Bethesda Orphanage, Savannah
Anglican evangelist, George Whitfield, served as the Countess of Huntingdon's chaplain from 1749 until his death in 1770, when he bequeathed her Bethesda Orphanage, Savannah.
Whitfield’s missionary work led him to Savannah in colonial Georgia, but rather than taking on Indian conversion, as planned, he was struck by the number of orphans, who were in bondage. Many settlers had died of tropical fevers, leaving their children bonded as servants and labour for other settlers. Whitfield was drawn to their plight and dedicated himself to the mission of providing an orphanage for the children, where they could also benefit from instruction and guidance. This mission dominated the rest of his life and Bethesda became integral to his religious calling.
Whitfield’s story is complex, but when he died, he left the Bethesda property and its care to the Countess of Huntingdon. Selina accepted the responsibility for the orphanage and also entertained hopes for Whitefield’s previous aim to develop an institution of learning and preparation for young men to enter the ministry and send out missions to the Indians. The Orphan House was catering for orphans from indigenous Indians, slaves and white Americans.
Many folk were involved with raising funds over the years towards the orphanage, including Whitefield. On 18 January 1770, the formal opening ceremony was attended by distinguished people from America and England. The Countess retained her interest in its care and development, but she was never able to visit the Orphanage and did not personally contribute to the funding. When the original building was nearly destroyed by fire, all the costs of rebuilding were funded from other sources, mostly American. Following The Revolutionary War and Selina’s death in 1791, the property was taken over by the State.
Today The Orphan House has become a private school for young men, Bethesda Academy, which retains its Christian emphasis. The student body is diverse with a strong focus on developing a love of God, a love of learning, a strong work ethic and a strong sense of community, helping young men to become productive citizens who are prepared for future success.
Read below a more detailed account of the founding of Bethesda Orphanage, supplied by Bethesda Academy
(Resources include The Connexion's Brian Baldwin and Bethesda Academy Development Office, who generously supplied us with historical accounts and images from their archives.)