History

Bethesda Episcopal Church – Historical Information

Bethesda Episcopal Church, 1830-2012: A Place of Worship and Healing in Saratoga Springs

Bethesda Episcopal Church, incorporated as a church on October 4, 1830, has a long and fascinating history that intersects with the history of the national Episcopal Church and with the history of Saratoga Springs, New York. To celebrate this history, Dean Marshall Vang, Interim Rector, and the Vestry have authorized a book on the past and present history of Bethesda Episcopal Church.

A book project now underway will document with text and photographs the rich life of Bethesda from its founding through the present day. Jane Agee, a professor emerita at the University at Albany, State University of New York, is directing this project. The writers, most communicants of Bethesda, will work on different chapters.

This site offers a glimpse into some of the varied threads of the history of the church, weaving together the lives of people who were deeply committed to Bethesda, entrepreneurial enterprises in a fast-growing resort town, and social and religious forces.

Timelines

The Church Building

A History of Bethesda

Order Your Copy of A History of Bethesda Episcopal Church: Worship and Healing in Saratoga Springs, New York Bethesda Episcopal Church was formally established in 1830. This book celebrates the significant spiritual presence of this church in many lives for nearly two hundred years. Within its pages, you will find fascinating stories and photographs that …

Bethesda Archives Project

The mission of the Bethesda Archives project is to collect, preserve, and share historical materials owned by Bethesda Episcopal Church.  We are in the process of organizing materials and planning for their preservation.  The types of materials in our archives include:

  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks
  • Newspaper clippings
  • Church Newsletters
  • Architectural documents and linens
  • Bethesda Service Bulletins

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