USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Wickford > The Old Narragansett church (St. Paul's) : built A.D. 1707, a constant witness to Christ and his church > Part 2
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After routine business had been attended to the following important step was taken :-
Resolved: 1. "That it is expedient and very desirable that the Church in this State have the supervisory care and official services of a Bishop."
2. "That the proposal from the Church in Massachusetts (to establish an "Eastern Diocese" including the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Ver- mont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island) opens the best prospect of obtaining these benefits in the most satisfactory manner, and as far as the Committee have been able to investigate the sub- ject, appears to have arisen from an im- partial and disinterested respect to the general good of the Church."
"The Committee therefore recom- mend that the Convention should ac- ceed to the proposal of the Convention of Massachusetts, and that ,the Churches in this state be severally re-
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THE RIGHT REV. ALEXANDER V. GRISWOLD, D. D., Bishop of the Eastern Diocese (including Rhode Island). 1811 to 1843.
quested to appoint Delegates to repre- sent them in the united Convention wherever it shall be held.
Signed, Alexander V. Griswold, Theodore Dehon, Nathan B. Crocker."
Note :- Bishop Bass of Massachusetts, who was also Bishop of Rhode Island, died in 1803, so that at the date of this Conven- tion there had been no Bishop of either State for six years.
Thus the Old Narragansett Church had an honorable share in securing the desired "supervisory care and official services of a Bishop." Rhode Island became a part of the Eastern Diocese and the man chosen at the united Convention as Bishop of the Dio- cese was one of Rhode Island's own clergy -the Rev. Alexander V. Griswold-who continued to reside in Rhode Island as Rec- tor of St. Michael's, Bristol.
The Convention of the Diocese again met at St. Paul's, Wickford in 1817, on a day not named, and was presided over by Bishop Griswold. It was rendered notable by the Ordination of two Deacons to the Priest- hood by the Bishop viz :- The Rev. George S. White and the Rev. Joseph B. Andrews.
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About the year 1817, the first Sunday School ever held in Wickford was started at the suggestion of Mr. John Brown of East Greenwich, and soon became a flourish- ing institution, under the care of Mrs. Wm. G. Shaw, wife of Dr. Wm. G. Shaw, who had recently settled in Wickford. Both the Dr. and his wife were communicants of St. Paul's.
On April 24th, 1819, the Rev. P. H. Folker, being Rector, at a meeting of the Vestry it was
"voted and resolved that the War- dens or either of them, be and are hereby requested and authorized to in- vite the Right Reverend A. V. Griswold to Consecrate the Church edifice in Wickford and set it apart for the worship and service of Almighty God."
In these days it seems strange to hear of a Church building the centre of so much religious activity existing so long without having been Consecrated, but it must be remembered that it is the right of Bishops only to Consecrate and that in Colonial times the Church had no Bishops in this Country. After the War of Independence the Episcopate was established but the
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earlier American Bishops had enormous districts under their jurisdiction, and traveling from place to place was slow and difficult. For instance, Bishop Griswold, as Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, had under his care the States of Maine, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Today in this same territory the Church has seven Bishops.
It is evident that Bishop Griswold did not delay in complying with the request of the Wardens of St. Paul's for in his ad- dress before the Convention of the Eastern Diocese in Sept. 1820, he reported :
"In the Spring of last year the Old Church in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, was put in complete repair, and a bell has been added. On the sixth of May it was dedicated to God's glory and worship."
Thus the Old Church received its crown of honor in the one hundred and twelfth year of its age, and God's special blessing, at the hands of a duly authorized chief Shepherd of Christ's Flock. A blessing that reached backward and rehallowed the many sacred memories of an honored past ; a blessing that rested upon the joyous
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present, and a blessing that stretched out into a hopeful future. The Constant wit- ness was Consecrated and given thereby increased power for stronger witness in the days to come.
In the year following the Consecration of the Church the Rev. Lemuel Burge be- came Rector, having previously acted as Lay Reader, and served with faithfulness and zeal to 1834. During the greater part of that time he served alternately in St. Paul's Wickford and in St. Paul's South Kingstown, the latter church having been built a few years previously, mainly through his own efforts. The separation of these parishes in 1833 enabled him to give his attention to Old St. Paul's at Wickford, while the South Kingstown Church received missionary care till the building blew down in a severe gale and the congregation united with the Church at Wakefield. Mr. Burge resigned after 14 years arduous work but was recalled in 1837. He finally retired, owing to ill health, in 1840, much loved and respected by his people. A cross in memory of his life and ministry is fixed upon the wall of the sanctuary in the present St. Paul's Church.
