USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Narragansett > A history of the Episcopal church in Narragansett, Rhode Island, including a history of other Episcopal churches in the state > Part 38
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The members of the Church of England in the town of Provi- dence, by a memorial dated the 4th of May, 1739, return their most unfeigned thanks to the venerable Society for reviving the mission among them, by the appointment of the Rev. Mr. Checkley, to offi- ciate to them, than whom, no man, they say, was more desired, and they do not doubt but that he will answer the expectation of all good men concerning him. And Mr. Checkley, by a letter dated Nov. 1st, 1739, acquaints the Society, that his congregation received him with joy, and that as the most steady application to his duty is re- quired, he can with truth affirm, that he hath not been absent one Sunday since his arrival, and hath baptized thirteen persons, one of them a woman sick in bed, and is preparing some Indians and ne- groes for that sacrament ; but at the desire of the Rev. Mr. Com- missary Price, he hath sometimes performed divine service and preached on a Wednesday at Taunton, twenty miles distant from Providence, where the congregation consists of more than three hundred persons, many of whom were never before in any Chris- tian church; and he requests a large Common Prayer Book for the church of Providence, and some small ones for the use of the poor. The Society hath sent him a folio Common Prayer Book for the church, and two dozen small ones for the use of the poor at Provi- dence. Mr. Checkley likewise certifies to the good behavior of Mr. Taylor, the Society's school-master at Providence, and that the nun- ber of scholars is twenty-nine.
1740-1. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
" Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
459
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
Mr. McSparran, for officiating at Warwick, £30
Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
" Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
"The Rev. Mr. Honyman, of Rhode Island, the senior missionary of the Society, writes by a letter dated March 10th, 1739, that he had nothing extraordinary with which to acquaint the Society, and therefore he must repeat, what he hopes he shall be in a capacity of repeating as long as he lives, that his church is in a very flourishing condition.
The Rev. Dr. McSparran, missionary at Narragansett and War. wick, acquaints the Society, by a letter dated October the Ist, 1740, that he continues to discharge his parochial duties at both his churches with diligence and fidelity, well knowing that he is to give an account of his ministry, not only to the board of the Society, but also to a much higher tribunal. He blesses God that he hath reason to think that he doth not labor in vain, but that both the knowledge and practice of Christianity increase and gain ground in his parish ; he had received lately six new communicants, and baptized three well- instructed serious adults, of whom two he had already admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and should soon admit the third, through God's blessing.
The Rev. Mr. Usher, missionary at Bristol, writes by a letter dated July 13th, 1740, that he hath lately baptized two adults, after full instruction, the one a white, and the other a black ; and that he hath one remarkable convert from drunkenness whom God hath been pleased to pluck like a brand out of the fire, when through that filthy vice he was fallen into it : and upon this accident he had taken some pains with him, who thus awakened to a sense of his sins, hath been for two years an example of sobriety and virtue. The number of Mr. Usher's communicants is forty-eight, and he is now preparing three white and one black adult for the holy sacrament of baptism.
The Rev. Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, in New Eng- land, by a letter dated November 6th, 1740, complains of his being hardly beset by several Romish missionaries, and particularly by one in the shape of a Baptist teacher, but that he was at last gone away, and notwithstanding all their pains his congregation increased. He hath been visited by some of his old Indian acquaintances from distant places, and they have promised to send their children to him
460
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
for instruction ; and he hath himself visited the neighboring Indians and performed divine service, and baptized three children, at the dis- tance of fifty miles from Providence, without having been absent one Sunday from his church. He hath baptized within the year twenty- six persons, one a mulatto, and two negro boys, and four white adults, two of them a man and his wife, whose behavior at the font much moved and edified the congregation ; and they received with great devotion the sacrament of the Lord's Supper on the Sunday follow- ing, and have been constant communicants from that time.
