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The Old Narragansett Church
A Constant Mitnema Bu Christ and Mis Church
A Brief History
LAWRENCE
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01268 6421
GENEALOG 974.501 W27Law
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/oldnarragansettc00lawr
THE OLD NARRAGANSETT CHURCH
(ST. PAUL'S)
BUILT A. D. 1707
A CONSTANT WITNESS
TO CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH
A BRIEF HISTORY-(Illustrated) Written and Compiled for the Committee of Management by the Rev. H. Newman Lawrence
1915
FOREWORD by the Bishop of Rhode Island
FOREWORD.
This little book contains in brief form the his- torical memorials of Old Narragansett Church. It has been inspired by a desire to preserve the ecclesiastical traditions of Rhode Island. I com- mend it to the company of those, happily increas- ing in number, who love to be reminded of their spiritual heritage. Since the venerable building in Wickford has been made the property of the Diocese, Churchmen of Rhode Island will wel- come the volume as a handbook of valuable in- formation and a book of sacred remembrance. JAMES DeWOLF PERRY, JR., Bishop of Rhode Island.
Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 1915.
PREFACE.
In what way is this venerable building, so plain and simple in design and construction, a constant witness to Christ and His Church? It cannot speak with human voice but like "songs without words" it can be heard by human hearts.
Let us enter its portals, through which many thousands of worshipers have passed, and as we reverently glance around note the sacred Altar at which generations of men and women have knelt to receive the Blessed Sacrament for the strengthening and refreshing of their souls; the tall and stately pulpit from which a long line of faithful pastors have spoken eloquent words of exhortation, warning and comfort; the quaint family pews and above them the staunch old beams and deep set galleries. Then, in silence, listen while all combine to tell, in one sweet tone, of sacred memories (covering over two centuries of time) of hearts and hands faithfully performing their duty to God and to man through their love for Christ and His Church.
To help strengthen our appreciation of that sweet toned testimony the following outline of historical facts and incidents connected with the Old Church is given, compiled from St. Paul's Parish Records, "History of the Church in Nar- ragansett," by Wilkins Updike; "The MacSpar- ran Diary;" "Old Wickford," by Mrs. F. Burge Griswold; Local newspapers and other sources.
H. N. L.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page
Foreword
.3
Preface
. 4
History
7-60
Dr. Goodwin's Address
. 61-83
List of Rectors
.84-85
Gifts and Memorials
86-87
Committee of Management
.88
Outline of Scheme for Preservation and
Use of the Building
.88
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Facing Page
The Old Church (exterior)
8
The Rev. Dr. MacSparran
12
The Rev. Samuel Fayerweather
18
The Old Church (gateway)
21
The Right Rev. Bishop Griswold
29
The Right Rev. Bishop Henshaw
38
The Rev. Dr. Goodwin
41
Mr. James A. Greene
43
The Old Church (interior)
54
The Right Rev. Bishop Perry
.58
HE leading early Colonial residents of the Narragansett Country, most of them members of the Church of England, having a commendable desire for a House of Worship and resident minister made repeated efforts to obtain them. This is shown by the records of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, London, England, generally referred to as the S. P. G., which set forth that in 1702 the Bishop of London received peti- tions for ministers from Rhode Island, from Narragansett, from Little Compton and Tiverton. In February 1702, the Society re- corded its opinion that a Missionary should be sent to the Narragansett Country, and the Bishop of London was asked to recom- mend one. It was not possible, however, to carry out the proposal till several years later. The Rev. G. Keith, who was sent by the S. P. G. to New England to "enquire into the spiritual condition of the people and endeavor to awaken them to a sense of the Christian religion," records in his Diary :
"August 23d, 1702, Sunday. I preached at Narragansett-at the house of Mr. Opdyke, where I had a
7
considerable auditory-The people there are very desirous that a Church of England Minister be sent to them."
These and other efforts of the good people were crowned with success in the year 1707. The Rev. Christopher Bridge arrived to minister to them, and under his supervision, the Church was erected and dedicated to St. Paul in the same year. The lot on which it stood was given by Capt. Benoni Sweet, and is situated some 5 miles south of Wick- ford and about half a mile west of the elbow of the Great Country Road (Post Road) known as "Pender Zeke's Corner." Of this most important step forward, the Historical Account of the S. P. G. by the Rev. Dr. Humphries says :
"The people of the Narragansett Country made application to the Bishop of London, about the year 1707, for a Missionary, and built a Church, soon after, by the voluntary contribu- tions of the inhabitants."
