The Late Gothic Revival building was constructed in 1923[2] and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

The church is the second and last organized by the Reverend John (Jack) H. Yates (1828-1897), an early leader of Houston's African American community.

Reverend Jack Yates pastored Antioch Baptist Church through about 1890 before the congregation divided.

[2] On January 24, 2005, a fire destroyed the interior of the church, leaving only the exterior brickwork intact.

[3] The city purchased the church, one of the oldest in Houston, for $350,000 of special tax increment re-investment zone money.

Since the fire occurred, the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church congregation relocated to a new building.