1741-2. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
" Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
" Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
" McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
The Rev. Dr. McSparran, missionary at Narragansett and War- wick, acquaints the Society, by a letter dated May 4th, 1741, that he had baptized seventeen children and three adults, bred in Quaker- ism, who, together with four other persons of competent knowledge and of a good life, had increased the number of his communicants to forty-eight persons ; and that he continues his usual visits to War- wick, and doth duty there twice in a month, when health and weather permit, and sometimes in several distant corners of Narragansett. He thanks God that religion gains ground both among white and black people ; and he intends to devote Sunday mornings early for a catechetical lecture to the negroes, as he doth the interval between prayers and sermon, once a month, for catechising the white child- ren. And by a second letter, dated Sept. 22nd, 1741, the Doctor writes, that he had baptized four children and one Indian adult, and admitted two new members to the communion ; and he had begun the catechetical lecture for the negroes, and spends one hour imme- diately preceding divine service, in catechising and instructing these · poor wretches, who, for the most part, are extremely ignorant; and whether from the novelty of the thing, or, as he hopes from a better motive, more than fifty slaves give their attendance. He writes fur- ther, that in the middle of the arm of the sea, which divides Rhode Island from the Narragansett shore, lies an island called Connanicut, about eight or nine miles long, and two wide, containing about four
461
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
or five hundred inhabitants, who had never had Christianity preached to them in any other shape than Quakerism, until he preached to them on the 4th of August and 9th of September last, upon express invitation from them ; and the appearance of doing some good among them is so promising, that he is determined to visit them once a month. The Society, well pleased with the foregoing accounts, hath sent the Doctor a folio Bible and Common Prayer Book, and some small tracts proper to promote true religion.
1742-3. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
" Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
" Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
" McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
By letters from Rhode Island government, we are informed like- wise, that the church continues to flourish at Newport under the care of the Rev. Mr. Honyman, and at Narragansett, under the care of the Rev. Dr. McSparran, where seventy negroes and Indians attend on it in public, whom the Doctor frequently catechises and instructs for an hour before divine service begins ; and by him the people of Connanicut, mentioned in the abstract of last year, return their thanks to the Society for a folio Bible and Common Prayer Book for the public, and the pious tracts sent them for their private use ; and purpose the building of a church for the more decent celebration of divine worship.
1743-4. The Rev. Mr. Honyman, of Newport, by his letter of June 13th, 1743, blesses God that his church is in a very flourishing and improving condition ; there are in it a very large proportion of white people and an hundred negroes, who constantly attend the pub- lic worship of God. Mr. Honyman hath eighty regular communi- cants, and he hath baptized within the preceding two years one hund- red and fifteen persons, of whom twenty were adults, and seven were negros-while seventy negroes and Indians, with a large con- gregation of our own people, fill the neighboring church of Narra- gansett, under the care and administration of the Rev. Dr. Mc- Sparran.
Salaries .- Mr. Honyman, £70
" McSparran,
70
462
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
Mr. McSparran, for officiating at Warwick, £30
-
" Usher, 60
" Checkley, 60
" Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
1744. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
" McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
68 66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
" Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
The Rev. Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, says, that not- withstanding all opposition, the church increases and is likely to in- crease ; that he found a greater number of people in the woods than he could have imagined, destitute of all religion, and as living with- out God in the world ; and he had likewise visited the Indians upon Quinebaug river, and was in hopes of doing some good among them.
1745. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
" Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
" Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
66 66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
66 Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
The church at Rhode Island, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Ho- nyman, remains in its usual flourishing state; while in Bristol, sev- eral families have conformed, and many others frequent that church, whom the Rev. Mr. Usher, the Society's missionary there, has good hopes will become worthy members thereof.
