Welcome to Our CHURCH

Bethlehem Lutheran Church sits proudly off US 441 South of Lake City in the Ellisville Community.  Organized in 1859, the members worshiped in a log schoolhouse not far from the site of the present church.  By 1862, the congregation had erected a building with boxed style rough lumber.  

A hurricane referred to as “The Great Storm of 1896”, swept the northern part of the state on September 19, completely destroying the church building.  Trees that had fallen were sawed into rough lumber, and with most of the labor being donated, the new church was built.  This building was complete and, on or about the first Sunday of July 1897, the building dedicated.   Over the years the building has been remodeled many times.  Its appearance started changing in 1925 when metal shingles were added.  With minor repairs, this roof lasted until a new metal roof was installed in January, 1998.

The front entrance was changed in 1939 from 2 doors on either side to one main door in the middle with steps and an open porch with rails.  Florentine Art Glass Windows were placed in the church in 1956.  The church underwent a complete remodeling inside and out in 1975.  The original building dedicated in 1897 was brick veneered.

Adjacent to the church is the cemetery which contains graves of founding families, their descendants and community citizens.  Just a walk through the cemetery tells the church  history of its own.  Graves date back to the founding of the church with some of those being men who died during times of war.