In the late 1870's, two families of Friends traveled from Canada and settled in the farming community of Alamitos (modern Garden Grove). They were John and Susan Beckett and Alfred and Mercy Beckett with their three children. Within the next few years, other Friends families from Canada joined them. Soon, Susan Beckett began leading a Bible study group in their home, and then began teaching a Sunday School class in the school house at the corner of Chapman and Magnolia Avenues, Northwest of the small country town of Garden Grove.

As the Sunday School program began to grow there was interest in organizing church services. A large tent was set up and Jeremiah Grinnell and Lindley Baldwin, from the Pasadena Quarterly Meeting, held a series meetings. After two weeks of earnest prayer and united effort, a meeting for worship was organized and Ella Veeder was chosen as pastor. Sunday services were held in the tent for awhile and then in the school house. After seven months the first sanctuary was completed. On March 9, 1891, an official Friends Monthly Meeting (church) was established. In addition to the local residents, several families from the Whittier Friends Meeting and other Friends meetings transferred their membership to the Alamitos Meeting.

In the following years, Alamitos Friends Church continued to minister to the farming community. Ella Veeder served as pastor until 1897.  Through the years three other women served as pastors for various periods of time, as Friends have always affirmed women in the pastorate.

In 1923, a larger building was constructed, with a Sanctuary, a Social Hall,  kitchen, three classrooms on the ground floor, restrooms and four classrooms on the second floor at the back of the building. This building replaced the original sanctuary and provided much needed facilities for the increasing attendance. By 1930 a parsonage was built near the church building.