1746. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
66 66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
". Taylor, school-master at Providence. 10
The Rev. Mr. Honyman, the Society's missionary, and the church- wardens and vestry of the church of Newport, in Rhode Island, by their letter dated August 2nd, 1746, petition the Society to send them over a proper person episcopally ordained, to take on him the office of a school-master to teach grammar and the mathematics, pursuant
·
463
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
to the will of the late worthy Mr. Nathaniel Kay, who bequeathed an house and lands to the value of about twenty-five pounds sterling per annum, in trust to them for that purpose. And that the Society would be graciously pleased to appoint such person catechist to their church, under the direction of Mr. Honyman, and to be assistant to him in the care of that very numerous congregation. To this the Society, out of regard to'the advanced years of Mr. Honyman, (who hath been more than forty years their faithful and diligent missiona- ry there,) have consented ; and they have given him directions to consult the Rev. Dr. Johnson, of Stratford, and to choose out of the young gentlemen educated at New Haven, whom, upon their own request, Dr. Johnson hath recommended for employment to the So- ciety, a fit person for these offices ; and to send him over to Eng- land for holy orders, of which, if he shall be found worthy, the So- ciety, after his ordination, will appoint him catechist and assistant to Mr. Honyman, in the care of his very large and increasing congre- gation, not of whites alone, but of blacks also ; no less than twelve of the latter sort having been admitted members of it, by the holy sacrament of baptism, within twelve months.
The Rev. Mr. Usher, the Society's missionary at Bristol, by his letter dated April 2nd, 1746, writes : That besides reading and preaching twice every Sunday, and regularly administering the holy sacraments, and observing all the feasts and fasts of the church in his own parish, he officiates also at Taunton, Swansey, and other places, as opportunity offers and occasion requires ; and that several who were dissenters had become conformists : to which is added the pleasure of his having about thirty negroes and Indians of his con- gregation, most of whom join in the church service very devoutly, and three of them are communicants.
1747. " The Rev. Mr. Honyman continues his usual diligence in his mission at Newport, in Rhode Island-it appearing by his let- ter of May 14th, 1747, that he had baptized eighty-three persons, eleven of whom were adults, and properly instructed, sixteen. ne- groes and two Indians."
1748. Mr. Honyman, missionary at Rhode Island, £70
" Leaming, catechist at Newport in R. Island, 10
" Usher, missionary at New Bristol, 60
" McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
464
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
Mr. McSparran, for officiating at Warwick, £30
“ Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
" Taylor, school-master in Providence, 10
1749. Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, £60
" Taylor, school-master at Providence, 10
" Honyman, missionary at Newport in R. I. 70
" Leaming, catechist at
do 10
66 McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
.
66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
66 Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
1750.
Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, £60
Taylor, school-master at do. 10
' Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
" Leaming, chatechist at Newport in R. I. 10
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
The church of Newport, in Rhode Island, hath sustained a very great loss by the death of their late worthy pastor, Mr. James Hony- man, who departed this life there on the 2nd of July last, after a life well spent in promoting true religion and virtue, to a very advanced age ; he having been upwards of forty years in the service of the Society, and by their support done great service to the cause of re- ligion, of which the church gathered at Newport by his pious labors is a very good, and it is to be hoped, by their perseverance in the paths of righteousness and truth, will prove a lasting monument.
1751. No sermon or abstract this year.
1752. The Society, at the earnest request of the church at New- port, hath consented to the removal of the worthy Mr. Beach, their missionary at the church at Newtown, to that numerous congrega- tion ; and they will endeavor to provide the church at Newtown with a worthy successor, as soon as they shall be informed of Mr. Beach's removal thence.
Salaries .- Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, £60
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
" McSparran, missionary at Narragransett, 70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
Beach, 50
465
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
Mr. Leaming, catechist at Newport, £20
1753.
Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, 60
" Taylor, school-master at do.
10
66 Beach, missionary at Newport in R. I. 50
" Leaming, catechist at do 20
66 McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
1754.
Mr. Checkley, missionary at Providence, £70
Taylor, school-master at do.
10
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
Pollen, missionary at Newport in R. I. 50
Leaming, catechist at do. 20
The Rev. Mr. Beach, the Society's missionary at Newtown and Reading, in Connecticut, having declined, through want of health, to accept of the great care of the church at Newport, in Rhode Island, which at the earnest request of the inhabitants thereof, had been of- fered to him, the Society hath appointed the Rev. Mr. Pollen, M. A., late curate of St. Autholin's church in London, but then curate of the Episcopal church of Glasgow, to that mission, upon his own request ; and it is hoped that he is by this time safely arrived, and to good purpose employed in the duties of his holy function there.
