CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — For more than 90 years, the building that houses New Bethel AME Church has stood as a landmark in Cedar Rapids as the home of Iowa’s oldest Black congregation. Now the historic church is marking a major milestone with a 155th anniversary celebration.
The current building was built in 1931. The church was once the only Black church in the greater Cedar Rapids area and has long been described by members as both a staple of Iowa’s history and a trusted resource for people across the community.
Deborah Reed, a 50-year member of New Bethel AME Church, said her connection to the congregation began when she was a teenager. “I came here when I was sixteen,” Reed said. “We moved here from Memphis, Tennessee with my family; and so I’ve been here ever since.”…