Title

Table of Contents

Historical Note and Scope and Content Note

Subject File

Return to Special Collections

Special Collections

KINGSTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH COLLECTION
1835-1968

MSG# 169

HISTORICAL NOTE and SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Now located at the intersection of Upper College Rd. and Rt. 138 (2610 Kingston Rd.) in Kingston, Rhode Island, the Kingston Congregational Church  had its beginnings as the "Church at Tower Hill."  It is one of the first two Congregational churches in Rhode Island. The other church is located in Newport.

In 1657 a tract of land was purchased, for sixteen pounds, from Chief Sachems of the Narragansett Country by John Parker, Samuel Wilbore, Thomas Mumford, Samuel Wilson and John Hull Goldsmith. This land, known as the Pettaquamscutt Purchase, was situated in the town of South Kingston and measured about twelve square miles.

In 1668, the proprietors of the Pettaquamscut Purchase donated a tract of land amounting to 300 acres for the support of an orthodox minister.  This tract of land became known as the "Ministerial Lands". In 1695, Reverend John Woodward of Dedham, Massachusetts and a graduate of Harvard, answered the call and came to Kingston, R.I. to preach at the "Church at Tower Hill".  His successor was John Danforth.  Later another Harvard graduate, Henry Flynt, Jr. became minister.  He returned to Harvard however in 1699 and attained fame there as the "Tutor".  In 1701, with the aid of Judge Samuel Sewall (of Salem witch trial fame) the community secured income to support the hiring of a full time minister. Judge Sewall managed the estates of his wife Hannah Hull, sole heir to one of the original Pettaquamscutt purchasers.  Reverend Samuel Niles at the age of 28 was hired as the first full time minister.  He was a native of Block Island and the first person in Rhode Island  to graduate from Harvard University (1699).  He served from 1702-1710.  Judge Sewall and his wife also gave an acre of land to build a meeting house.  It was located on Tower Hill on the corner of Post Rd. and Middle Bridge Rd.

Controversy erupted in 1723 when Reverend James McSparran, an orthodox minister of the Episcopal Church of Narragansett, claimed the valuable Ministerial Lands of the Pettaquamscutt Purchase for the Church of England.  Reverend Joseph Torrey, a physician and minister became minister of the Congregational Church in 1732.  His diligence and aggressiveness was equal to that of the Episcopalian, McSparran.  After many legal wranglings, the dispute was decided in 1852.  The claim of the Congregational Church to the land was upheld by King George II and his Royal Council.  Rev. Torrey served as pastor for the next sixty years, serving until his death  in 1791.  There were only occasional services from that time until 1802  when Rev. Thomas Kendall was installed as minister of the Church at Tower Hill. He remained until 1818.

The population began moving toward the community of Kingston Hill or "Little Rest".  This made it difficult to maintain a congregation in the present location of the church.  A newly established society was created to administer the Ministerial Lands in 1820 with Elisha R. Potter (1811-1882) serving as Chairman. The Society decided to build a new meeting house on land donated by Elisha R. Potter in Little Rest.  The present church has changed little since its dedication on January 17, 1821.

As one of the oldest established churches in America, the Kingston Congregational Church enjoys a rich history that continues to the present day.

It is unknown when the Kingston Congregational Church collection was collection first received by the University Library.  It may be surmised that Special Collections received the records through the church's associational relationship with the University.  The establishment of the Experiment Station in 1888 and the State College afterward gave the ministers a greater opportunity to reach more people.  Some of the ministers have served as councilors to the Protestant students.  Many of the newsletters bear the addresses of several Library staff, including the Head Librarian during the first half of the 20th century, Francis Pitcher Allen.  The President of the University (1941-1958) Carl Woodward was also a congregant of Kingston Congregational Church.  

The records are arranged into Subject Series and measure .75 linear feet.  It appears many materials were gathered during the 250^th Anniversary of the church (1945).  Those interested in the Church’s past will find much information contained within the "History" folders in this collection.  A 1945 letter from Mrs. Susan Bacon Keith to Carl Woodward regarding the history of the church building is also in the History folder.  These folders include information on former pastors, the Pettaquamscutt Purchase and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.  The history of Kingston Congregational Church was celebrated in a 250^th Pageant and the original 1945 narrative, menu and program survive. Newspaper clippings of this event, as well as others from 1934-1957, are included in the folder on publicity.  Many clippings are from the student newspaper, The Beacon, and the Providence Sunday Journal. (Dates include 1934, 1936, 1945, 1957).    

The financial, educational, pastoral and missionary stance of the church from 1944 to 1968 is discernible in the of Annual Reports.  (Available years include 1944-46, 1950-52, 1954 and 1956-68).  The Constitution and By-Laws provide information on the name, purpose, policy, property and committees of the Kingston Congregational Church.  The folder on Committee Officers and Reports includes information from the Loyalty Committee of 1944 and the Building Committee of 1960.  Directories provide names and contact information on some of the former church officials and members (from 1956-57, 1961).  Proposed annual budgets from 1945-47, 1958, 1960 and 1967 are also in these records.  

Among the newsletters are copies of The Spire, Kingston Congregational Church’s monthly newsletter from 1954-1963 (incomplete?).  Programs of church services from 1921-1968 can be found.  Not all the services from each year are represented. Some special programs such as one commemorating the Service of Recognition for Reverend John D. Beck, 1954 are extant.  The folder of sermons, vespers and hymns includes Thanksgiving vespers and hymns as well as sermons given by Rev. Stephen Yale (1965) and Rev. Kenneth B. Wentzel (1968).  

The records are in good condition and are available for research.