d i vid11'g of th~ Home-coming of" Fri~ndshi'p."MethC'dist, been ~ssigrtld to me As our ntetistics have:' been o:p~n f'or'a

The story 0f'th~creation; of'the'world',begj.ns,with these w rds, ,ffIn the bogi.nDing'f~,;nd'J'i'9lT!-tliat~ $tart henc~' -phere ,.:: bflS b ,en' a more q.r oloRical order.', If t-his_fwriting.;.i~!'permitt,~d,to begin with these wQrd13,'iln·thebeginiJ.ing'~;;v.le'palrse,t. t speci:fic tim-l.al.lq,~lace~~/-,,< ~;;'l

ttl

dertainly as, churcl!~s;>a~~'~fJrst 1?~g~lh,,~~,#tb.e:~heartsfof t.,h se who

,Church b 1~~~-:::-~·t':"::'e-'l!t'.~'".2'1 nite year

sh~ p "TaS (">r~ef'iz.d' in ;Sep1:ie,mbet'189C? tre cher from B~the.hY';". a,nd~.]'e:t.ix;·Brbym,t1;le pastor at , 1? . rl;urn. Lo~nie.;:E~Ef9:n', ~nd., 'Tp,.8Cf r 1 ts arga.nlzatJ,QP::tl~.,. ~'J,ey .::lelvati n Army _ etil1g, nd joined', tb.e;' cliJ1fbh~

"und v School in an' old,:31'Q1;'e;:hbuse,l~t"thisgrew 'in' int ... re st and;, :'~~·:t~.ere ,:~a,Sl\!;. ne~rer th~n

~~::~;::-:;.it~Q, work 'to' et,~ ~~~ tl,~*e ~ .~ d', nd r ,brush arb.or, bU;;iJ.;t:,,;,by. ;,the

;.,) ttlem nt, J;'1,nd 'j3erv:tcie~w:e"re'~fhel{,in th tv ath ... r

b n c _nfQrence~,m '" ville circu:',t ,:witly ~n:;.:" fternoon

held in a one, rooIttlog 'house.~h~ no 'J8.y: f heating the Eason t s place where' ~r.

\1 ~'. .. " Th~ newly 9rgan~zep. ·church:m~mb.ers~:b'egE,n: to rwork

church 0 rs" 1';'; ,--,'~F(}h -rcir' 0 •

the bui din 'b i' a.iTl~ the members u til theV haEl

!wtt>.s d ,clic ted by .Dr,_ '~~hJ,:'D: .. " . ~ rl!

I~J~~~~? We 'had; a).. be 'dedicClted; , t p mes ~ongl th m )Was ttFrlendshlptt~

,N6vad,e.Le:»i2~. ':' 1}en,'til,~ OJ S n. r( ''-.:';': ~;:'

:,J. . ... I .. '.

of cnjlrt' , ~Oaa~:r;V,:

I. r oi 't.n ~1,

~.""L.·~:""I.,::r ...... .:c

.,....---::":,...,........,-:,~~--=-----:,---..-~-:-:-::----r----,---~~-:--:-"-,..,..-):~~~..~.,-.,'-''V.-'-''-;-~--r.-""""""~"""---'--';:""""'''---------'-~t"""t:--'''~~~=,)''''''~1-~-''''''-"",''-..

r '; . .; .. ,-', ~:' . .. r . I '. . ... ~.. ,,,(.'$ \ . )- ~ J-ITSTORY:t0F, 'FBIENDSHIP :METHPDIST CHURCH', ,-:;i ,\~

the· t o~::~i'ih:'~'£,iL~~~~i~:::,~ih\~~\:'~::~taw .;:.: 'i',r'~ .:' ': .; Ch~I:ch 'th,ere, h~s,; , "'~

'the', simple tbpic~ 'History Of The, 9hurch~,.."\, ' destro~l.e~,c, it: h~.s','·left ..the field;';~' , "

A

1iderax:~e.:o,f, ;s'~:~c.Y-:f-t:i,v,~~,~~~~t~ry-':.~:.~' >:. '~~~>1'" '. ,• .1

:'~. I

I

less,deflnltere,cord 'of events .in chron~\, 'f " j

to contemplat ,,'j '~"" '" " '" ""'"

~ L ... .... , . ~ :¥ ~ ~: ~"'. . ',J;~ . ", . I.' ~ ~'. ~ i ' .• 1"',>.,comprise tl1eit'rrlembership~",,1f;;leFriendship Methodfst ~.

