History

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was organized on June 25, 1949.

The following were the charter members:

Rev. Fred Engle, Fred Jeffers, Opal Jeffers, Rev. C. N. Richardson, Arlena Richardson, Louise Richardson, Robert Ridener, Lloyd Thrasher, Bertha Thrasher, Doris Boyd, Pearlie Edwards, Cora Lee Edwards.

Properties: The Church was originally in rented property located at 2401 Colerain Avenue, Brighton/Camp Washington Area, and stayed at that property until 1956, at which time property was purchased at 2022 Elm Street near McMicken. Both of these locations were in the downtown Cincinnati area. The Church remained there until 1965, at which time 8209 Chesswood Drive was purchased. In 1977 the Church agreed to build on a 50 foot extension to their property at 8209 Chesswood Drive, in the Groesbeck area (a northwest suburb of Cincinnati), which included a baptistery, two offices, four Sunday School rooms, a choir and altar area. The addition was finished in 1979, at a cost of $70,000. In December 1982, additional property adjoining their present property was purchased at 8225 Chesswood Drive, which was a three bedroom ranch with a basement, and was called the Annex and used for Sunday School Rooms, Youth Church and a Prophet's Room for missionaries. In February, 1985, the Church purchased four acres of land on Cheviot Road at Cross County Highway for $48,000. The sewage was first installed in the Spring of 1987, and the actual digging of the foundation began on May 20, 1987, for a new church building, auditorium, educational space and fellowship hall, to eventually accommodate 900 people, and at a beginning cost of over $900,000. We moved out of 8209 Chesswood Drive, and into 8580 Cheviot Road on June 7, 1988, and held Dedication Service on June 26, 1988. In May of 1992 we purchased a house and property at 8600 Cheviot Road. The house and property were purchased in anticipation of future expansion needs, as this property adjoins the present church property.

Phase III of the building, expanding the Fellowship Hall and creating a sports and activity center with two basketball courts and two volleyball courts, and adding both upper and lower level classrooms, was completed in January 1995.

Pastors: Rev. C. N. Richardson was our first pastor in 1949 and continued as Pastor until 1960. At that time Rev. William Cox was elected as Pastor and continued as Pastor until 1970. In June, 1970, Rev. William Cox nominated Rev. Preston Richardson for Pastor. Pastor Richardson continued as Pastor until 2005 when Rev. Gary Jackson became Pastor.  Rev. Gary Jackson continues as the Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church.  All Pastors were bi-vocational until 1985.              

Rev. C. N. Richardson	Rev. William Cox	Rev. Preston Richardson	Rev. Gary Jackson

Bible: It is the policy of Friendship Baptist Church to use only the King James 1611 Version of the Bible for teaching, preaching and reading during any and all services and functions.