Bethel Independent Methodist Church, Shelf

Bethel originated in a schism within the congregation at Witchfield when the majority of the members supported the Wesleyan Reform Movement and formed their own congregation. The building was erected in 139 days, starting on Good Friday 1853 and opening in September the same year. Bethel originally joined the Wesleyan Reform Union, but they later joined the United Methodist Free Churches but withdrew in 1942 and has been independent ever since.

The Baptism and Burial registers start in 1852 and the Marriage register starts in 1923.

The records are held by the trustees and they have transcribed the burial registers which are available on a CD.

See https://bethelchapelshelf.weebly.com/history.html

 

Some memorials can be found on
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2180747/bethel-methodist-chapelyard