History:

In accordance with a previous notice, a meeting was held at the Court House in the Village of Friendship, July 21, 1867, Rev.'s Perking and Bridgman presiding. A church was organized, named the Congregational Church of Friendship, and... Articles of Faith and a Covenant were adopted."

Thus reads the opening paragraph of the Friendship Congregational Bible Church's record books.

Friendship Congregational Bible Church The Reverend J. W. Perking served as the first pastor, and the seven charter members were: W. H. Quaw, Mrs. Sarah A. Harrison, Miss Leora B. Harrison, Mrs. Mary Ann Spencer, Luther B. Stowell, Dency Stowell and Austin Foster. Mrs. Sarah Harrison served as the first church clerk. The Lord's Supper was administered on this day of organization, and the first child baptized within the new fellowship on that day was Charles Robert Harrison.

Two years later, in July 1869, the Reverend J. McChesney assumed the leadership of the church. Just prior to that, on May 8, the members made the decision to erect a building, and chose Messrs. Spencer, Stowell, Harrison and Quaw to solicit funds for this purpose. In addition to the soliciting, frequent offerings began being received during 1871, and the building fund gradually grew.

Action was taken in 1872 to incorporate the church legally, and a certificate of incorporation was filed with the Register of Deeds on August 12, 1872. In February of the next year, the Reverend P. R. Staples was called to be the new minister.