Sarasota in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Friendship Baptist Church

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, October 2, 2018

1. Friendship Baptist Church Marker Side 1

Inscription. The first church in Sarasota County was organized by John Hendry July 6, 1875. Charter members of the Friendship Baptist Church were E.R. and Emiline Foster, Rebecca Lowe, Mrs. L.F. Rawls, Martha Reaves, I.A. and Eleanor Redd, John Tatum, Serene Tatum, and J.F.M. Tippett. Members erected a small log structure on borrowed land 5 miles south of here which served until 1887. The first pastor was E. J. Hull, followed by I.A Redd, who served from 1877 to 1891. Services were held one weekend per month. This four acre plot was obtained in 1887 through the efforts of Charles Reaves, Fruitville's first settler.

Side 2
Due to the need for a cemetery, the Florida Mortgage and Investment Co., LTD gave this site as a "place of public worship, school and burying ground". Church members earned building funds from the sale of 100 barrels of lime produced from burned oyster shells. Trustees were Charles L. Reaves, Frank H. Tucker and John Tatum. The first services in the new church were held in June of 1887. Within a year membership doubled to 43. The church building also served as this areas school until 1898. In 1953 the early building was moved ½ mile south of here and was replaced by a new structure to serve over 200 members.

Erected 1985 by Sarasota County Historical Commission.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 27° 19.603′ N, 82° 27.293′ W. Marker is in Sarasota, Florida, in Sarasota County. Marker is on Palmer Boulevard just west of Bacon Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5700 Palmer Boulevard, Sarasota FL 34232, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fruitville Elementary School (approx. 0.6 miles away); Wilson Family and Home (approx. 2.1 miles away); A Doctor's Garden (approx. 2.1 miles away); Winter Quarters (approx. 3 miles away); The Little White Church at Bee Ridge (approx. 3.4 miles away); Bee Ridge Woman's Club (approx. 3.6 miles away); Kensington Park (approx. 3.6 miles away); Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station (approx. 4.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sarasota.

Friendship Baptist Church Marker Side 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, October 2, 2018

2. Friendship Baptist Church Marker Side 2

Friendship Baptist Church Marker and Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, October 2, 2018

3. Friendship Baptist Church Marker and Cemetery

Friendship Baptist Church Marker and Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, October 2, 2018

4. Friendship Baptist Church Marker and Church

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 14, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.