The Rev. Mr. Usher, the Society's missionary at Bristol, in New England, observes, in his letter of this year to the Society, that he hath been employed above thirty years in their service, and contin- ues to do his duty, though in an imperfect state of health ; and hath the pleasure to officiate to a full congregration of sober, industrious persons, who perform the service of the church in as regular order as any church whatsoever, there being none among them but can read, except some few negroes ; and he thanks God he lives upon a good footing with the dissenters, as well as with the members of his own congregation. And he had lately received into the church three adults, bred among the Anabaptists, and was preparing four more for the holy sacrament of baptism-and when that these four should be baptized, there would remain but part of two families unbaptized in his whole congregation.
54*
466
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCHI.
1755. Mr. Pollen, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £50
66 Leaming, catechist at do. 20
6 Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
66 66 for officiating at Warwick, 30
" John Graves, missionary at Providence, 58
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
By a letter of thanks to the Society, from the church-wardens and vestry of the church of Newport, in Rhode Island, bearing date the 28th of May, 1754, for the appointment of the Rev. Mr. Pollen to that mission, (as mentioned in the abstract of the Society's proceed- ings in the year 1753,) it appears that Mr. Pollen arrived safe there in the beginning of that month, and was very acceptable to them ; not only from his general good character, but also from his good be- havior and abilities in his pastoral duties, as far as they had yet ex- perienced them ; and they made no doubt but he would answer the pious and charitable design of the Society in sending him to them. And Mr. Pollen, by his letter of June the 7th, 1754, gives an ac- count of his kind reception, and that he hath great hopes of propa- gating the true Christian faith, and doing much good among them, towards which, he promises his best endeavors shall not be wanting. The church of Providence, in Providence Plantation, having become vacant by the death of the Rev. Mr. Checkley, and the church-war- dens and vestry of that church having very earnestly petitioned the Society to supply that loss by the appointment of a new missionary the Society hath thought it proper to appoint the Rev. Mr. John Graves, Vicar of Chaplain in Yorkshire, in the Diocese of Chester, a most pious and worthy clergyman, brother to the Rev. Mr. Ma- thew Graves, the Society's worthy missionary at New London, in the Colony of Connecticut, and animated with the same holy zeal to propagate the Gospel in foreign parts, to be their missionary to the church of Providence ; and it is to be hoped Mr. John Graves, he having before his departure resigned the vicarage of Chaplain, is happily arrived at that mission.
1756. Mr. Pollen, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £50 " Leaming, catechist at do. 20
Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
1
467
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
Mr. McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, £70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
" John Graves, missionary at Providence, 60
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
Mr. Pollen, and all the other worthy missionaries, send favorable accounts.
1757. Mr. Pollen, missionary at Newport R. Island, £50
". Leaming, catechist at do. 20
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
John Graves, missionary at Providence, 50
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
The Rev. Mr. John Graves, the Society's missionary in the church of Providence, appears to be most acceptable to that congregation, which, by their letter of June 14th, 1756, humbly thanks the Socie- ty for their goodness in sending so very worthy a person to adminis- ter to them, whose behavior makes him to be beloved by all, and their church is crowded ; and they humbly hope that God will make him instrumental in stirring them heartily to their duty. And he labors much therein, administering the holy communion, and preach- . ing both morning and afternoon, and catechising the children, not only at Providence, but at Taunton also, where he monthly officiates.
