Friends Church (Yorba Linda)

Friends Church (formerly Yorba Linda Friends Church) is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in the 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 2006) is one of the largest theaters in California, with a capacity of over 3,000.[1] In 2009, the church was ranked the 54th fastest-growing church in the United States.[2]

For the larger movement sometimes known as the Friends Church, see Religious Society of Friends.
Friends Church
33.88646°N 117.81544°W / 33.88646; -117.81544
Location5091 Mountain View Ave., Yorba Linda, CA 92886
CountryUnited States
DenominationEvangelical Friends International
Websitefriends.church
History
Founded1912
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Matthew Cork

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.[3]

The Friends Church was moved to a new location in 1928 and again in 1969, which is its current location on Lakeview Avenue. 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.[4]

In the early twenty-first century, the church offered multilingual services and Christian education programs for all age groups. The church distanced itself from the Quaker denomination; it is much more conservative than most Quaker churches, and does not espouse the pacifist views of most Quakers.

In 2008, took the name of Yorba Linda Friends Church.

References
  1. 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 2008-02-03.
  2. http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Top-100-Fastest-Growing-Churches3
  3. Tino-Sandoval, Cindy (2005). Yorba Linda. Arcadia Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 0-7385-2962-1. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  4. Hamm, Thomas D. (2003). The Quakers in America. Columbia University Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-231-12362-0. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
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