Bethany Memorial Chapel

{{short description|Historic church in Idaho, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Bethany Memorial Chapel | image = Bethany-1-kendrick-id-us.png | caption = | location = Kendrick-Deary Hwy., Kendrick (Latah County) Idaho | coordinates = {{coord|46.664191|-116.623729|region:US-ID_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | built = 1908 | architect = | architecture = Carpenter Gothic | added = December 6, 1979 | area = {{convert|2.9|acre}} | refnum = 79000798<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> }}

'''Bethany Memorial Chapel''' was built by Norwegian homesteaders who settled in the Big Bear Ridge area north of Kendrick in rural Latah County, Idaho. Norwegians who had settled in the area met at the home of Edward Dahl on July 21, 1902, for the purpose of organizing a Lutheran church in the area. In late July 1902, plans were prepared for the building, which was to be constructed on one-half acre of land promised by Edward Jones. However, Jones had sold his land to Halvor Nelson, who then added another one-half acre to the property.<ref>{{cite book | last = Ingle | first = Gerald Adams | title = Gleanings From Big Bear Ridge | publisher = Latah County Historical Society | date = 1982 | location = Moscow, ID | pages = 17–18}}</ref> Construction of the Carpenter Gothic building began in 1905 and was completed, inside and out, in 1908. Although the interior of the building had not yet been completed, the first service in the church took place on December 26, 1905, when Halvor Lien married Hilda Slind. The pews, altar railing, and pulpit were carved by Eric Leien, a member of the congregation.<ref>{{cite book | last = Otness | first = Lillian Woodworth | title = A Great good country: a guide to historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho | publisher = Latah County Historical Society | date = 1983 | location = Moscow, ID | pages = 178 | isbn = 0-914429-10-8}}</ref> It was originally named the '''Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethany Congregation of Kendrick'''. There is no longer an active congregation holding services, but the church and cemetery are maintained by community members.<ref>{{Citation | last = Rail | first = Maggie | title = Bethany Memorial Cemetery | date = 1999 | year = | url = http://www.mrail.net/data/cemete/idaho/latah/bethany/bethany.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-18}}</ref>

On December 18, 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name=nris/>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Churches completed in 1908 Category:20th-century Lutheran churches in the United States Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Idaho Category:Carpenter Gothic church buildings in Idaho Category:Buildings and structures in Latah County, Idaho Category:Norwegian-American history Category:National Register of Historic Places in Latah County, Idaho Category:1902 establishments in Idaho