How it all started...
The story of Friendship Baptist Church begins in 1874, when a small group of believers organized as The Missionary Baptist Church. They first gathered at the old Lick Springs School, located along what is now Country Club Road, just north of Sloan Creek.
In the 1860s, Thomas Milton Phelps and his family moved from Alabama to Collin County. Between 1870 and 1880, he married Josephine Newsom, a Texas native. In 1909, their family generously donated one acre of land for a new church building. That early church, located on the Gabriel Fitzhugh survey, no longer stands—but its legacy lives on.
With fifteen charter members, the church continued to grow and eventually relocated to the southwest corner of Country Club Road and Old Stacy Road. That building still stands today as the home of Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1914, the congregation officially became known as Friendship Baptist Church—a name that continues to reflect its heart and mission.
One story from the past captures the spirit of those early days. Lloyd Watson recalled walking up Stacy Road as a boy when a minister stopped and asked if he was “lost”—meaning spiritually. Lloyd quickly replied, “No, I’m not lost. I just live up the hill a little ways.” It’s a simple moment, but it reflects a church that has always cared deeply about both the spiritual and everyday lives of people.
In 1998, the church moved again—this time to its current hilltop location on Country Club Road. From humble beginnings to a growing community of faith, Friendship Baptist Church has been shaped by generations of faithful members who have called this place home.
Today, as we move forward in 2026 and beyond, we honor our past while embracing the future. Our story is still being written—one life changed, one family reached, and one generation at a time—as we continue to share the hope of the gospel with our community and beyond.
In the 1860s, Thomas Milton Phelps and his family moved from Alabama to Collin County. Between 1870 and 1880, he married Josephine Newsom, a Texas native. In 1909, their family generously donated one acre of land for a new church building. That early church, located on the Gabriel Fitzhugh survey, no longer stands—but its legacy lives on.
With fifteen charter members, the church continued to grow and eventually relocated to the southwest corner of Country Club Road and Old Stacy Road. That building still stands today as the home of Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1914, the congregation officially became known as Friendship Baptist Church—a name that continues to reflect its heart and mission.
One story from the past captures the spirit of those early days. Lloyd Watson recalled walking up Stacy Road as a boy when a minister stopped and asked if he was “lost”—meaning spiritually. Lloyd quickly replied, “No, I’m not lost. I just live up the hill a little ways.” It’s a simple moment, but it reflects a church that has always cared deeply about both the spiritual and everyday lives of people.
In 1998, the church moved again—this time to its current hilltop location on Country Club Road. From humble beginnings to a growing community of faith, Friendship Baptist Church has been shaped by generations of faithful members who have called this place home.
Today, as we move forward in 2026 and beyond, we honor our past while embracing the future. Our story is still being written—one life changed, one family reached, and one generation at a time—as we continue to share the hope of the gospel with our community and beyond.
Where we are headed...
As we look ahead, we believe God is expanding our vision beyond our walls and deeper into our community. We are committed to living out the Gospel by caring for those in need—serving the widow, feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, and loving our neighbors well. Our desire is not just to gather as a church, but to go as the Church, making a real difference in the lives of people around us for the glory of Christ.