1758. Mr. Pollen, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £70
" Leaming, catechist at do. 20
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
" McSparran, missionary at Narragansett, 70
for officiating at Warwick, 30
John Graves, missionary at Providence, 50
Taylor, school-master at do. 10
1759. Mr. Pollen, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £50
" Fayerweather, missionary at Narragansett, 50
" Usher missionary at Bristol, 60
" John Graves, missionary at Providence, 50
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
The Rev. Dr. McSparran, the Society's missionary at Narragan- sett, died there on the 1st of December, 1757, and by his last will, dated May 23, 1753, he hath given a convenient spot of ground for
468
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
a church and burying place, on the north-west corner of his land, to build a church upon, if need should hereafter so require. He likewise, after his wife's decease, hath bequeathed his farm in that parish, as a convenient dwelling-house, to such Bishop of the Church of England and his successors, forever, as shall be regularly sent, and set over that part of his Majesty's plantations where the said farm lies, with this proviso : that at least the three first Bishops in direct succession, be born or educated in Great Britain or Ireland ;- also, that the said Bishop be sent at farthest within seven years after his wife's decease, (she died in England, of the small pox, in the year 1755.) And to supply the loss of Dr. McSparran to his congre- gation, the Society hath appointed the Rev. Mr. Fayerweather, a na- tive of New England, of so very good a character, and so well re- commended when he came to England for holy orders in the year 1756, that the University of Oxford was pleased to honor him with the degree of Master of Arts, to succeed Dr. McSparran as their mis- sionary to the church of Narragansett.
1760. Mr. Pollen, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £50 " Fayerweather, missionary at Narragansett, 50
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
" John Graves, missionary at Providence, 50
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
1761. Mr. Browne, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £50
Fayerweather, missionary at Narragansett, 50
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
" John Graves, missionary at Providence, 50
Taylor, school-master at do. 10
The Rev. Mr. Pollen, late the Society's missionary to the church of Newport, in Rhode Island, by a letter dated there July the 10th, 1760, acquainted the Society, that he had received an invitation to a parish in Jamaica, and he hoped the Society would not take amiss his acceptance of it, as he should always retain the utmost venera- tion for them; and, whether in or out of their service, gladly em- brace every opportunity of promoting it; that he was pressed imme- diately to embark for Jamaica, but he would stay and officiate in Newport till the beginning of the winter. `And the church of New- port entreat the Society by a petition, dated September 23, 1760, to grant them another missionary in the room of Mr. Pollen, then about
-
469
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
to leave them ; and they take the liberty to mention Mr. Marma- duke Browne, the Society's itinerant missionary in New Hampshire, as a clergyman of a very good character, who had lately officiated to them to the great satisfaction of the congregation, and they hoped to be quite happy under his pastoral care, would the Society be so good as to appoint him to that mission. This the Society have grant- ed, Mr. Marmaduke Browne joining in the request, together with his father, the Society's missionary at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire.
1762. Mr. Browne, missionary at Newport in R. Island, £50
" Fayerweather, missionary at Narragansett, 50
" Usher, missionary at Bristol, 60
" John Graves, missionary at Providence, 50
" Taylor, school-master at do. 10
The Rev. Mr. Fayerweather, the Society's missionary at Narra- gansett, by his letter dated Dec. 1st, 1760, which was laid before the Board April 17th, 1761, acquaints the Society, that after officiating a few Sundays in the parish church of St. Paul in his new mission, he had the misfortune of spraining his right ancle, which till that time had confined him in great pain, but promises upon his recove- ry, to be diligent in the Society's service and obey their injunctions, and to exert himself to the utmost of his strength and capacity, to the honor of God and the propagation of the Gospel of our Great Redeemer. By another letter, dated March 20, 1761, we learn, that he is so far restored as to go out again, and promises to do his utmost to redeem the lost time. He complains that Quakers, Baptists, Fa- natics, Ranters, Deists, and Infidels, swarm in that part of the world. But in another letter, dated August 1st, 1761, writes, that his own flock, to his unspeakable comfort, increase in number, and, as he judges by their fruits, grow in the grace and virtues of the Christian life. He adds, that many good books are wanted in the Narragan- sett county, for the suppressing of Deism, Infidelity, and Quakerism, which, if sent to his care and disposal, he promises shall be distribu- ted in a manner beneficial to his own people, and to those who dis- sent from our establishment. Which request the Society have com- plied with ; and besides Bibles, Common Prayer Books, and many pious small tracts, have sent twelve copies of West on the Resurrec- tion, and Littleton on the Conversion of St. Paul, and twelve of Les- lie's short and easy method with the Deists.
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