The Rev. Dr. MacSparran, who became Rector of St. Paul's in the year 1721, in his essay called "America Dissected" says :
"A little Church was built in New- port, the Metropolis of the Colony, in
8
OLD NARRAGANSETT CHURCH-EXTERIOR.
1
1702, and that in which I officiate in Narragansett in 1707."
No doubt the interior of the Church was at first bare and simple in the extreme, but that it was not without some of the essen- tials we are sure because on or about the time of its building Queen Anne of England presented silver Communion vessels and a Baptismal bowl. The chalice and paten are still used on special occasions and the silver of the Baptismal bowl remains, though it was, in the year 1851, melted and reformed as a larger paten.
Thus was the Old Narragansett Church started on its mission as a constant Witness to Christ and His Church and became at once a strong Missionary centre. Though there is no list of the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the Parish before the year 1718, the names of many of the earliest members and practical founders of St. Paul's and its work, are known through their correspondence with the S. P. G. and other sources. They include amongst others the Smiths, Updikes, Wilsons, Willets, Mumfords, Bulls, Albros, Gardiners, Rem- ingtons, Richmonds, Browns, Phillips, Dick- ensons, Buckmasters, Keltridges, and George Balfour.
9
The Mother Church in England, through the S. P. G., did much to strengthen and develop the work at St. Paul's by sending clergymen to minister to the Parish and generously contributing to their support. As the Rev. Dr. Goodwin said in his ad- dress, delivered in the Old Church Oct. 28th, 1914 :
"The debt that Rhode Island owes the Churchmen of England of two centuries ago, for their assiduity in the "first foundations" of the Church in Narragansett, and of the three other Colonial Parishes, and for their benefi- cence in a long continuance of nursing care and protection is incalculable."
No appreciation of the silent witness of the Old Narragansett Church in the Colo- nial period can be realized without some in- formation concerning the character and work of the Colonial Rectors, especially of the Rev. Dr. MacSparran, who has been aptly designated the "Apostle of the Nar- ragansett Country."
A quaint description of the first Rector- the Rev. Christopher Bridge, 1706 to 1708- is given in an obituary notice which ap- peared in a Boston newspaper in June 1719 as follows :
10
"a religious and worthy man, a very good scholar and a fine, grave preacher ; his performances in the pulpit were solid, judicious and profitable-his conversation was agreeable and im- proving. And though a strict Church- man in his principles, yet of great respect and charity to dissenters, and much esteemed by them. He was bred at the University of Cambridge in Eng- land and was about forty-eight years of age when he died, very much la- mented."
He had charge of the Parish for less than two years but the Church building still stands as a lasting testimony to his earnest- ness and activity.
The second Rector, the Rev. Wm. Guy, did not arrive till the year 1717 and stayed little more than a year. Of him the S. P. G. record says :
"He entered upon his mission with much zeal. The members of the Church of England living there, received him with many tokens of joy, presently pro- viding him with a convenient house; but contracting certain indispositions, on account of the climate of Rhode
11
Island, he was shortly, in 1718, retrans- ferred to South Carolina."
There are only three entries of ministerial acts performed by him in the Parish Record, but one is of considerable interest. It is as follows :
"Sept. 28th, 1718, Hannah, an Indian woman, was Baptized by the Rev. Mr. Wm. Guy."
The Rev. James MacSparran,-third Rec- tor, 1721 to 1757-held the degree of M. A. from the University of Glasgow and later (1737) that of D. D. from the University of Oxford. In the "Letter missive" which he brought with him from the Bishop of Lon- don he is described as,-
"one in whose fidelity, integrity of character, knowledge of Letters, sound Doctrine and diligence we do fully confide."
The truth of this description is amply ex- emplified by his life and work during his long and arduous ministry. His sermons and correspondence show how fully he pos- sessed knowledge of Letters and sound Doctrine while fidelity, integrity and dili- gence marked all his actions both ministeri- al and social.
12
THE REV. JAMES MacSPARRAN, D. D.
While building up St. Paul's Parish and ministering to all around, both rich and poor, Indian and Negro, he did not hesitate to attend to calls from distant towns and settlements, often facing grave dangers and perils while travelling to and fro. By land the only methods of travel were on horse- back or afoot, while the available boats for crossing the Bay were small open craft wherein the passengers were exposed to all the rigors of wind and weather. Visits to Conanicut, Newport, Coeset, Bristol, War- wick and Westerly are frequently men- tioned in his Diary and the Parish Record, as are also occasional trips to Providence, New London and Boston.
