| Bethel AME Church | |
| Coordinates: | 39.5261°N -119.8203°W |
| Built: | 1910 |
| Architecture: | Late Gothic Revival, Folk |
| Added: | June 12, 2001 |
| Refnum: | 01000587 |
Bethel AME Church is a historic African Methodist Episcopal church at 220 Bell Street in Reno, Nevada. It has served as a hub for Reno's African American community since it was built in 1910 for early black settlers.[1] In addition to its role as a religious and community center, it functioned as a resource center for black divorce seekers who faced difficulties in a segregated city during the middle decades of the twentieth century.[2] In the 1960s, during the American civil rights movement, the church provided a meeting place for the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other civil rights activists.[1]
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.[3]
In 1993, under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Carey G. Anderson, the congregation moved to 2655 N Rock Boulevard in Sparks, Nevada. The church continues to thrive in the community and has provided countless programs through the years.