08/05/2026
Church History
On August 1, 1981, a group pf 65 people met to organize a Baptist Church which was to be called “Friendship Baptist Church.” These people began services in what was the former Comer Drapery Building and met there for one year. Mr. Edwin Price was called as pastor on a temporary basis. The church voted to be a Southern Baptist church and requested membership in the Caldwell Baptist Association. Friendship Baptist Church was chartered February 13,1983, with 175 charter members. On August 15,1982, the church voted to purchase 12 acres of land from Howard Farr. The land is located on the Horseshoe Bend Road just outside of Hudson. There was a ground breaking service for the sanctuary on April 3, 1984 during the Easter Sunrise Service. In 1984, the church was received into the fellowship of the Caldwell Baptist Association. On Easter Sunday of 1984, the church began meeting in the basement of the new building until a sanctuary was completed on September 19,1985.
Because of the cheerful giving of its congregation, the church was able to build a sanctuary which will seat approximately 650 people and Sunday School space for approximately 200 at an estimated cost of $300,000 and only borrowed $180,000. Much hard work and many hours were given by the congregation.
Rev. Edwin Price resigned as pastor in October of 1985, and Rev. Frank Denning was called as pastor on June 15,1986. Rev Denning and his family began joining in the excitement that has always been a part of Friendship Baptist Church and the church continued to grow.
The church soon began to outgrow its educational space and began a new phase of construction. This second building contains nearly 10,000 square feet of space for the office area, a 300-seat capacity fellowship hall, kitchen, choir rehearsal room and classroom for Sunday School and other Bible learning opportunities. The previous fellowship hall was reconstructed to make additional rooms of learning and a library/ conference room, plus additional nursery space for our growing pre-school department. The cost of the new construction was approximately $386,500 after completed and furnished. The original 65 people who met to organize the Friendship Baptist Church has grown to become a church with 426 members with 409 on the Sunday School roll, averaging well over 200 in attendance each Sunday.
Since its organization, Friendship Baptist Church has been a very vital part of this community. Friendship lives up to its name in many ways. The church is full of spiritual warmth, love, and friendliness to all. The church has a burden for people who need Jesus as their personal Savior and who need a place to worship. There is a vision of continuous outreach and in-reach ministries to all people. This has been one of the reasons there has been such a constant and stable growth in the congregation. As the church continues to grow, so will the ministries and needs. Everyone has a place at friendship, and everyone’s place must be filled with lives serving the Lord together to continue to fulfill the Great Commission.
