FRIENDSHIP was the name of a church and a school in the early Lancing community near Jonesboro.  Friendship Baptist Church was constituted prior to 4 July, 1877, when it became a charter member of Hamilton County Baptist Association .  Friendship acquired property  21 September, 1883, and a church building was erected.  The location of the church probably was between the current Whiteway and the Leon River.  The church was on the banks of a creek--perhaps Wallace Creek.  

Friendship Baptist Church, Jonesboro Baptist Church,  and Sycamore Baptist Church were excluded from Hamilton County Baptist Association on 17 August, 1895, for "heresy, causing trouble, extreme positions on assurance and prayer, and for receiving members from other churches in irregular manner.  HCBA refused to recognize B. S. Baswell, J. P. Henderson, and J. Linebarger as ministers of the Gospel on the same charges of heresy.  

Friendship continued in existence for many years as an independent Baptist church.  Some who attended the church called it the "Slip Up and Hitch" church because trees and underbrush concealed its location.  Later the church was moved to Whiteway where the church steps remain.  The building was sold and moved to Gatesville.  

Early pastors included:

D. W. White, 1879

W. C. Witt, 1881, 1890

J. P. Kinchins, 1882

N. J. Ethridge, 1883

R. S. Hurt, 1884

J. C. Combs, 1885--1886

R. B. Gentry, 1888

J. Linebarger, 1889, 1891--1894

Church Clerks were:

James Percival "Pert" Henderson, 1881--1887

J. W. Morgan, 1888--1890

D. L. Abbott, 1891

W. H. Sharp, 1892-1893

W. F. Slaughter, 1894

Messengers to the annual association meeting were:

1878--James Percival "Pert" Henderson and A. R. Sharp

1879--W. T. Brown and James Percival "Pert" Henderson

1881--W. C. Witt and W. T. Brown

1882--Elders R. S. Hurt and W. C. Witt and Bro.James Percival "Pert" Henderson

1883--R. S. Hurt, W. C. Witt and A. R. Sharp

1884--R. S. Hurt and W. C. Witt

1885--Elders H. R. Hurt, H. B. Langley, W. C. Witt

1886--Eld. W. C. Witt and Bro. W. T. Brown

1887--A. B. Sharp, R. B. Gentry, W. T. Brown

1888--R. B. Gentry, J. W. Morgan, and James Percival "Pert" Henderson

1889--W. C. Witt and James Percival "Pert" Henderson

1890--James Percival "Pert" Henderson and W. C. Witt

1891--A. R. Sharp, James Percival "Pert" Henderson 

1892--James Percival "Pert" Henderson, S. H. Bell, and J. R. Knight

1893--W. H. Sharp, James Percival "Pert" Henderson, and S. H. Bell

1894--James Percival "Pert" Henderson, A. L. Evans, and W. P. Slaughter