In 1824, the Old Church was the scene of
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a patriotic celebration of Independence Day. A time worn handbill now in the Wickford Library gives the
"Order of Performance at St. Paul's Church, North Kingstown, July 5, 1824" of which the following outline is here given:
Ode-Tune Cranbrook. 'Behold arrayed in light, And by divine command, Fair peace the Child of Heaven descends, To thy own happy land.
Let us with hearts devout Declare what we have seen, And to our children's children tell How good the Lord has been.'
Prayer-By the Rev. Lemuel Burge.
Ode-Tune Harmony.
Declaration of Independence- By Wm. G. Hammond, Esq.
Ode-Tune Drummond.
Oration-By Joshua B. Rathbun.
Ode-Tune Ode on Science of which the last verse is:
"The British yoke, the Gallic chain, Were urged upon our sons in vain; All haughty tyrants we disdain, And shout 'long live America.' Benediction.
The condition and customs of the Old Church in those days are vividly brought
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before us by the following recollections of Mrs. F. Burge Griswold, a daughter of the Rev. Lemuel Burge :-
"The square 'boxes' rise before me and are peopled with familiar forms and faces. To the wardens pew is still attached the official staff, black, with top and spiral band of gilt. The chancel is semi-circular, with a 'three decker' arrangement, communion table, reading desk, and wine glass pulpit with so narrow a seat that one could not comfortably rest upon it. Back of the pulpit, high above the preacher's head, are two small paned windows, draped with green moreen, fringed and heavily tasseled, and looped up, and held by rods and gilt adornments. The cushions for Bible and Prayer Book, on pulpit and desk are of crimson velvet, with fringe of the same color .- The singers are in front of the gallery, opposite the clergyman. A tuning fork indicates the key, and a big bass viol accompanies the voices.
"The Christmas time especially, is most precious in all its associations. Resinous evergreens, pine and cedar, and graceful creeping jenny, rise from
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floor to ceiling, making a perfect forest of the holy temple. For a week busy hands have been adorning and making glorious the place for the coming of our Lord and Saviour, the Babe of Bethlehem. On the eve of the Nativity, the windows of the church are ablaze with lighted candles in every pane, and the country around is attracted by the grand illumination. Through all my childhood, there was never a Christmas Eve without this Commemoration. The service in church, with jubilant songs, the solemn, yet hopeful, sermon, seemed a sacred prelude to the bright morn when Christ the Lord was born, and the feast was kept in all its fullness. I can never cease to feel the hallowing influence of the old time Christmas seasons in St. Paul's Narragansett."
In 1822, Bishop Griswold held another Diocesan Convention at St. Paul's, North Kingstown, on June 4th and the following important resolution was adopted :-
"Resolved :- That the Minister and one Layman from each parish be ap- pointed to receive and obtain sub- scriptions for the cause of Missions in
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this State, and that they pay all such sums as may be received, to the Treas- urer of this Convention."
The Rev. Lemuel Burge, Rector of St. Paul's reported :-
"That his own Parish is exhibiting an appearance more pleasing to the Chris- tian mind, than for years past."
The Diocesan Convention met again in St. Paul's on June 12th, 1827, and was pre- sided over by Bishop Griswold.
On June 11th, 1833, the Convention met once more in St. Paul's and in the absence of the Bishop the Rector of the parish, the Rev. Lemuel Burge, presided.
Early in the proceedings it was Resolved : "That a Committee be appointed to re- port on the subject of organizing a Society for benefit of Widows and Or- phans of deceased Clergymen."
Later the Committee reported,-
that it is expedient to organize such a Society."
Action followed and the Society was duly formed and established two years later.
The five Conventions of the Diocese of Rhode Island held in Old St. Paul's during
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the first half of the nineteenth century indicate the high standing of the Church and Parish in the Diocese, and the far reaching importance of their proceedings add considerably to the constant witness of the Old Church.
The agreement to join with the other New England States to form the Eastern Diocese, and so secure Episcopal oversight for each and all of them, was a great help to the Church, especially in the light of the active and efficient services which Bishop Griswold rendered during an Episcopate lasting thirty-two years. Two of the most valuable organizations of the Diocese viz: The Dio- cesan Board of Missions and the Widows, Orphans and Clergy Fund had their incep- tion therein, the former in 1822 and the latter in 1833.
