The following is abstracted from an article printed in the Adams County Times and Friendship Reporter, Wednesday July 31, 2002, Page 10B, and the Friendship Congregational Church's website in August 2002. The Friendship Congregational Bible Church was founded July 21, 1867, at a meeting held at the Courthouse in the Village of Friendship, Reverends Perking and Bridgeman presiding. Rev. Perking was 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. In July 1869, when J. McChesney was pastor, a building fund was begun, and in 1872 the church was legally incorporated when the deed was filed with the Adams County Register of Deeds August 12, 1872. Lots No. 3 and 4, Block No. 1 of Newton and Hanford's Addition to the Village of Friendship were given to the church by David and Lydia Quaw (deed dated Aug. 22, 1872). It is upon this property that the present church stands. The original building was of wood, 28 x 48 feet, and it was said it could accomodate 175 people. Rev. P. R. Staples was called to be the next minister in 1873, and the first service was held in the new building July 10, 1875. Rev. P. R. Staples remained as pastor until he resigned due to ill health in 1894. Rev. Marsden, a Methodist pastor from White Creek, served until 1896, when Rev. J. A. Thomas became Pastor of the church. In 1901 Rev. C. H. Chase was called to Pastor the church, and the first parsonage was built across the street from the church about 1901/1902. Reverend A. H. Smith came to the pastorate late in 1902, and continued until 1907. Other pastors and their terms of service are: Reverend J. M. Lavender 1907 - 1909 Reverend J. T. O'Neill, 1909 Reverend James Deans 1910 - 1913 Reverend E. E. Day 1913 - 1915 Reverend Vaughn 1915 - 1919 Reverend Thomas Barker 1919 - 1930 Reverend Harry F. Banks 1919 - 1933 Reverend Walter R. Taylor, 1933 - 1936 Reverend J. T. O'Neill 1938 - 1951 Reverend Samuel Robbins 1951 - 1960 Reverend Wendell Bennetts 1960 Reverend Charles Bryan 1960 - 1964 Reverend Bennetts 1964 Reverend Donald G. Graves 1964 - 1967 Rev. Ambrose Bandow 1967 - 1974 Reverend Kenneth Mullen 1974 - 1982 Reverend Thomas Scholl 1974 - 1986 Reverend Donald G. Graves 1986 - 1989 Pastor David Havard 1989 - 1995 Pastor Steven Hamilton 1996 - present The church celebrates it's 135th anniversary in 2002. For more information, contact the church at (608) 339 9522 or view the Friendship Congregational Church website.If you have information about the history of other Adams Co. churches, or have additions or corrections for this page, please let Joan know about them so they can be added to this page.
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Click here to send Joan an e-mailLast Updated August 2002 Donated by Joan Benner
