Friends Church
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Friends Church (formerly Yorba Linda Friends Church) is an evangelical megachurch located in the upscale Orange County city of Yorba Linda, California. The church is affiliated with the Evangelical Friends International denomination. With weekly attendance averaging in excess of 4,000, it is the largest Quaker church in the world and one of the largest churches in Southern California. In addition, the church's worship center (completed in 2005) is one of the largest theaters in California, with a capacity of over 3,000.[1]
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[edit] History
On June 4, 1911 community residents convened to plan the construction of the first church in Yorba Linda to offer Christian education to local children. In 1912, at a cost of $1,513.63, the Friends Church was organized and built on School Street . The charter members included Frank A. Nixon and Hannah M. Nixon, parents to future United States President Richard M. Nixon. The original structure is now the First Baptist Church.[2]
The Friends Church was moved to a new location in 1928 and again in 1969. Meetings at the Friends Church took form of unprogrammed worship with spontaneous and enthusiastic displays of religious fervor, characterized by religious scholar Thomas Hamm as a landmark of California evangelicalism.[3]
Today, the church offers multilingual services and Christian education programs for all age groups.
[edit] Present Day
In recent years, the church has distanced itself from its Quaker denomination, in order to be more seeker-sensitive. The church is also much more conservative than the majority of Quaker churches and does not espouse the pacifist views of most Quakers.
In 2008, Yorba Linda Friends Church officially changed their name to Friends Church to avoid confusion between other Quaker churches in Yorba Linda, i.e., Rose Drive Friends Church, along with making the church appear more non-denominational.
Friends Church frequently hosts contemporary Christian musical concerts in their worship center. Recent performers have included Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, Delirious?, Sanctus Real, and Steven Curtis Chapman.
[edit] References
- ^ Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (1998-02-17). California and the West; Church Construction Is Looking Up; Religion: An increase in immigration and a rebounding economy have sparked a building boom in the Southland.. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
- ^ Tino-Sandoval, Cindy (2005). Yorba Linda. Arcadia Publishing, 37. ISBN 0738529621. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
- ^ Hamm, Thomas D. (2003). The Quakers in America. Columbia University Press, 77. ISBN 0231123620. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
