Newport County, R.I. History of the Seventh Day Baptist Church

The Newport Seventh Day Baptist Church was organized in A. D. 1671, with seven members, five of whom (Samuel Hubbard, Roger Baster, William Hiscox, Rachel Langworthy and Lucy Hubbard) had been members of the First Baptist Church of Newport, and for a number of years had been observing the seventh day as their Sabbath. It was the fifth Baptist and the first Seventh Day Baptist Church organized in the United States. William Hiscox, the first pastor of the church, was a leading member of the First Baptist Church of Newport, which was under the pastorate of John Clarke, its first pastor. At that time there were four elders in the First Baptist Church, and many have supposed that Mr. Hiscox was also an elder, but no evidence has been brought to light that such was a fact. From this small beginning grew a church which in the early part of the last century exerted a great influence in the city of Newport and throughout the State. From its membership have come a Governor, Richard Ward, and many who have held positions of honor and trust in the city and State. Among the names of eminent men which adorn the pages of the Colonial History of Rhode Island is that of Henry Collins, an enterprising merchant and a member of this church. His father, Arnold Collins, also a member and trustee of this church, was a goldsmith by trade. His mother was a grand-daughter of Roger Williams, and the widow of Thomas Ward. Mr. Collins gave the land upon which the Redwood Library building was erected and for many years was one of its directors. The first place of worship of this church is supposed to have been an old chapel at Green End, which was destroyed about the time of the Revolutionary War. In 1706, for the consideration "21£ 6s and 8d current passable money at 8s per oz silver," a lot was purchased of Jonathan Barney, 40 feet on Spring street, 75 feet on Barney street, by Barney's burying ground on the southeast and on Gov. Cranston's land on the northeast, 86 feet. The deed was made to Arnold Collins, father of Henry Collins. Soon after a small parcel on the east side was purchased. Peter Barker, Joseph James and Jonathan Sabin, being the trustees of the church, received the deed in their own names for that purpose. In 1716, a resolution was passed by the church prohibiting the appropriation of the land by said persons to any other use than for the service of God and the use of the congregation, for which it was intended in the purchase. In 1718 the church voted that Richard Ward and Jonathan Sabin shall have full power to enter on the back of the deed under the hand and seal of Sarah Barney made to Peter Barker, Joseph James, late deceased, and Jonathan Sabin, the purport of which was read at said meeting in order that the church and congregation of Seventh Day Baptist may have full power and lawful authority to claim, challenge and demand all rights and profits arising or in any wise appertaining to said Peter Barker and Jonathan Sabin, or any buyer under them, for any other use than the intent the land was bought and purchased for, and the charge to be paid by the church. At a meeting of the church, Oct. 31st, 1729, it was voted that Jonathan Weeden and Henry Collins take a deed of Mr. Job Olney of the land on the back side of the meeting house for the use of the churchand be appointed trustees to take a deed in their names for the use of the church aforesaid." From the foregoing it will be seen that but a portion of the land deeded to the church is now held by their successors. Nov. 9,1729, Jonathan Weeden and Henry Collins were instructed to make a sale of the meeting house and build another "36 feet in length and 26 feet in breadth on part of that land whereon the present meeting house now stands." In building the new house of worship, Mr. Collins was assisted by his half brother, Richard Ward, and what we now see of the original work inside shows that this ancient building which has stood the many changes of 165 years was a building of great architectural beauty inside. Among the names of pastors may be found those of William Hiscox, its first pastor, father of Thomas Hiscox, a pastor of the Westerly (now 1st Hopkinton), Seventh Day Baptist Church, also the great-grandfather of Edward S. Hiscox, D. D., author of the Baptist Church Directory; Joseph Crandall, a sou of John Crandall who was also an elder in the Newport church, a resident of Westerly, a firm defender of civil and religious liberty, a person who was imprisoned by both the colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut; John Maxson, who was a grandson of John Maxson, senior, first pastor of the Westerly church; William Bliss, a man of great power; Am old, son of William Bliss, Henry Burdick, whose name will bring up some pleasant recollections in the minds of some of our aged people; William Bliss Maxson, a grandson of William Bliss; Lucius Crandall, its last pastor, an earnest, hard worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Sands Hubbard's name has been perpetuated through the Maxson, Clarke, Burdick, Langworthy and Rogers, whose home was in this old church. Although this ancient church is as a church extinct, its mission still goes on. From that church came the first Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hopkinton, and the denomination now has in round numbers, 100 churches, with a membership of 9,000 and 125 ordained ministers. They have missions in China and Holland, support twenty-eight missionaries upon the home field, maintain two colleges, one having a theological department and one academy, also a publishing house, from which is issued five publications, besides various books and tracts, which last year did a business of $17,286. During the past year over $20,000 has been raised for missionary and tract work. While we deeply regret the necessity which their seemed to be for the sale of this building, we cannot feel as though this had been a lost cause. The work still goes on, thefunds received from sale of this building go into a permanent fund, the proceeds of which will be used for mission purposes, and this ancient building so dear to us, with that tablet of commandments which saved it from destruction by the British soldiers in the time of the Revolutionary War; this pulpit in which so many of God's servants have stood and broken to many generations the bread of life; this clock which has given the time of day to so many thousand; we do not to-day regret that they have passed into the hands of the Newport Historical Society, to some of the membership of which we know that this is also sacred ground and will be well cared for.

Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society July 1886 - Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer