The oldest protestant church in South Florida, the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, was founded in 1889 in Palm Beach. The Episcopal church is in its third home, a Spanish Gothic-style building located one block from the Atlantic Ocean. Generations of Bethesda’s parishioners have taken careful stewardship of its history and the collections brim with pioneer tales of boating to church services, creating and installing the Tiffany stained glass windows, and correspondence with architect Marion Sims Wyeth. After archivist Jethro Hurt died last year, concerned congregants recognized the need for a safe space away from the threats inherent to its location.  They reached out to the Historical Society of Palm Beach County which is now preserving this rich history. Collections of letters, photographs, scrapbooks, and ephemera are now safely housed and being processed for discovery at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

Image Caption: A Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost parked in front of the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea at 141 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida, circa 1963. The current church home was designed by Hiss and Weekes of New York and built of cast stones. The first services in the new sanctuary were held November 27, 1927. 

Submitted by: Jennifer Anthony, Historical Society of Palm Beach County