Bishop Griswold held Confirmation at St. Paul's in the years 1834, 1835, 1836, 1838, 1839, 1841 and 1842. On the last occasion, it is related by an eye witness, that on coming out of the building the good Bishop was much attracted to a little girl who was standing near and turned aside to lay his hand upon her head-doubtless in blessing, tho' no words were audible. This child
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was Elizabeth Greene, sister of the present Senior Warden of St. Paul's.
Bishop Henshaw held Confirmations in 1843, 1845 and 1847. Altogether in the thirteen years between 1834 and 1847 fifty three persons received the sacred Rite of Confirmation in the Old Church.
In 1847, the Parish, desiring more accom- modation for its growing congregations and a structure more in accordance with Church Architecture, decided to build a new Church. The foundation stone was laid in Sept. of that year, and the finished building Consecrated on St. Paul's Day, 1848, by Bishop Henshaw. The Rev. John Hill Rouse was Rector at the time and held that posi- tion from 1840 to 1849.
The Congregation was at once transferred to the new building and the Old Church was left silent and deserted, not so com- pletely as on the former occasion for it now stood in a more populous centre and was doubtless visited often by some at least of the parishioners.
At the time of the third jubilee of the S. P. G. by the effort of the Rev. Daniel Henshaw, Rector from 1849 to 1853, a tablet was erected in the present Parish Church
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RY
DE
THE RIGHT REV. JOHN P. K. HENSHAW, D. D., Bishop of Rhode Island, 1843 to 1852.
of St. Paul at Wickford, with the following inscription :
"In Memory of the Rev. James McSparran, D. D., for thirty-five years the minister of St. Paul's, Narragansett. He departed this life Dec. 1st, 1757. In memory also, of Rev. Samuel Fayerweather,
his successor, who died 1781.
Both were Missionaries of the S. P. G. F. P. Third Jubilee, 1851.
There is no entry in the Parish Record concerning the Old Church for over twenty years and apparently little was done to keep it in proper repair. A parishioner now liv- ing remembers that in or about the year 1869 it presented a very dilapidated condi- tion; the windows all broken, roof leaking with every rainfall, stones and other litter on the floor (thrown in by boys who made the yard a favorite play-ground) and the rest of the interior much damaged by con- sequent exposure to wind and weather.
The Rev. Daniel Goodwin became Rector of St. Paul's in May 1869 and a few weeks afterwards took part in the interesting and impressive ceremony of
"Unveiling the monument, erected to the memory of the Rev. MacSparran
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and the Rev. Samuel Fayerweather, on the original site of the Old Church under the authority of the 'Rhode Island Episcopal Convention'."
The Right Rev. Thomas M. Clark, Bishop of the Diocese, performed the ceremony as- sisted by several of the clergy and in the presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen. On their return the whole party visited the Old Church at Wickford and
"obtained a view of its ancient looking interior as well as its plain and weath- er-beaten exterior."
Thus early in his ministry at St. Paul's did Dr. Goodwin show his interest in the Old Church. The welfare and preservation of this historic relic has been dear to his heart from that time onwards. In 1899 he edited the recently discovered "MacSpar- ran Diary" and in later years undertook the editing of a second edition, enlarged and corrected, of "A History of the Epis- copal Church in Narragansett" by Wilkins Updike. His knowledge of the subject and his well known literary ability enabled him to accomplish his task in so admirable a manner that the books were welcomed as
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THE REV. DANIEL GOODWIN. Ph. D., D. D.
among the most valuable and complete of historical records of Rhode Island.
On Aug. 29th, 1870, at a Parish Meeting it was voted
"That the Rector (Rev. Daniel Good- win) be appointed to obtain funds to expend on the Old Church edifice for its preservation under his direction."
Dr. Goodwin took action thereon and as a result the Old Church received a new shingle roof, new glass was put in the windows and the inside made clean and tidy.
In the summer of 1872, during the time that enlargements and improvements were being carried out in the new St. Paul's, the Old Church again came temporarily into use for the regular parish Services.
At a Parish Meeting on Jan. 25th, 1875, it
"was voted that C. A. Chadsey and D. E. Bullock be a Committee to make sale of lumber now stored in the Old Church."
On Aug. 7th, 1876, at a meeting of St. Paul's Guild, it was voted that
"a Committee of six be appointed to direct the removal of rubbish from the
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Old Church and prepare it for a Memo- rial Service to be held at a not distant day."
