Bethel Street named after first English-speaking church

HONOLULU (KHON2) — In the ahupuaʻa of Honolulu, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oʻahu, stands a roadway that is named after a church. 

We are speaking of Bethel St.

As busy as downtown Honolulu is today, it may make it a little challenging to imagine what was there before.

In 1833, the American Seamen’s Friend Society sent a reverend to Honolulu to establish the Seamen’s Bethel Church.

Becoming the earliest church to hold English-speaking services, Bethel was built to minister to visiting sailors.

Referred to by Hawaiians as Betela, Seamen Bethel eventually evolved to Oʻahu Bethel and then to Bethel Union.

As the church grew, a group of its members left to form the Second Foreign Church, later known as Fort Street Church.

After Fort Street Church of Honolulu opened on what was the corner of Fort and Beretania Streets, it merged with Bethel Union to create the Central Union Church in 1887.

But as the church grew, they needed to relocate to a newer, larger location.

In 1892, a fine stone building was constructed directly across Beretania Street from Washington Place.

However, as Honolulu attracted more people, congestion, traffic, noise and ventilation became an issue.

So, after securing land from the prominent Dillingham family, the Central Union Church began to build at its current location in 1922.

The Sanctuary, built in a traditional New England style, was completed in 1924, and the Atherton Chapel in 1951.

Today, Central Union Church is the largest of the United Church of Christ churches in the islands, continuing a legacy that began in 1833.

Did you know?  Now you do!