opening times in advance since it remains an active church with regular services.

Augustus T. Carr, a formerly enslaved person, led the congregation and had purchased freedom for himself and his family. His leadership was crucial in establishing the church as a foundation for the community.