The following extracts from the Parish Records and Dr. MacSparran's Diary will serve to illustrate :
"May 2nd, 1730, Daniel Updike At- torney General for the Colony of Rhode Island &C and Lt. Colonel of the Militia of the Islands of said Colony was bap- tized by the Rev. Mr. McSparran by Immersion (in Pettaquamscutt river) in the presence of said Mr. Mc Sp :- Hannah MacSparran, his wife & Mr. Josiah Arnold Church Warden, as his witnesses."
13
"Sept. 1st, 1745, Sunday, Read Pray- ers, preached and administered the Eucharist at St. Paul's. Mrs. Ailmy and brother John dined with us. It rained, they say, last night. Lord re- fresh our Souls as Thou refreshest the Earth, and let not our souls be so bar- ren, and our Land will be also more fruitful."
"Sept. 8, Sunday, I officiated at St. Paul's, Catechized the negroes and white children."
"Nov. 4th, at St. Paul's, Adminis- tered Eucharist."
"Nov. 6th, I officiated at Conani- cut. "
"Sunday, 11th, at Coeset and ad- ministered Eucharist."
"12th, At Old Warwick and re- turned home the night."
"18th, Officiated at Home at St. Paul's. Catechized the negroes and baptized Abigail Sampson, a Mustee woman of about 50 years or more."
"December 25th, Xmas, 1751, Wednesday, a great snow, through which I wallowed to Church and to my great comfort Capt. Samuel Albro re- ceived the Sacrament."
14
Note :- The distance between Dr. Mac- Sparran's residence and the Church was about three miles.
"April 11th, 1756 being Palm Sun- day Dr. MacSparran read Prayers, preached and baptized at St. Paul's Narragansett, 2 children, one named Gilbert Stewart Son of Gilbert Stewart ye Snuff Grinder Sureties ye Dr. Mr. Benjn. Mumford and Mrs. Hannah Mumford."
Note :- The Gilbert Stewart whose bap- tism is thus recorded afterwards became one of the most famous American artists.
Strong and persistent efforts to Christian- ize the Indians and Negroes (most of whom were slaves) were made. Reference has already been made to one Indian baptized by the Rev. Wm. Guy; about a dozen were baptized by Dr. MacSparran, though it must be remembered that at the time of his arrival the number of Indians in Narragan- sett was diminishing. Of the negroes we hear that the good Doctor Catechized them in Church Sunday after Sunday, visited them in their homes, baptized many and admitted some to the Holy Communion. He also boldly addressed his parishioners
15
(most of them slave holders) in emphatic language, in condemnation of the prevailing error, that it was inconsistant to instruct, baptize or admit slaves to the Communion.
In the year 1729 the Rev. George Berk- eley, D. D., Dean of Derry in Ireland and afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, landed in Newport and it is recorded that soon after his arrival he crossed the Bay and visited Mr. McSparran. He also preached at St. Paul's, Narragansett, on May 11, from St. Luke 16th chapter and 16th verse.
Dean Berkeley at one time contemplated carrying out in that very locality his rather visionary scheme of founding a college for the Indians, and a noble tract of land on Hammond Hill is still pointed out as the College Reservation.
Dr. MacSparran, after 36 years of most active ministry died at his post on Dec. 1st, 1757,
"and was decently interred under the Communion Table in St. Paul's Church on the sixth day of the month, much Lamented by his Parishioners and all whom he had Acquaintance with."
In his History of the Narragansett Church, Mr. Wilkins Updike thus eloquent- ly summarizes Dr. MacSparran's career :-
16
"Thus ended the pilgrimage of the most able Divine that was sent over to this country by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. With manly firmness, and with the undaunted courage of the Christian Soldier, ready to combat and die in the hallowed cause, he triumphed over all the diffi- culties of the laborious and untried mis- sion. Clad in Gospel armour, and in- spired by a supreme love of God, he succeeded in planting the Church of the Redeemer here and gathered numerous devoted followers around the altar."
In the year 1760 the Rev. Samuel Fayer- weather became the fourth Rector and of him it is written that he
"was very popular in his Parish, an able and industrious preacher and read the Church service with great effect."
The Parish Record shows that he faith- fully continued or rather, (after an interval of three years when the Parish was without a Rector), revived the work of his great predecessor. He seems to have been very careful to have things done decently and in order and followed the Prayer Book
17
minutely even to the extent of holding a special Service on Nov. 5th, when
"Gun Powder Plot was observed and a Sermon at St. Paul's."
His entries in the Record are numerous and contain reference to many local minis- trations as well as to some performed in other and often distant Churches. A few of these entries are given in illustration :-
Mr. F. sott off from Boston, Friday, 10th of Sept. and preached in Ports- mouth Church (New Hampshire), which he found to be small but a Gay and Shining Congregation in Respect to Dress and Appearance."
