Our Neighbourhood
Bethany Baptist Church is located in East Richmond, in the Hamilton Community, and borders on Queensborough/ New Westminster. Hamilton is a quiet area with a strong sense of community and is home to many families.

For more information, go to the following links:

Hamilton Community Centre
http://www.richmond.ca/parksrec/centres/Hamilton.htm?PageMode=HTML

Queensborough Community Centre
http://www.nwpr.bc.ca/qcc%20centre.html

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Our History

On June 19, 1937, thirty-eight charter members met in the Horticultural Hall at Fraser Street and 42nd Ave. in Vancouver to organize and establish Bethany Baptist Church. Worship, prayer meetings and Sunday School were initially led by lay leadership and conducted in the German language. By August 1938, Rev. A. Warneke commenced ministry as the first pastor.

The first church building was erected at Prince Albert Street and 47th Ave. in Vancouver. Bethany Baptist Church had a strong missions vision since its inception and emphasized support of the missions programs of the North American Baptist Conference.

The need for use of English in Sunday School and youth ministries became apparent in the mid 1950’s and Bethany became a bilingual church. Church growth continued and again the facilities became inadequate. Property was purchased on 50th Ave. and Quebec Street and a new church was built and dedicated on April 1st, 1962.

During the 1960’s, the English worship service grew rapidly. It was recognized that the English language held the great growth potential for the future and thus became the main language. Also during the 1960’s emphasis was placed on children’s ministries.

In the 1970’s a number of Bethany members were commissioned for missionary service in Africa. This intensified Bethany’s interest in support of missionary work.

Continued growth rendered the church facilities inadequate particularly in areas of children and youth ministries. A site for relocation was found in the Hamilton area of Richmond adjacent to Queensborough. Bethany has a vision for expanded ministry with an opportunity to serve the needs of Hamilton and Queensborough as a community oriented church with a mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ.