FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH
Contributed by Donna Eldridge
Friendship Baptist Church, Randolph County, Georgia, was constituted November 4, 1884. The Presbytery was composed of M. B. L. Binion, W. H. Cooper, and R. T. Goodman. The church was organized with twenty charter members who presented letters from other Baptist churches. They chose the name Friendship for their organization. The same year, 1884, Bethel Baptist Association met with Springvale church and W. H. Melton and J. L. Jay were elected as messengers to present the application for Friendship Church for membership in the Association.
A church covenant, articles of faith and rules of decorum were adopted by the church and examined by the committee from the Association after which the church was admitted as an orthodox New Testament Church.
Rev. J. G. Corley served the church as its first Pastor for a period of five years after which Rev. M. B. L. Binson served for one year. During the period between 1890 and 1901 Rev. W. D. Hammack served as pastor nine years and Rev. J. W. Martin two. In 1901 Rev. J. G. Corley was again called to the pastorate of the church and he served continuously for nineteen years.
The church has had the following deacons some of whom are now members of other churches and some have passed to the "other land": Peyton Clay, W. H. Kersey, B. P. Crenshaw, C. M. Poindexter, J. T. Bynum, W. H. Trippe, J. D. Melton, J. H. Manry, E. E. Robinson, J. D. Pipkin, H. G. Bynum, James Martin, R. B. Martin Jr., J. M. Martin and B. W. Bone.
In July 1920 the church observed a Home-coming celebration. On this occasion four of the charter members were present, six of the former deacons and three of the former clerks. One of the former pastors was present and twenty eight of the former members. The church membership, at that time, numbered one hundred and thirteen.
In September 1920 Rev. Chas. D. Carter was called to serve as pastor of the church and he served until September 1922 when Rev. W. O. Young was called. Rev. Young served as pastor until July 1924 when he resigned to move to another field. The church had no regular pastor from September 1924 to March 1925 at which time J. C. Grimes began his ministry as pastor and has served in that capacity to the present time September 1932.
In September 1916 B. W. Bone was elected Clerk of the church which place he filled until 1931 when his removal from the community made it necessary to elect a successor. Mr. Jno. T. Ford was elected and is now serving as clerk of the church. The membership of the church is now only sixty five.
A Sunday School was fostered by the church until the membership became so small that it seemed impracticable to carry on. The church has co-operated with other churches in the Association in all missionary and benevolent work.
(pages 198 - 199)
Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at
Edison, Georgia, October 25,
26, 27, 1932
A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator.
W. H. Joyner, Coleman,
Ga., Clerk
Compiled and Edited by
Alexander Lee Miller
Moderator of
Association
1909 -- 1934
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