That this Memorial Service was held shortly after is evident (tho' the exact date is not given) from the following entry in the Guild Minute Book under date Sept. 4th, 1876 :
"Voted that the thanks of the Guild be extended to the Committee for the very efficient manner in which they arranged for said Service, and for the entertainment of the strangers pres- ent."
At a meeting of the Guild held May 7th, 1877, it was voted
"That a Committee of three be ap- pointed to co-operate with the Rector (Rev. William W. Ayres) in arranging for Services to be held in the Old Church during the summer. Appointed Mr. C. A. Chadsey, Jos. W. Reynolds and Mrs. C. Sanford."
Under the auspices of this Committee the Old Church was used for regular Services, and Sermons, by special preachers, during the month of August in each year. This
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MR. JAMES A. GREENE, Senior Warden of St. Paul's, Wickford, and for more than 30 years leading member of the Old Church Committee.
arrangement became a regular custom and has been continued up to the present. The credit for this action and the wider interest in the Old Church which it did so much to develop, was due largely to the initiative of the Rev. Wm. W. Ayres-Rector from 1876 to 1887-who was an enthusiastic lover of the Old Church, and spared no effort on his own part to promote a similar interest in others. Special Services were also held occasionally under the care of the same Committee of the Guild and through them, and the arrangements made by them, a Maintenance Fund for the repair and up keep of the building was established. In Sept. 1885, the Committee reported to the Guild that they had expended, during that summer, $156.55 and had a balance, in hand of $49.22. The members of the Committee at that time were Mr. James A. Greene, Mr P. J. Thomas, Mrs. Gregory and Miss Rey- nolds.
Since this revived and most appropriate use of the Old Church was established, many noted preachers have been heard there, including the Bishops of the Diocese ; the Bishops of New York, Milwaukee and Cuba, and probably others whose names have not been recorded.
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Bishop H. C. Potter of New York, on one of his visits ran considerable risk of being drowned. He and a few friends started from Warren in a small open steamboat and owing to a strong wind and high sea, did not arrive till an hour or more after Service time and when most of the Congre- gation had returned home. The good Bishop, however, was not to be daunted, so he proceeded with the Service and preached to a very small congregation. Then in spite of the weather, which by this time developed into a severe storm all over the Bay, he decided to re-embark immediately. On the way back the boat could hardly make headway and several times seemed on the point of being swamped, but eventu- ally made port in safety tho' the Bishop and his friends were wet to the skin.
Among the Rhode Island Clergy most active in thus showing their appreciation of the honor conferred upon them by the Old Church was the Rev. David Hummell Greer, D. D., Rector of Grace Church, Providence, at the time and now Bishop of New York. He spent several summers in Wickford, gladly preached in the Old Church, raised not a little money for the
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Maintenance Fund and in other ways did much to promote a wider interest in the "Constant Witness" among the summer residents of the neighborhood.
On May 21st, 1907, the Old Church wel- comed within its walls a notable gathering of Churchmen, both clerical and lay, for on that day the 117th Annual Session of the Rhode Island Episcopal Convention met at Wickford, by invitation of the Rector (Rev. F. B. Cole) and Vestry of St. Paul's, and held its opening Service in the Old Narra- gansett Church. The Holy Communion was celebrated by Bishop McVickar, assisted by the Rector, after which the congregation adjourned to St. Paul's Church, Main St., for the business session. There is no record of the number present at the opening Ser- vice but the number attending the Conven- tion was :- Bishop and Clergy 55, Lay Delegates 119, so that, even allowing for those unable to reach Wickford in time for the Service, the Old Church must have been well filled.
The Bishop, in his annual address to the Convention, referring to the fact that the 200th anniversary of the building of the Old Narragansett Church was to be cele- brated a few months later said :-
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"I am sure that those who were present at the holy service of this morning, in the Old Church, will bear me out, that a special interest gave point to the occasion beyond the quaintness and interest of the ancient building, with its antiquated appoint- ments, in the sacred memories and presences which haunt its narrow aisles and straight back pews, and which seemed again today to kneel with us at its chancel rail emphasizing through all time the unchangeable presence and promises of God, and the blessed com- munion of saints, that 'blessed com- munion, fellowship divine,' unbroken even by the ruthless hand of death itself. We are grateful to God for such an opportunity and to the Rector and Vestry of St. Paul's, for the hospitable conditions under which we enjoy it, extending to the latter our congratula- tions on the unfaded traditions of two centuries, and our best wishes for their work in the years to come."
