BETHEL AME CHURCH FALL RIVER
Our Story
The church was founded in 1881 as the Maple Street AME Church, located in a building on Maple Street in Fall River. Five years later, in 1886, it was reincorporated under its current name, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Fall River, and since then, has been affectionately known in the community as "Bethel Fall River. In 1917, the church moved to its current location, 146 Hanover Street in Fall River. The church is historically significant because it is one of the longest-serving African-American/Black congregations in Fall River.
Our Clients
Meet The Pastor
Reverend Aderonke O.A. Lipede, Esq. has served as the
Pastor of Bethel AME Fall River since 2024. She
is an itinerant Elder in the New England Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was born in England to Nigerian parents, and
her family immigrated from England. Pastor Lipede received her undergraduate degree in political science from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and earned a law degree from Boston University School of
Law and a Masters of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. She is currently a civil rights and criminal defense attorney in greater Boston. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors of
Prophetic Resistance Boston, a faith-based social justice organization serving and advocating in the community outside of the four walls of the church.
Pastor