The church, located at 904 W. Third St., will host a celebratory service on Sunday, May 4, at 10 a.m. The service will be a special one, featuring the Rev. Robert Allport-Cohoon and the Rev. Lee Miller II, bishop of the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, officiating.

Following the services, a luncheon is scheduled to take place in Gustafson Hall. Reservations for the luncheon can be made by calling the church office at 716-661-9050.

The long and storied history of Bethel Lutheran Church began in 1923 by the Augustana Lutheran Church, whose goal was to plant a ‘mission church’ after the completed construction of the Third St. Bridge in Jamestown. Construction crews first broke ground on July 22, 1928. On December 1, 1929, the church was officially dedicated. The first church service occurred before the church was erected. On Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925, a church service was held in a simple, wood-framed chapel, signifying Bethel Lutheran Church’s inauguration. While the church was created with the thought of servicing the mostly Swedish families living on the west side of Jamestown, it has transformed itself into a multi-cultural, multi-faceted, serviced-focused ministry-based church through the years.

Christine Prinzi, a lifelong member of the church, recalls attending the church as a child. She’s a multi-generational family member at Bethel.

The groundbreaking site of the Bethel Lutheran Church, which is currently located at 904 W. Third St, was photographed in 1928. Submitted photo

“My grandparents attended the church when it first opened, my mother and father brought me here for as long as I can remember, and I raised my family here,” she said. “I have so many memories of friends, relatives and different events which took place here – my whole life has revolved around the church.”

Additionally, the church has a history of working with other Christian and faith-based communities in Jamestown and overseas.

“Church members have given Temple Talks about various aspects of the church life; recently (we) hosted a soup luncheon to help raise funds for Lutheran World Relief Disaster Assistance, which is assisting with the wildfires and flood disasters in our county; supports the many local neighborhood food cupboards; provides quilts, made by the Piecemakers Quilt Group for other area service agencies, and other services and projects,” said Prinzi. “This commitment to service and community involvement is what makes Bethel Lutheran Church a source of inspiration and connection for its members.

Bethel Lutheran Church is part of the ELCA, one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States. It has nearly 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and the Caribbean region.

Bethel Lutheran Church, located at 904 W. Third St., will host its 100th birthday celebration on May 4, starting at 10 a.m. with a special service followed by a luncheon. Submitted photo