, "

~eln lt1 t~e"lives ..;,.~.....d~v~'t! .-,.i±ien' e.~<L..women.: ..bef ';'r~'" , __._~:~ . "':,,' .~.::.

and. )18 !' :wNch r It ,was nrganiged. F~len?--:"'" x' 'by i'~aih Riv~r~,a It-cal \

": t ;Eewi,~~ wer;e .. +.arre ly ..re sponsible

attended' a .m~e:tlng run by' i;ir-te.· , at Bethany. ~'i,;They V'.'er.e cgnYerted at,tbJs

.. ,,: T:rrey~canie' I'home arid ,started .lJl~ceJ: J;:t. ,

:. a;, Met~odist Church. Betb.any~~,R,J.:v.:.,~rQ.alE):or}Fay~tteVlllethey beg~'n -"

". /rtie." first j No.t,r.a cted meet in~ was "1

men and boyg 'bf the _ .. ,the old stnre house whm

wasn't 'suitabJ-e' tQ have "~el'rvices ,limcj er the arbor. t.tbenew. church ,was.' Pt1t nn the Fevet te- ','

appo~ntment. Services were" first winter as there ViaS

old'~ store.' Itv!a3: located on, Mrs. V:il~y'C:halnnan nmv :lives. J.'

-< >.~~ ': 'i~. .'.': ~.:: ,"12-'" ..~ .":.;. " .•~. :I:.,~' ._ ":' ~ .',. ) .... i ~ to:;build

Jane Eason, donated~,,,the:a.endto buildr 'the, "_.it,; !.:.~ " _.~. , "The' :men ~nt 'and; hrimecc:C,he',:Iogs 'aDa:, soor}-:'nad" -~:;."',

u.p.' At'first~:.~te'rvices:'Vtere·held'In, the,' <',,'" " " '.:. :' with only $heetihg, 'flo~Qr~8hcL punching' ~e~t ~, -but, :':. ,

rf the· chtlrch ;'Vvere\ ,1'a1thfuL,ai.1d kept on ,:v;0rkin~ , $ !,

<,:ood. flo0r' arlcl':s~,a.t.s~~;::In 18911- the' church' ! H.eid,'t,.</~:·'~::·~'", ',' ,,', ",,,.:

·~:I·~ 'i . ~I.~~;:'.. '~ .:. " .:/..~..' : ~. :~ . ~'. "~: . ( "'I: f ;... ~ t- ~JJ ,

ays' called,:ir',the,"ne'ctiurch, but~ before it ,paula.· " ,had', to ',nave ,~a""I,na11"es6"there w'ere several .,

,St1 :~eEj~~ct I to', t:he~'~\I~rle;.:piit'eonf'erenceto be, voted on, ,,' Wlhch was suggested. by J'Aiss , - •

-:,-'x.

, ' . I.e",,..~()~~ >.,\"a~ .. takep,,:Friendshi~2' was '. " " .

'~~l ~t~} .t' ~', i :', :"'/ ". ( - ,I'

:":: ;{i'" .,.' >(~ e I. ;;.' " , .: J~'. •

,:Pl~ro.bers "acc,epte,d :as ,aut) enic is:. O.ox:- Am~nda Flowers" y,. J. Cox" LC>I:n~e 1', '.'

q ';, ..J,eyina: ,Eason cT.Qht1~on" Thaddau~ ,L'ewlB; , I

. " ~~td:,Tv!n~r. and wi:fe ~ Arth r ,Tu~ ,~. '. -r.,.-,WYt. m"~~""",~"",,, f\ 1'· ,.....p .. +-1'..... ,'~~ lr-'l. .... '9"'P ......... roJr1Ni,...;.,-i

