The foundation of Bethany Gospel Chapel is originated from a settlement on the northwest coast of Abaco, called Bluff Point. It was in the year 1932, around the month of September when a disastrous hurricane came and destroyed the only church (Zion Baptist) and all but three homes. 

       Homes were rebuilt—but services were kept in the great outdoors. A missionary  by the name of Dr. Walter Kendrick (who resided and served as a doctor on Green Turtle Cay) began his tenure during the latter part of 1933 on visiting the community  periodically and seeing that the Baptist church was not rebuilt, he raised a question to the leading men of that settlement, “do they want a Brethren church to become their new place of worship?”  He further told them about a building he could give them, but it has to be dismantle and shipped to Bluff Point.

       The decision was yes! They then got the building for them to worship in, which they transported by boat into Sand Banks (northeast Abaco mainland), then the men towed the lumbers across to the northwest coast into Bluff Point. Although the task was strenuous, they were determined to get their church built.

The work of reconstructing the church began and was completed in 1935. The name of the assembly was “Memorial Gospel Hall”, and the first four leaders appointed were Elder Zaachaeus Swain, Elder Roland Reckley, Elder George Curry and Elder Jonathan McKenzie; these men were taught and guided by Dr. Kendrick in the infancy of the work.

     The inhabitants of Bluff Point faced so many devastating hurricanes and there was no easy form of communication, the government moved them to higher grounds.  In the early forties the people were relocated to Murphy Town, hence they took down the church  and brought it with them.

      After the passing of the foundation layers—the assembly was then headed by Elder Gilbert R. Curry,  Elder Benjamin L. Curry,  and Elder Raymond Thomas Davis. Working with these elders were Evangelist David and Mary Cartwright, who labored greatly in teaching  the word of God, summer school, crusades, from which the assembly profited greatly. As members increased and the old building , a larger structure was needed. The Leadership along with the members went to work.  In the late 1965 and early 1966 the assembly was completed and was dedicated on May 15th, 1966.  At the  dedication of the second building, the leaders  on the advice  of Evangelist David Cartwright change the name of the assembly to “Bethany Gospel Chapel”, the name which have been kept, to date.  The mission house was added two years later.                    

      In nineteen seventy-two, Bert Livingstone Williams Jr. began ministering in the assembly sanction by the elders, and was later added to the elder board. In the early nineties Arthur George Mitchell was appointed to the elder board. Alexander Saunders and Denvill Alfred Newbold, were the first two men to be installed as deacons in the work. This group of leaders were assisted by Elder Lucien Michael Curry for a few years, who helped to establish ministries in the assembly and helped the leadership to function at a more mature level, by encouraging them to take more oversight of the work. Elder Roy, Benjamin, Raymond, and Deacon Alexander fell asleep; Elder Arthur and family relocated to Grand Bahama.

        Over the years the number of believers increased, making it necessary to build a larger auditorium to accommodate the growth.  In  1991, the leadership  applied to  the government  for  five acres of land to build a larger place to worship; it was granted and purchased.  The church was incorporated in the year 2000 as an non-profit association. The following men, Renardo Benjamin Jermaine Curry,  Brian Alexander Saunders and Ted Marvin Swain was appointed and ordained to the deacon board. These men serve this assembly well in many capacity. This work is edifying itself in love and through the growth of each ministry, to God be the glory.

          In conclusion, we are thankful to God for our past leaders, and continue to thank God for our present leaders, who adamantly press forward in continuing the undertaking of this work. We believe much assuredly, that the Lord Jesus’ return for His church is not many years hence, but if He still tarries, we believe without a doubt that the work He has begun eighty-three years ago will continue, with new leaders whom He has chosen and continue to choose.   “Onto Him that Loved us and washed us from our sins, and called unto His everlasting kingdom, be glory, and honor and praise forever”.