Newport County Church History
In the year 1647 it was ordered and
decreed by the General Court of Rhode Island, in the matter of religious opinion, "That
all men may walk as their own consciences persuade them, every one in the name
of his God. And let the sheep and lambs of the Most High walk together in this
colony without molestation in the name of Jehovah, their God, for ever and
ever." " And," says Mr. Ross in his Historical discourse, "to the honor of Rhode
Island, and the glory of the Christian name, let it be told to our children from
generation to generation, that when, in 1656, the colonies of Plymouth,
Massachusetts, Hartford and New Haven, attempted to urge their sanguinary edicts
against the Quakers on the colony of Rhode Island, calling on the legislature
for an act of proscription, and enforcing that call by threatening to cut off
all commercial intercourse with them in case they refused to comply; they nobly
and promptly answered: "We shall
strictly adhere to the foundation principles on which this colony was first
settled, to wit: that every man who submits peaceably to civil government in
this colony, shall worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience,
without molestation." The same toleration has been
transmitted from sire to son, even until now. Perhaps it would be difficult to
find a place where all the various shades of religious opinion are more nicely
distinguished than in Newport. Indeed, the man must be fastidious who could not
attain the spiritual aliment which he might desire in this fine old town.
Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, Congregationalists, Jews, Roman
Catholics, Quakers, and Moravians, all have their places for public dovotion. It
is a matter of pleasure too, that wo can speak of the good understanding which
prevails among the various denominations of Christians. The spirit of Roger
Williams and John Clark still seems to animate the community, and excepting
those who claim a perpendicular descent, we imagine that very few indeed, would
think of damning a fellow Christian without a remarkably clear case. Exclusive
pretensions do not find much favor here; and when men are foolish enough to
maintain them, they find few of the natives of Rhode Island who can be induced
to listen to them. Think, and let
think, is remarkably the spirit of the population, la the following brief
notices of the various Churches, we
have taken them in the order in which they were built: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church is the oldest in Newport,
it having been founded in the year 1638 by Dr. John Clark. The first house
erected to the worship of God in this town, was built by this Church, and stood
at a place now known by the name of "Green End." Dr. Clark was a learned man,
and wrote a Concordance and a Lexicon. He died on the 20th April, 1676, aged 66
years. Mr. Calender, one of the pastors, was the author of the celebrated
Historical Sermon preached in March, 1738; and another, Dr. Foster, was the best
Hebraist of New England. The Meeting-house, situated in Spring street, is a
spacious but plain building, capable of holding probably one thousand persons. A
large portion of the congregation reside upon the island, and come three or four
miles to attend worship. The present pastor is the Rev. Samuel
Adlam. lie has occupied the pulpit three years, and is chiefly distinguished for
being the only Baptist minister in Rhode Island who advocates the new Baptist
version. Of course he has few around him to sympathize in his views.
NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church was established in 1656.
The first pastor was the Rev. William Vanghan.The present edifice was built by the liberality of the late Judge
Taber, who bequeathed his property to this Church and Society in 1827. It is
situated in North Baptist street. The style is Gothic, and its beautiful tower
is quite an ornament to the town, from whatever point it is viewed. The interior
is spacious, commodious, and elegant, and is capable of containing twelve
hundred persons. There is an excellent and powerful organ, and the bell in the
tower is the best in Newport. Divine service is observed three times every
Lord's day, viz., at half-past 10 a.m., and at 3 and 7 p.m. The pastor is the Rev. Dr. Choules, who was
ordained over this Society September 27, 1827. JEWS' SYNAGOGUE. The present Synagogue in Touro street was erected
in the year 1762. Before the war commenced it was thronged with worshippers,
upwards of three hundred Jews attending it. It is now, however, never used
except occasionally for the funeral service of some of their descendants, who
may have desired to be buried there. There is a Jews1 cemetery also in Touro
street, which was founded by Abraham Touro, whose remains were, in 1822,
interred therein. The entrance to it exactly resembles that of the Granary
cemetery, Boston, but it is on a smaller scale. TRINITY CHURCH
(EPISCOPAL). This Church was formed near the close of the 17th
century. In 1702 a handsome Church had been built; but in 1724 the Episcopal
congregation had grown too numerous for its accommodation, and a new building
was erected, which has since been lengthened. This is the present Trinity
Church. It is a fine old edifice, with a church-yard on its side fronting Church
street. In the latter are some quaint old monuments well worthy of observation.
