Established under co-pastors James McDonald and Ryan Frier, in 1838, Bethel Baptist is the oldest Baptist congregation in Jacksonville. At its inception it had only six charter members, four whites and two blacks, the latter of whom were held as slaves by white members. Membership quickly grew, with most early congregants being enslaved African Americans who received day passes from their masters to attend services. The first meetings were held at "Mother Sam's", a local plantation. In 1840 a dedicated meeting house was erected at Duval and Newnan streets. This, the first church building in Jacksonville, was sold to Presbyterians in 1844. In 1861 the congregation built a permanent church structure in the west LaVilla neighborhood at Church and Julia streets.