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DK Eyewitness Travel Guide USA

Old Narragansett Church

  • Also Known As: Old St. Paul's Church also St. Paul's Episcopal Church
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

Old Narragansett Church is significant both for its historical associations and for its architecture. One of the oldest Episcopalian churches in the country, it was the second Anglican church to be established in Rhode Island. The ministry to Narragansett was initiated on a regular basis in 1706 by the Reverend Christopher Bridge, and it was under his guidance that the church building was erected in 1707. Queen Anne, in that same year, presented the new silver chalice and paten to commemorate its founding. - AsNotedIn


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Old Narragansett Church
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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1707/00/00 Anne, Queen of Great Britain Faith Anne, Queen of Great Britain donates a new silver chalice and paten to the Anglican church in Tower Hill.
1707/00/00 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts Sponsor Narragansett Church is built at "the Platform" on Tower Hill, where Pendar Road ends at Shermantown Road, in Narragansett. The Anglican church features a Puritan meeting-house plan, with pulpit and reading-desk. Pews are square and simply paneled.
1721/04/28 Rev James MacSparran Vocation The Rev James MacSparran becomes pastor of St Paul's church. Under his rectorship St Paul's and its parsonage will become the center of cultural, religious and social life of the town.
1730/00/00 Bishop George Berkeley Vocation Dean George Berkeley occasionally preaches for Rev James McSparran at St Paul's Church, Wickord, Rhode Island.
1756/04/11 Gilbert Stuart Faith Rev James MacSparran baptizes Gilbert Stuart, "son of Gilbert Stewart ye Snuff Grinder", at St Paul's Church.
1757/12/06 Rev James MacSparran In Memoriam Rev James MacSparran is buried under the altar in St Paul's, Narragansett, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
1758/00/00 Reverend Samuel Fayerweather succeeds Rev James MacSparran as rector of St Paul's church.
1774/00/00 Reverend Samuel Fayerweather is removed as pastor of St Paul's for his Tory sympathies.
1777/00/00 St Paul's is used as an American barracks during the Revolution. No religious services will be held here until Reverend William Smith arrives.
1787/00/00 Reverend William Smith is appointed rectorship at St Paul's Church.
1800/00/00 After parishioners quit the Tower Hill area, church vestrymen vote to relocate St Paul's church. The building is drawn four miles to the village of Wickford by a team of oxen.
1923/00/00 Norman M Isham Architect Norman Isham undertakes a complete restoration of Old Narragansett Church by making a thorough investigation of the structure and its records to determine its original appearance.
1930/00/00 John Howard Benson Artist A classical reredos, designed by Newport artist John Howard Benson, is installed behind the altar in Old Narragansett Church.

Data »

Particulars for Old Narragansett Church:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Building
Criteria Historic Event
Attribute Moved property
Level of Significance National
Owner Private
Other Description Puritan meeting-house
Area of Significance Religion
Historic Use Religious Property



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 2nd July 1973

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Old Narragansett Church
Registry Address: 60 Church Lane, Wickford
Registry Number: 73000009
Resource Type: Building
Owner: Private
Architect: unknown
Architectural Style: Other
Attribute: Puritan meeting-house
Contributing Buildings: 1
Certification: Listed in the National Register
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Architecture, Religion
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering
Criteria Consideration: Moved property, Religious property
Period of Significance: 1700-1749
Significant Year: 1707, 1800
Historic Function: Religion
Historic Sub-Function: Religious structure
Current Function: Religion
Current Sub-Function: Religious structure

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