US-RUn-msg196 Register to the Records of the Church of Messiah Finding aid prepared by Kate Boden, Daniel Mallin, and Laura Mulley. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives Unit 2009
University Library, Special Collections and Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632E-mail: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/
 Finding aid encoded by Daniel Mallin on 2009 November 3, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2010 January 12 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Overview of the Collection Church of the Messiah Records of the Church of Messiah 1855-2006 193 box(es) (57.25 linear feet) These records document the administrative, financial, religious, social, and cultural activities of the Church of the Messiah. The records contain letters, reports, financial documents, parish registers, photographs, photo albums, scrapbooks and realia that date from the year the parish was established in 1855 to the time of its closing in 2006. Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Mss. Gr. 196 The records are in English. Historical Information

The Church of the Messiah was located in the Olneyville section of Providence, Rhode Island. In the mid-nineteenth century, Olneyville became a center for textile manufacturing. The Church of the Messiah was founded in 1855 to serve the growing community of Episcopalian textile workers. The original wooden church building was erected at the corner of the Valley and High Streets (now Westminster Street), and the first services were held there in October 1855.

In 1888, Elizabeth Amory Gammell donated a substantial sum to the Church of the Messiah for the purpose of replacing the wooden church building with a more permanent stone structure. This new building was named the Arthur Amory Gammell Memorial Church in honor of Mrs. Gammell's son, who died of pneumonia in 1887 at the age of 25. The new church was completed in 1890.

Over the course of the next decade, the church membership grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest parishes in the Rhode Island Diocese, with the Sunday School alone boasting nearly 2,500 members in 1900.

In order to accommodate the growing number of members, a parish house was built on an adjacent property in 1913. In 1924, the roof beam of the parish house was dedicated as a memorial to the church members who had fought in World War I.

On Sunday, December 11, 1927, parishioners arrived to find their church on fire. The fire heavily damaged the interior of the church, destroying the organ and all but two stained glass windows. Services were held in the parish house for the next ten months while the church was rebuilt.

In the 1930s the church successfully repaid the debt incurred from rebuilding and weathered the Great Depression. During World War II, the church became a center for war work. Following World War II, however, the parish found itself facing an entirely new challenge as the textile manufacturing industry moved south and many of the more wealthy residents of the neighborhoods moved to the suburbs. Though jewelry manufacturing operations soon moved into the vacated textile factories, the new industry employed a much more poorly-paid workforce. As a result of this change, the church membership dropped by 30% in the 1950s, and the neighborhood began to decline. In order to remain a relevant institution in the area, the church began performing more community outreach, starting an active Youth Group, forming baseball and basketball teams, and holding church bazaars. In honor of the church's centennial in 1956, new stained glass windows were installed to replace the plain glass windows that had been installed following the 1927 fire.

Membership in the church continued to decline throughout the 1950s. By 1960, half of the former members of the church no longer lived in Olneyville. In response, the church continued to increase its neighborhood outreach, canvassing the new public housing projects for members and sponsoring services at Hartford Park Chapel. Despite these efforts, however, the church reached a low point of 485 members in the mid-1970s.

The Reverend Walter Simmons revitalized the church during his tenure, which began in 1981. He continued the growth of outreach projects, starting a neighborhood soup kitchen and emergency food closet, as well as a very successful free day camp for low-income children. These new projects gave the church the boost it needed, and the membership ballooned and the Sunday School was once again one of the largest in the Diocese.

In the 1990s, the church continued to emphasize neighborhood involvement, hiring the resident organist to do double duty as the Outreach Coordinator. The church became an active member of the Rhode Island Organizing Project (RIOP), a non-profit organization focused on creating affordable housing for decaying neighborhoods. Also, the church became involved in two local centers (the Nickerson House and the Joslin Center) which offered a variety of programs for little or no cost to low-income families in Olneyville. The church additionally lent worship space to a local Spanish language church, Vision Evangelica.

While these outreach efforts were very successful, both the membership and the fiscal health of the church declined sharply in the 1990s and by 2001 the church was again struggling to keep its doors open. In August 2001, the Church of the Messiah joined with other Providence churches, St. Peter's and St. Andrew's in the "Open Door Regional Ministry." Under this agreement, the churches continued to operate and maintain their original buildings and grounds but shared their financial resources, clergy, and office staff. The solution was only temporary and the dwindling endowment and membership, high cost of gas, and the necessity to bring the building up to a new fire code forced the Church of the Messiah to merge with Grace Church on June 4, 2006.

