Friedens as it appeared in 1948, reconstructed after the 1939 Fire
Historic in its rural setting and restful in its
simple architectural lines, Friedens Evangelical
Lutheran Church, founded in 1745 near Gibsonville,
N. C., is recorded as one of the oldest of its
denominations in the South.
Article by Mable S. Lassiter published in "The State, A Weekly Survey of North Carolina," November 13, 1948.
The first church, a small, rustic structure built of
rough-hewn logs, was founded by the German Lutheran
immigrants, many of whom constituted the early
settlers arriving in this section during the great
westward movement in 1744, sturdy, intelligent people
of gentle nature whose center of interest was the home
and church life.
The second church, reorganized in 1771, was erected
as a two-story frame building. Although there is no
record of the earliest preachers, the Rev. Samuel
Suther served as mission pastor from 1768-1771, and
it was a few years later, in 1791, that the state of
North Carolina recognized its worthy merits and made
a grant to the church.
Historical highlights of this church present a series
of interesting events still cherished by the members
of the community today. The old Church records,
marked by constant progress, were kept in the German
language until 1830, because a large number of the
members spoke this language as the mother tongue.
Ten years later the congregation built a stone wall
around the old church to assure preservation of the
grounds in a growing community.
It should be noted that the name Friedens is
derived from a word meaning peace and tranquility,
and situated as it is in a restful countryside where
ribbons of highways pass through gently molded
valleys dividing rolling hills, Friedens is typical
of the progressive rural church with neat grounds
and a well kept cemetery as a memorial to the
founders of this faith.
The present church building, characterized by
large white columns salvaged from a former
Friedens church, which burned in 1939, is located
across the road from where the first building was
erected in 1745. Its pastor, the Rev. M. R.
Farris has served for several years, and was
pastor when the 200th anniversary was observed on
June 3, 1945. Thirty-one preachers and pastors
have been numbered through the years as serving
Friedens Church.
In the oldest part of the cemetery on the exact
spot where the first building stood, an unusual
marker has been erected from native stones, the
base of which is really the original steps of
the first church built over 203 years ago.
Weather-stained by climatic conditions and worn
by constant use of countless years, they gird the
memorial, on top of which rests an open Bible
carved in granite. Erected in 1932, this marker
bears the dates 1745-1871, the latter being the
date on which the site for the church was moved
to where the present brick building stands. Full
grown forests nearby attest to the truth that
time has slowly but firmly enveloped the history
of a courageous group of German immigrants who
sought out this section of North Carolina for a
home, and in those first years of living here
built a church founded on the belief they held
dear to their being - a church where years later
the descendants could carry on in the same
freedom-loving way as they.
Monument made from Original Church Steps
Friedens as it appeared BEFORE 1939 Fire
Friedens as it appeared AFTER 1939 Fire
Photos/Scans courtesy of William J. Newman
VIEW Current Photos of Friedens