P eleben"A. B.,Sanee;rs,dJ"" D. , . ~;' ;Jon~s, Rev.. C9nway;t~:q-;.s~ •. ;Askew, ,,' O~ L.'I{elley; L. 'Oa~y:Wilp,urn, 'Paul Touchstone,

'-'_"""'JI''#~ 'R0bert steVv'art, A. . Gj, b.aon, Marvin Felton.'; ,Carl Dodds;, William A' c. ~ S. Midd,lebroQ,k,S ,~p~

l';. f1" Cr~ft and J. C • Caahs, ;1t ~ . . -' l, • ~ ,

-: ~ ; Local preachres giv±nk:"their time were: ,R,v. To~d, Rev. L .."L. Landrum; tioned, have had":regular1o

having giv,en time': during protr~cted me;~tingswere:.;,' .~ "~~~!;i~arleS X;powJ r S

rthers ~." All 'af tbese"'were ,b-t:fck . in the earlydavs'; 'of the' church when people' had: tiIP~'<tQ go th church both day and ni~ht,and,week,afte~w~eksQmetimes.

, Chnrch 'was; ~(lrn •.~~,Tdd.aYiwe. :8:re proud' or;A~rur ,church cherish the,memor:l{".of those}loyal souls Who made poss1ble the churCh ,of I toB.a.y.:. ,VIe", reap the ~benefits of tl+e bushels 'of ~corn~:fed to"t,h~' preacb~rs. no,rses'andthe potatoes that went on :thedi,nner!.' t"1,ble;~ sacraficed to giv~ :.i:t;, to-~

1".~..;.J'.lof'<-" ',;ration to ,handare Q...om..iu ai'terus 'j""'"

I':~"~~t-="":~:::':': <.=', .;.".,~<..: .-~. ( Fri .ndship Chu.rch .. has ,n,ad. t~o~;~b4ild,in~'g,

4 i __ ed,. to:SOIDe--extent' by,~~vtrids~' :8'6 it was. decided . . - ne, ch'l~rch at the , Clint'on ard was

n the eW'church,w~!f·'h·~·Iq.;;ihA~!il wa the etar at Be tember 10,·1944·'by~Wll1i8.1tl~lE;:TYson

" ' ,'.• ) , ". I,' ,:f ,:,'

Thi s ch1,1rch h~i{ s el 'othe memb

... ' . . " I CQJ.r ge , nlen and., women , other ,par,ts' of the 'country, a(3,~,wel1 . . .'. I' .. 'i, ' , ' "

We, h ye three',members; of: ',th!s: church Who old. "TWp '01'1, them ha.v6;been, If!:emb,~rs other ha.s b,een a.

.­ . . . t .',' " .. :'. ;,;" \ ,Since 'ou):"'last hOrilecoini~g,jte~have,lost by;de8th,

>1' . 'b~lbved, :past~r~\;; ,R~;V":.LOY WP.:Ml~~~, . ,Carte and'A3ero:,!Bsrber.~

.t: '. -. ~i~';'- t J , F'N~ '. n~ ~ ~;;s, C'h'u'~c'h' "'j) '. .'~: d-ebr.Qol'a:

ra.en....s~u.p "

~'" as. ·.~.;:}i;,}':i}i· ~

.':' ' '~'~r~~:"': :.'. ,~.. -.; , . -" '".: \ :

.TOM Spier \\>,a6 the flrst pastor assigned by the cnnference 'to Friendship Church.:~JThe: following den, have se:rv d this

OO:~~. church 83 '})8.stbr:,,..!: y<-:;;~;: . .i . ~' '),

'~'~'''''','~ ,;'~Johl1'Sp'ie~, E. H:.'Wood', G. W.' Tho·ma~,.R .. A, Seal, A. B. • l,' .~, Woaver ,LOY Wa,rwlckq 'John Spier{ 2nd'- ti-me) , Rev. Snyder,'

:' ,. E. o. Aiken,· William, $pier; I. ','f.!. Keithley, IN. J. Debard-Milton, George Gsry, J,. R. '

I'll. M~ Maxwell, H. H. D,~llard, Je.ckNipkols,

D~_.Whitimor~, J. Clinton We,rd, J. D.• , ', .. Tysnn Jr:,

,G. ' Cu'rry( Present Pastor). Blake , :"~: ;'

. i ...; ~' .. _.' ~. ';. ": ' , . ~',

Joneg;'~om'~cGarity, Jim Farr, Joe Farr, TQIR B'rownand tsaih Rivers. Those I men­

' appointments, o~herloc~l preachers, , "", .~ .