Open for research.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Church of Messiah, Mss. Gr. 196, University of Rhode Island Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

The Subject Files contain general files kept at the parish rectory concerning various aspects of parish life and business, including church programs, correspondence, annual reports and letters of transfer. The Financial Records contain financial documentation and material concerning parish expenses and budget from as early as 1854 up until 2004, as well as information on savings and parish bank accounts. The Pledges series documents monetary contributions made by parish members and families to the Church of the Messiah. The Publications series contains puiblished materials from the church including mnewsletters and weekly Sunday bulletins. The Organizations series contains files on various parish organizations and parish groups such as the Church School and the Women's Auxillary. The Vestry Series contains meeting minutes documenting the discussion and resolution of problems and issues in conducting parish business by the Vestry of the Church of the Messiah. The Register series contains documentation on marriages, baptisms, confirmations, burials and parish families. The Images series contains photographs that document parish events and date as far back as the 1870s. Finally, the realia series contains artifacts from the Church, such as flags from the parish school, scrapbooks of newspaper aritcles, and bowling trophies from the Church of the Messiah's team in the Episcopal Bowling League.

Arrangement

After processing, the collection was arranged in nine series as follows:

1. Subject Files 2. Financial Records 3. Pledges 4. Publications 6. Organizations 7. Vestry 8. Registers 9. Images 10. Realia

Open for research.

 Acquisitions Information

The records were transferred to the University Archives in 2007.

The records were held at the rectory of the Church of the Messiah in Providence.

The records and realia were removed from their original boxes and folders and organized into nine series. The records were arranged chronologically and/or alphabetically therin.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

The university has records from other episcopal churches throughout the state and records of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.

There are no known separated materials.

 Names Church of the Messiah (Providence, R.I.) Subjects Church of the Messiah (Providence, R.I.) RIAMCO Browsing Terms Religion Inventory Series 1 Subject Files 1854-2006 23 box(es) (11.5 linear feet)

The Subject series includes annual reports, minutes of meetings, transfers, special sermons, mimeographed materials, correspondence, church programs/events, annual and parochial reports.

The records in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within the folders.