"On the 10th of September, 1769, Preached in St. Paul's, his Honour the Governor of the Colony being at Church, and a considerable Large Con- gregation."
"Sunday, April 21st, 1771, Mr. F. preached at Mr. Updike's house to about 40 souls, who were serious and attentive."
"On Easter Sunday, Apr. 11th, 1773, Mr. F. preached in the old Church of St. Paul's, North Kingstown, it being so repaired as to the outside roof of it
18
THE REV. SAMUEL FAYERWEATHER.
that the Congregation could convene in it, tho' little or nothing done inside. Where Mr. F. had not officiated since October, 1771."
Mr. Fayerweather had in the period named above conducted Service and preached in his own house (known as the Glebe) and in the houses of many of his parishioners, besides taking temporary duty at Kings Chapel, Boston, where he seems to have had considerable reputation as a preacher.
He ceased to act as Rector in the latter part of 1774 owing to the majority of his parishioners objecting to the continuance of the prayers for the King and Royal Fam- ily of England. He felt it his duty to use them and declined to omit them. The Church was consequently closed. He con- tinued to minister in private houses until his death, which occurred in the summer of 1781. He was buried under the Com- munion Table of St. Paul's, beside the body of Dr. MacSparran.
During this Colonial period a great num- ber of faithful parishioners, both men and women, were regular attendants at Public Worship in St. Paul's, sons and daughters
19
taking the places of their parents as the lat- ter passed away. The names of some of them are found in the List of Pew-holders in March 1723 as given in the Parish Rec- ord: "Charles Dickenson, Samuel Phillips, Wm. Mumford, Wm. Gardiner, John Albro, Samuel Albro, H. Gardner, Charles Dicken- son, Jr., George Balfour, Katherine and Sarah Updike, Robert Case, Wm. Gardner, Jr., John Gardner, Capt. Benoni Sweet, Rev. MacSparran, Elisha Cole, Samuel Brown, Wm. Cole, Norton the Shipwright, Capt. John Eldred, Capt. Dan Eldred, Stephen Cooper, Wm. Brown. In the Gallery: Dr. Chas. Higinbotham, Mrs. Gronett and Mrs. Curtis, Thos. Eldred and Jeffrey Champlin, George Fowler, Mrs. Yeo, Mr. Bennett."
This period closes with the War of Inde- pendence (that great struggle for the Chris- tian principles of freedom and equal rights for all, which brought into being this great Nation with all the glories and responsibili- ties of self Government). "During the war the Old Church was used as a barrack for the American Soldiery." Except for this temporary occupation it stood empty. Empty and Silent !- but still a witness for Christ and His Church. No longer welcom- ing the frequent Congregations to Worship
20
OLD NARRAGANSETT CHURCH-GATEWAY.
within its walls, but ever watching and hop- ing for their return.
This hope was not in vain, for the Congre- gation did return tho' greatly reduced in numbers.
In the year 1784 an effort was made to re- open the Old Church, and at a meeting of nine members of the Parish it was decided to invite the Rev. Daniel Fogg of Pomfret
21
to become Rector, but that gentleman de- clined to leave his Connecticut Parish where he was much beloved.
Again in 1787 the Parishioners felt strong enough to call a Rector, and sent an invita- tion to the Rev. William Smith, who ac- cepted and entered upon his duties in July of that year. Mr. Smith was by birth a Scotchman, a graduate of a Scotch Univer- sity and was an excellent scholar. He was instrumental in organizing "the Church in Rhode Island," and preached in November 1790 at the first Episcopal Convention held in this State.
There is a tradition that, under the direc- tion of Dr. Smith, the Venite was chanted, for the first time in America, in St. Paul's. The Rector himself acted as choir-master, assisted by Martin Reed and Miss A. Up- dike.
Martin Reed, above referred to, was Pre- centor and Clerk of St. Paul's for many years. He was a noted weaver, an earnest, faithful churchman and highly respected by all who knew him.
"So well known and so venerated was the character of Mr. Reed, that when Dr. Smith was about to leave,
22
an individual despairingly remarked to Bishop Seabury, 'I'm afraid our Church will die.' The Bishop answered 'It may be chastised, but while you have for wardens such men as Col. Up- dike, and Martin Reed for Clerk, it will never die.' "
Mr. Reed's son John, after bravely over- coming educational difficulties, graduated with honor from Union Coll. and was Or- dained to the sacred ministry shortly after. This spiritual son of St. Paul's in 1810 be- came Rector of Christ church, Poughkeep- sie, where he served for many years honored and beloved by all.
