The community was very important to these early settlers and they worked for the common interest. They were honest, upright citizens of good character, coming from various denominations of the Protestant church. As a symbol of their faith, they sought to give the church a place in the life of what became known as the Bethel Community. Their vision was to leave behind a church in which the lives of those who came after would find a blessing… a monument of their faith.

We can visualize the scene as the church is built: men with teams of horses and stone boats, blasting powder, crowbars and shovels, converging together as neighbours in every sense of the word. Rolling the huge granite boulders in shades of pink and grey onto their stone boats to draw them to the spot where Scottish stonemasons would split them. Like most pioneer enterprises, so much of the work was done by these early settlers, but the construction was directed by Mr. Watt, a builder from Brantford. The final cost was $1200 and it was dedicated as an Episcopal Methodist Church.

The early settlers took leadership in the church, David White Jr. 23, who came from a very musical family, led the singing with the use of a tuning fork until an organ was purchased in 1875. He and his daughters made a great contribution to the life of the church with their musical talents and formed an orchestra for special occasions. Robert Pottruff and Henry Cope were the first class teachers with meetings held following service. William Lovett Jr. was the first church secretary and Harriet Aulsebrook was the first organist.

Other early settlers by the name of Peart, Milburn and Turnbull, came after the church was built. They all married in the Pottruff family and were strong supporters of the church and community. The Bethel community revolved around the church, the school and the family. The church was not only a place of worship, but the hub of social life of a tight-knit farming community of intermarried families until the 1950’s, when it opened up to become semi-agricultural and residential. All of this brought growth, change and a new perspective but the community continued to extend a warm welcome to one and all. Bethel Stone United Church is as strong today as when it was built and will continue to stand as a beacon of light to give direction of purpose to the lives of those who come within its reach. Fifth, sixth and seventh generation descendants of the pioneers are still involved in the church and community today.