~BenkST~~: .Ma~'-We;:t'-l:1~nCI ;.,~-;----;>-~;3"-<~'-"

ThusFriendship . an~ «

.' . '.' .. l', .

: If\·those:W~~.~have'·gqp:e 'ahel.'l;d'./-I t;S';:;', hoW.; much·tgreate,r ~§, our obli-' .

it unbliIilished ·to' those1generations',whioh I, ,,,',:<'-'.' . ';.,. '. '~ .. ..,c ....L ;,'.

;~i:z..:,"'·~,;~~';;,~~.· .. ~-, ~.- ",::" ", "', !,' :'-,'"

the first was;Wreck~ to build a

S8.rl1.e .. la,cat ion. Thl Ei:,~va~ June 1936, 'J' ,.'1 ~' t.;

tbe; past?r iIi charge ~ ,'The first pervices 1<;t31•.J A ~~':Gibsp~ ~'

thls·tlm~ ." i':Th:ls church was ded 1 CE"ted· ' sr'. '"

L",;•. ~ .~"<; ..~.-,:~,". '" ',~, ,':;+ ,>,"; •.. ' ,I'" Ii

tlrr;~ee,,melTIbe~"8.'wh9', we~~, ,Rut' .to pre,ach tb,~' . ~'" \~ . 1's had'sonsAwhQ:wnt opt." S~l~~"\; .' > '~",#'- '-", '1w.orK~·et;ai1~d~p,e~~:wl;t~n"\tI:-0S~;.J'f~Wr~},;'~",J"P~~~\ "".~ .. '

started t:thu~, ~~t1I;'ch, is: b.e1n€"'..ca:trl~~ on in') '<:\-' ;-•. as' here. '. ," ';.':~',. 'i

,'I"":; <" ,~.~; '/''.~:;:;:.:'' , , . \"'" are ,(lveI" 80 yef?>.rs"r!

~or over fifty year,s~i the"': , member,J:.1ere. and "els~~vhere much longer.•··, :'

,:. ',: ;~,,;J \ :i,;:·~f._ ' " . i" " '..',•• " ," .' :i'

one ofl'our' ./ ' ais6 l tw? memb~.X:~,.w. ,~. .J(I' ... "

... ,,(· , '; , " i c'.;· : !fr'6~rTl' :t~e~'f:Qllb~~n'g sta te s ha'ye served a.~;·,:pa~.td1? ~f \! and

S. Ca relina, Kentucky, YJ. s-s;~ s S 1 pi", . ..., r., '. ~:": ',P , ".

. ., .; \ ~.l,'.•: ~". ". ~ ;. ~~."" '. .. 'r :.1 "

~ \." 1. .1,;. "t"~ ~ 1. • .l .~ jr;

":;,}~:,:r:;,:, u/:,', '.r.

-------------

Friendship United Methodist Church

1951 - Lloyd Jackson 1952 - Clyde Blackstock 1953 - Charles A. Graves 1954 - " 1955 - Paul Douglas 1956 - " 1957 - J. M. McNeil 1958 - Ernest C. Grose 1959 - Emmett L. Rape 1960 - Albert M. Beatty 1961 - Marcus Booker 1962 - " 1963 - Sidhey T. Ayer, Jr. 1964 - " 1965 - Larry Speed 1966 - William M. McCutchen 1967 - Bill M. Green 1968 - Samuel A. Storey 1969 - James Edgar Foy 1970 - Gary Knight 1971 - " 1972 - " 1073 - Grady A. Lively 1974 - J. Ray Thompson 1975 - H. Frank Barfield

Assistant - Frank Seghers, Jr. " "

Assistant - Francis L. Ford

Assistant - Donald W. Hiten

Assistant - H. A. McNeil