It is interesting to note that one of Mar- tin Reed's great, great Grandsons-Mr. W. H. Sherman-is a member of the present Vestry of St. Paul's, and one of his great, great Grand-daughters, Miss Sarah Burn- side Sherman, is Secretary of St. Paul's Guild.
Dr. Smith was learned in Ecclesiastical history and Liturgy, and we have a lasting evidence of this in the Prayer Book, for the Office of "Institution of Ministers into Par- ishes or Churches" was written by him. In
23
the year 1790 he received and accepted a call to the Rectorship of Trinity Church, Newport.
Mr. Walter C. Gardiner was appointed Lay Reader in 1791 and after Ordination became Rector, but owing to certain indis- cretions in ecclesiastical proceedings he left the Parish in 1794 and removed to Hudson, New York.
The next Rector was the Rev. Joseph Warren-1796 to 1805, and it was during his Rectorship-1799-that it was decided to move the Church to Wickford. Since the withdrawal of the grants of the S. P. G., which the War of Independence necessarily put a stop to, there had been much difficulty in raising money for the Rector's stipend and for necessary repairs to the building. The character of the neighborhood had also changed considerably. Many of the old families had been broken up, some had moved away and their estates were unoc- cupied and neglected. The line of traffic along the road upon which the Church faced diminished and there seemed little hope of its revival, though at the time the Church was built this road was expected to be the main line of travel from Boston to New York. It did not revive, even to this day.
24
The faithful few, only eleven in number, met together in December 1799 and by a vote of nine to two decided to move the Church to Wickford, which had by this time become a flourishing village. In the year 1800 the Old Church was taken apart, moved to Wickford, and set up again on ground originally given by Capt. Lodowick Updike in his will, dated Aug. 16th, 1734, as a site for a Church building. It still stands upon this site.
Thus did the faithful cling to St. Paul's of honored memory and ensure its continu- ance as a Parish Church and Constant Wit- ness for many years to come.
There was, however, much to be done by way of restoration. The interior was with- out pews or seats of any kind and for a time the worshippers had to sit upon planks sup- ported by logs of timber rolled in for that purpose. Gradually these and similar diffi- culties were overcome. The old square pews were refixed around the walls and the centre filled with the long pews as they now stand. "The Chancel was semi-cir- cular, with an old fashioned, high, oblong reading desk and a wine glass pulpit above, to which one winding staircase led.
25
The Altar was by itself on the East. Later the communion table was placed in front of the reading desk, against the pulpit." Later on (probably in the year 1811) a tower belfry was built at the West end. This tower belfry did not last long, for one still night, about 50 years later, it suddenly collapsed. It was not rebuilt.
The first record of pew holders, in the Church on its new site, dated Easter Mon- day, Apr. 2nd, 1804, shows the following names :- Coreys, Benj. Fowler, Roger Boon, Wm. Hammond, Chris. Gardiner, Cyrus Northup, Whitford, Perry, James Updike, Joseph Warren, Cap. Thomas Cole, Jere- miah Brown, Dr. Wm. G. Shaw, Daniel Up- dike, Stukely Himes, Lodowick Updike, John Hagardorn, Peckham, James Cooper, Robert Eldred, Joseph Gould, Peter Phil- lips, L. Ensworth, Wm. Reynolds, E. Briggs, Daniel E. Updike.
' In the same year that the Old Church was moved to Wickford there was established in the village a school which afterwards be- came famous as the Washington Academy. No doubt many of its students found their religious home in Old St. Paul's, the only place of Worship in the village at that time.
26
On June 7th, 1809, a Convention of the Church in Rhode Island was held in Trinity Church, Newport, under the presidency of the Rev. Theodore Dehon, Rector of Trinity. No representative of St. Paul's parish, Wickford, either clerical or lay, was pres- ent, and the following resolution was passed :
Resolved,-"That a Committee be appointed to address the Wardens and Vestry of St. Paul's Church in North Kingstown and inquire whether there exists any cause or causes of their divi- sion with us which this Convention can alleviate."
There is no record of the doings of this Committee or of the response made by the Wardens & Vestry of St. Paul's; but it is recorded that on Aug. 23rd, of the same year the adjourned Convention met in St. Paul's Church, Wickford, with the Rev. Theodore Dehon as President. At the open- ing there were no delegates from St. Paul's present, but an adjournment took place at the request of Mr. Daniel Updike to allow him to secure some. On his return he was accompanied by five other gentlemen as duly accredited. The delegation was then
27
admitted and consisted of the following :- Daniel Updike, Jeremiah Brown, Nathaniel Munday, Samuel E. Gardner, Ludowick Updike, Sylvester Gardner.
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