In the summer of 1953, the Alexandria Board of Missions and Church Extension recommended the establishment of a new Methodist Church in the area between Annandale Road and Arlington Boulevard. Under the sponsorship of Annandale Methodist Church, a new Sunday School held its first session in the Woodburn Elementary School on October 18, 1953, with 97 in attendance.

On October 22 Rev. J. Carroll Fink was appointed to organize and serve as the first pastor of the Woodburn Sunday School congregation. The first worship service was held on Sunday, November 15, 1953, with 15 persons in attendance. January 24, 1954 was Charter Sunday; 53 persons became members that day. Charter membership closed on February 7, with 66 charter members. Following the service on that date, a Church Conference was held to select officers and set up the commissions; the name "Friendship" was selected as a symbol of what the church would stand for in the community.

On Sunday, April 8, 1956, a Groundbreaking Service was held for the construction of the oldest part of the church (classrooms, offices, kitchen, and auditorium). The first service in that building was held on Sunday, October 28, 1956. 

Toward the end of the 1970's, there was a growing feeling that it was time to build a formal sanctuary in order to reach more members. So in 1986, thirty-three years after the first church service, an effort was initiated to build a new sanctuary. 

Prior to the design phase, the original concept was to have the formal sanctuary in a separate building connected by a breezeway. It was ultimately decided, however, to add a sanctuary as an addition to the front of the original building.  

The groundbreaking service for the new sanctuary was held on October 2, 1988 with the District Superintendent Robinson McAden delivering the sermon and Virginia Conference Bishop Stockton leading the groundbreaking ceremony. On October 29, 1989, Pastor J. Carroll Fink, the first pastor, returned to participate in the consecration service along with the current minister, Pastor Jim Righter.