In 1884 J. W. McKenzie deeded 3.5 acres of land for church and cemetery purposes in the Purves Community. A portion of the donated land had been used as a burial ground since 1880. Friendship Baptist Church served the area for more than 30 years before disbanding in 1915, and lumber from that church building was used to construct the tabernacle in 1922. The building is a well-preserved example of a group meeting shelter.