The organ within was presented by Bishop Berkeley, and remains a musical
memorial of that good man, who often preached here. It is still ornamented with
the British crown, as is also the steeple—perhaps the two only remaining emblems
of kingly rule to be now found in the United States. The congregation is not
usually large, excepting in summer. Trinity is regarded as what is called "High
Church." The Rev. Mr. Brewer is the rector. There is a small and neat Episcopal
Chapel (private ownership) in Church street, which is open every day for morning
and evening prayers. FRIENDS
MEETING-HOUSE. The first Friends' Meeting-house in Newport was
erected in 1700, and the yearly meeting was then established, where it has ever
since been held. The present edifice in Farewell street is an immense building,
and looks vastly like the ship-houses at THE NEW FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE, Is a small building in
Mann avenue. It was built by the Hicksite party, who left the more orthodox of
their body behind them. UNITED
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. This Church was
constituted in 1720. It stands at the comer of Spring and Pelham streets,
fronting the former. It is a neat, plain building, with galleries, and will
accommodato about 700 persons. It was built about fifteen years ago. The pastor
is the Rev. Thatcher Thayer. Just in front of the Church are the tombs of two
eminent divines, former pastors of the Congregational churches of this town, Dr.
Hopkins and Dr. Patten. For many years there were separate Churches, since the
union of which the Society is large and prosperous. MORAVIAN
CHAPEL. In 1758 the United
Brethren constituted a Church in Newport. The Chapel is situated in Church
street, but it has been closed for many years. The few persons of this communion in the town
worship in other churches. CENTRAL BAPTIST
CHURCH. This Church is in Clark
street. It was formed by a secession from the North Baptist Church in 1847,
and occupies a small, but neat house, holding about 450 or 500 persons. The
pastor is the Rev. Henry Jackson. This Church, with the First and the North
Baptist, belongs to the Warren Association. METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This Church was erected in
1806. It is situated in Marlborough street, and is a large, plain building,
which will seat about 750 persons. By a regulation of Conference, the minister
changes every two years. We cannot help thinking it somewhat strange that in our
democratic country, the laity of this respectable body allow themselves to bo
excluded from the Conference, which is composed exclusively of
ministers. ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHAPEL. The Roman Catholics
organized a congregation in Newport in 1828. Their first place of worship
was the school house in Barney street. A church was afterwards built at the
head of the same street—a large and fine stone building, in the Gothic style. A
most substantial building has just been erected in Spring street.
The congregation consists chiefly of Irish emigrants. The Rev. Joseph Fytton is
the priest in charge. ZION CHURCH
(EPISCOPAL). This is a neat building,
with a Grecian portico. It is well situated on the Mall. It is esteemed to be
the place of meeting of the Low Church party. The rector is the Rev. M.
Watson. UNITARIAN
CHURCH. Is situated in Mill
street. It formerly belonged to an orthodox church, but was sold, when the
former society built a new house to the Unitarians. It was dedicated on the 27th
of Julv, 1836. It will hold about 400 persons, and is neatly fitted up. The
congregation is not large, excepting in summer, when it has quite an accession
from Bostonians. The Rev. Charles T. Brooks, a very amiable man and a good
scholar, is the pastor. FREE WILL BAPTIST
CHURCH. Stands at the south end of
Main street, and has accommodation for about 300 persons. The pastors have
frequently been changed. COLORED
CHURCH. This church is in Division
street, and is a commodious place of worship. Source: A
Hand-Book Of Newport & Rhode Island, by C. E. Hammett, Jr., 1852 -
Transcribed by C. Anthony