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The history, heritage and legacy of Friendship Baptist Church

Congregation celebrates 60 years of inspiring community
Elders of the church, seated, are (l-r) Mary Turner, Ursula Ward and Ardeth Edwards; in back is the Rev. George Edwards. The Rev. George Edwards, Mary Turner, and Ardeth Edwards are founding members. DENY HOWETH PHOTOS
Deny Howeth
March 5, 2017
Friendship Baptist Church celebrated 60 years of service Feb. 25.
Past, present and future church members KaZiyah Bowden, right, talks with Cora Washington.
Kennedy Parson keeps an eye on the action.
Isaiah Parson reads scripture from Genesis.
Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, presents a tribute from the House of Representatives to the Rev. George Edwards.
Lewes Mayor Ted Becker speaks about what the church’s heritage means to the town.
Friendship Baptist Church celebrated 60 years with a brunch while sharing history and testimony Feb. 25.
Ursula Ward speaks to the group about how Friendship Church sows seeds that spread and take root in other communities.
The kitchen ministry prepared a cake for attendees.
The Rev. George Edwards shares his story, telling how he came to live in Lewes.
The kitchen ministry includes in front (l-r) Robin Bostic, Wanda Witherspoon, Bernice Edwards, Dorothy Parson and Frances Johnson. In back are Brenda Mason, Kathy Grandison, Christa Edwards, Barry Bull and Hattie Bull.

Friendship Baptist Church celebrated 60 years Feb. 25 with a brunch and remembrance of those who built and continued to support the church and community. Founding members were present for the celebration. 

Janet West spoke of “how many seeds have been spread across the state and beyond, and how the little old church in Lewes, Delaware, had an impact on many lives.”  Elders are the past and the present, while the young are the present and future church, she said.

Isaiah Parson read scripture from Genesis to get the celebration started. Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, read a tribute from the 149th General Assembly valuing the highly respected church community that has encouraged and enriched numerous lives. 

West spoke of the humble beginnings in 1957, when a group of 13 employees of the Fish Products Co. felt the need to start a church under the leadership of the late Pedro Phillips. They came together on Wednesdays and Sundays at various homes on Bunker Row.

According to history, Phillips was inspired by God to meet with Otis Smith, who was the mayor of Lewes and owner of the Fish Products Co., who was moved by the desire of the people and gave them a renovated building as a place of worship. Three founding members are still active in the church, the Rev. George Edwards, Ardeth Edwards and Mary Turner.

Ursula Ward’s husband was an associate in the church who started Community Baptist Church in Barclay, Md.  Ward spoke about how the seeds of Friendship spread, and said she will always be a part of the Friendship Baptist family. 

In commemoration of the relationship with the town of Lewes, Mayor Ted Becker was invited and offered greetings and a proclamation. He thanked the members of the church for building a community of faith and for all the hard work and effort that has gone into the last 60 years. He praised church members for their efforts to reach out to the entire Lewes community and support people through their  spiritual strength. 

The Rev. Edwards spoke of his early beginnings in the church, explaining Lewes was intended to be a stopover from his home in Georgia. He met his wife 62 years ago, and he said she put the brakes on him; the rest is history. He believes that it is not enough to be just a talker; one must also be a doer of the word of God.

Anniversary committee members include Janet West, Gracelean Gibbs, Tatiana Parson, Bernice Edwards, Hattie Bull, Stephanie Collick, Valorie Upshur, Merry McRae, Dalmita Johnson, Wanda Witherspoon, Kathleen Grandison, Dorothy Parson, Frances Johnson, Christa Barnes, Brenda Mason and Robin Bostic.

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