Friendship Baptist Church

Researched & Compiled by: Terry Blair, Wanda Carter, Johnny Coe, Deborah Williams for the church’s 175th anniversary celebration in 2001

“...like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:

As Friendship Baptist Church enters the 21st century, it is appropriate that we pause to look back at our church; its beginning , its growth, its changes, its people, and its spiritual purpose.

The church had its beginning in 1826, only seven years after the Indians were removed from this area under the Hiwassee Cession of 1819. This makes “Friendship” the oldest continuing church in what is now Polk County. Columbiana Presbyterian Church (established in 1822) was older.

Pioneer Period

On the second Saturday in June, 1826, about ten men and women met in a dwelling house just north of what is now known as the Coe cemetery for the purpose of organizing the “Friendship” Church. Thus began “Friendship” Church. At the next meeting on the first Saturday in July, 1826, with members from the Eastannallee Church present, as requested, an ordinance service was held.

The church continued to meet on a monthly basis in the homes of Mr. Wilkerson and Mr. Funkhouser.

The members met at Mr. Funkhouser’s on the third Friday in December, 1826, to make arrangements for building a simple log church. It was located across the road form the present building. Only a cornerstone remains. Its door faced the north. There was a large fireplace for heat. The benches were split logs at first, but in later years more modern benches were made. There were windows in each end and a back door on the south side.

As best as can be determined the organizers included the following: Rev. Samuel Short, John M. Neal, Drewry Wilkerson, Charles Crittenden, Mr. Funkhouser, Thomas Gibson, Daniel Williams, George Long, and Elizabeth Gooding. (The first pastor, Rev. Samuel Short, is now buried in the oldest part of the cemetery surrounding Friendship and his tombstone and grave can be seen there.) Of course several other members were soon added to the church roll. Among these were several colored slaves. For example, the record of the meeting in August, 1826, reads in part, “Fourth Saturday in August 1826. Met at Bro. Wilkersons. Reed Rody, a servant, by experience.”

The church came to play an important part in the lives of its members as it began to exert force for high morals and Christian conduct. Those who refused to conform to the standards of the church were excluded from church membership. Usually if a member had gotten out of line, some of the other members would go talk with him to give him opportunity to make an apology to the church and amend his ways.

In 1827, “Rody, a woman of color,” mentioned above was excluded for unbecomingly abusing her mistress.

In 1836, a woman was dismissed for refusing to pay her debts. During this same period a brother was charged with swearing and stripping to fight. One of the rules of decorum of that time was “no person shall speak more than three times to one subject without leave of the church”. A couple of other cases brought before the church involved Sabbath breaking and a member who had let his horse run in a race, but after having apologized he was restored to the fellowship of the church.

Other records charges include use of alcoholic beverages, immorality, and frolicking (dancing).

One of the greatest accomplishments of this pioneer church in Polk County was the fact that it maintained order among its members. Friendship, like other churches of that period, had strict rules. From the very first meeting, Friendship fulfilled a social, moral, and spiritual purpose in the community which is still as important today as it was 175 years ago. The founding members obviously had this in mind as well as the very important purpose of following the Lord’s will in this hard and dangerous historical time.

(To be continued)