The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the building of Old St. Paul's was observed with appropriate ceremonies, amid much enthusiasm, on Sept. 9th and 10th in the
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year 1907. Bishop McVickar was unfor- tunately not able to be present but sent felicitations and his blessing.
The proceedings opened with Morning Prayer and the Holy Communion in the Old Church, with the seating capacity taxed to the utmost by a large congregation. The Rev. Frederick B. Cole, Rector of St. Paul's, conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. Lucian A. Rogers of St. George's Church, Central Falls, and by the Rev. Frank Dormer-Pierce, Rector of the Old Wickford parish in Essex, England.
The presence of the latter gentleman was brought about by a curious chain of circumstances,-
"Town Clerk Ferris of Old Wick- ford, England, came across a reference to Wickford, R. I., and, out of curiosity, wrote to this State a letter which in due course reached the hands of Mr. Thomas J. Pierce, Town Clerk of North Kingstown, who courteously informed Mr. Ferris all about the Rhode Island Wickford, and, in return received many valuable documents relative to the English Village. Among the latter was a sketch, written by the Rev. F. Dormer-Pierce, and as the Rev. F. B.
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Cole was then working on the arrange- ments for the Anniversary, Col. Pierce called his attention to the above in- cidents. As a result Mr. Cole wrote to Mr. Dormer-Pierce, told him of the coming celebration and suggested the appropriateness of having the latter send over a message of good cheer. Much to Mr. Cole's elation and that of his parish, the English Rector spoke of his willingness to attend the celebra- tion as he had planned an American trip about this time."
The Rev. F. Dormer-Pierce thus brought together, within and around the Old Church, the many centuries-old village of Wickford in England and the comparative- ly modern village of Wickford in Rhode Island. His visit also caused a strong revival of the tradition that the latter re- ceived its name from Mrs. John Winthrop, Jr., wife of the Governor of Connecticut and a native of Old Wickford, England, who visited the "New Town" of the Updikes, about the middle of the seven- teenth century, and gave it the name of Wickford after her own birthplace.
The afternoon service occurred at 4 o'clock and was conducted by the same
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clergy with the addition of the Rev. Lester Bradner of St. John's Church, Providence. The Rev. F. Dormer-Pierce gave a most in- teresting address concerning historical Church buildings in England and his own in particular. He also presented to St. Paul's as a memorial offering, a print of his church enclosed in a frame made of a fragment of the 14th century oak which had formed the carved wooden ceiling of its choir.
On the second day the proceedings opened with a reception and collation in the Guild Hall at 1 p. m. At 3 o'clock the company adjourned to the Old Church where Evening Prayer was said by the Rector assisted by the Rev. W. C. Clapp and others. At its conclusion the Rev. D. Goodwin, D. D., a former Rector of St. Paul's, delivered a masterly sketch of the history of the "Old Narragansett Church," taking for his text "and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation V, 8. This sermon made such an impression upon its hearers that it was afterwards published and now forms one of the most cherished records of the Old Church's witness to Christ and His Church.
A large number of visitors attended, some
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coming long distances. Among them may be mentioned Dr. W. J. Burge whose father was for many years Rector of St. Paul's. The Rev. Messrs. S. S. Drury and W. C. Clapp of the Philippines; Rev. Dr. Fiske of Providence; Gen. Thomas W. Chase of East Greenwich; John H. Stiness ex Chief Jus- tice of the United States Supreme Court; George Thomas of Philadelphia, son of the late Bishop of Kansas; Mrs. R. J. Barker, Vice President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and all the members of the Town Council of North Kingstown. Mr. Daniel Berkely Updike, whose name and family connection has been closely identified with the church, sent his greetings in the following telegram: "To F. B. Cole, Congratulations and good wishes on anniversary. Deeply regret enforced absence."
Altogether this imposing celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Old Narra- gansett Church formed one of the most important events in its history; and did much to develop interest therein through- out the Diocese and the State as a whole. To the Rector, Rev. F. B. Cole, and the Senior Warden, Mr. James A. Greene, high praise is due for the inception and organiz-
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ing, and to the other members of the Vestry, together with the ladies of the parish, for their hearty and effective co-operation.
Quiet times followed for several years. The regular August services were main- tained, with sermons by visiting clergy, while the "Constant Witness" of the Old Church was noted and appreciated by a large number of persons who visited it almost daily through the summer months of each year. The Rev. Richard R. Graham, who was Rector from 1908 to 1912, showed a strong interest in the Old Church and it was during his Rectorship that the recent restoration of the interior was commenced.
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