| Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, 609 W. Church Avenue, Dade City, photographed in 2005. Elder M. L. Gilbert, one of Florida's pioneer preachers and pastor of the congregation for more than three decades, recounted the early years of this church in the June 10, 1921, issue of the Dade City Banner. "The Primitive or Old School Baptist was constituted in July 1888 some two miles north of Dade City. They are a faithful, humble, and consecrated congregation of believers meeting for demonstration services and worship regularly on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in each month. Since 1910 they have met for worship on Church." This building was originally a schoolhouse and was built about 1885. In May of 1896, the congregation voted to buy the Indian Lake schoolhouse and lot for $10.00. It was moved to the present location in 1910 and subsequently expanded. An addition to the front conceals its historic architectural character. [Caption from The Historic Places of Pasco County] |