1 1 1964, 1980-1985 A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous) 1 2 1975-1986 A.B. Dick Company 1 2A 1991 Jul 1 A Church on the Square… For Everyone 1 3 1956-1976, 2004 Anniversaries 1 4 1884-1923 Annual Parish Meetings 1 5 1925-1954 Annual Parish Meetings 2 6 1956-1974 Annual Parish Meetings 2 7 1955-1970, 1976-1977, 1979-1980 Annual Parish Meeting Reports 3 8 1981-1986 Annual Parish Meeting Reports 3 9 1987-1990 Annual Parish Meeting Reports 3 10 1991-1994 Annual Parish Meeting Reports 3 11 1995-2001 Annual Parish Meeting Reports 3 12 2002-2004 Annual Parish Meeting Reports 4 13 1980 Annual Reports from Other Churches 4 14 1998-2001 Arts in the Square 4 15 1948-1960 Bazaars 4 16 1962-1967 Bazaars 4 17 1968-1970 Bazaars 4 18 1971-1972 Bazaars 4 19 1973-1974 Bazaars 4 20 1975 Bazaars 5 21 1980-1989 Bazaars 5 22 1948 Oct 27-28 Bazaar Tickets (See Oversize) 5 23 1984-1985 Behrhorst Clinic 5 24 1949-1989 Bequests 5 25 1982 Blood Bank 5 26 undated Blueprints 5 27 1952-1975 Buildings and Property 5 28 1974-1989 Bulletins-Sunday and Special 5 29 1953-1989 Camps, Conferences, and Retreats 5 30 1941-1944 Christian Planning Calendars 6 31 1980-1983 Christian Planning Calendars 6 32 1983-1986 Christian Planning Calendars 6 33 1986-1989 Christian Planning Calendars 6 34 1944-1945, 1979-1989 Christmas 6 34A 1960 Christmas Eve, Holy Communion Service, pamphlet 6 35 1947, 1980 Church Material (non-C.O.M) 6 36 1953-1954 Church of the Holy Nativity Notes 6 37 1955 Church of the Holy Nativity Notes 6 38 1978, 2001-2003, undated Church Policies 7 39 1983-1989 Church Risk Management (Phillip Newman) 7 40 1973-1986 City of Providence 7 41 1962-1981 Communion 7 42 1964-1979 Confirmations 7 43 1980-1993 Confirmations 7 44 1887, 1937, 1985 Constitution and By-Laws, Charter 7 45 1959-1985, 2003 Conventions (Diocesean and National) 7 46 1959-1985 Corporate Communion Breakfasts 7 47 1924-1953 Correspondence 7 48 1954 Correspondence 7 49 1955 Correspondence 7 50 1956-1957 Correspondence 8 51 1958 Correspondence 8 52 1959-1979 Correspondence 8 53 1980-1982 Correspondence 8 54 1983 Correspondence 8 55 1984-1985 Correspondence 8 56 1986 Correspondence 8 57 1987 Jan-Jul Correspondence 9 58 1987 Aug-Dec Correspondence 9 59 1988 Correspondence 9 60 1989 Jan-May Correspondence 9 61 1989 Jun-Dec Correspondence 9 62 1934-1986 Correspondence, Rector 9 62A 1994 Covenant between Vision Evangelica and the Church of the Messiah 9 63 1982-1985, 1995 Deacons 9 64 1964-1984 Delegates to R.I. Convention 9 65 1973-1979 Dickson, Rev. Joseph S. 10 66 1940-1963 Diocesean Parochial Reports 10 67 1964-1975 Diocesean Parochial Reports 10 68 1943, 1968-1971 Diocese 10 69 1971-1973, 1979-1980 Diocese 10 70 1981-1990 Diocese 10 71 1992-1997 Diocese 11 72 1932, 1978-1985 Directories 11 73 1986-1990 Directories 11 74 1991-2005 Directories 11 75 1942-1984 Easter 11 76 1979-1989 Equipment for Office and Parish House 11 77 1980-1990 Evaluation 11 78 1955-1974 Every Member Canvas 12 79 1975-1982 Every Member Canvas 12 80 1982-1986 Every Member Canvas 12 81 1987-1990 Every Member Canvas 12 82 1979 Exeption Certificate 12 83 1966-1989 Fire Prevention 12 84 1987 First Communion 12 85 1984-1988 Food Closet and Soup Kitchen 13 86 1982-1989 Forums: Issues and Discussions 13 87 1908-1980 Girls Friemdly Society (G.F.S.) 13 88 1982-1984 Greig, Eletha 13 89 1952-1976 Hartford Park 13 90 undated Healing Service Pamphlets 13 91 1943-1990 Heating System 13 92 1944-1968, 1980-1989 History 13 93 1965-1980 Home Prayers 13 94 1952-1962 Insurance Policies 13 95 1981-1990 Insurance Policies 14 96 1995-2000 Insurance Policies 14 97 1958 Inventory 14 98 1999 It's About Us 14 99 1964-1990 Lay Readers 14 100 1958-1991 Lent 14 101 1947-1954 Letters of Transfer 15 102 1956-1961 Letters of Transfer 15 103 1962-1963 Letters of Transfer 15 104 1964-1965 Letters of Transfer 15 105 1966-1967 Letters of Transfer 15 106 1968-1979 Letters of Transfer 15 107 1980-2000 Letters of Transfer 15 108 1981-1989 Library Book Lists 15 109 1958-1960 Lighting System 1 16 110 1958-1960 Lighting System 2 16 111 1971-1981 Little Rhody Press 16 112 1967, 1975 Men's Club 16 113 1957-1965 Mimeograph Material 16 114 1972-1974 Mimeograph Material 16 115 1975-1989 Mimeograph Material 16 116 1950, 1953 Missions 16 117 1946-1967 Missions-National and Diocesean 16 118 1984 Missions-Winward Islands 17 119 1971-1989 Music and Chorus 17 120 1905-1987 Newspaper Clippings 17 121 1982-1989 Olneyville 17 122 2000-2004 Open Door Regional Ministry: Agreements, Charters 17 123 2000-2002 Open Door Regional Ministry: Budget, Correspondence, Memoranda, and Minutes 18 124 2003 Open Door Regional Ministry: Budget, Correspondence, Memoranda, and Minutes 18 125 2004-2005 Open Door Regional Ministry: Budget, Correspondence, Memoranda, and Minutes (Backup Discs Included) 18 126 1964-1989 Orders 18 127 1972-1989 Orders 18 128 1985-1990 Organ 18 129 1913-1915 Parish House Construction 18 130 1957-1972 Parish Lists 18 131 1962-1982 Parish Offices 19 132 1991 Parish Profile Committee 19 133 1980, 1991-2001 Parish Profiles 19 134 1976-1984 Parochial Reports 19 135 1985-1990 Parochial Reports 19 136 1977 Planning Committee 19 137 1966-1989 Plants, Memorial, Easter and Christmas 19 138 1947-1953 Pledge Solicitation Letters 19 139 1986 Police Reports 19 140 1970-1991 Providence Journal Ads 19 141 1854-1857 Records, Misc. 20 142 1960-1990 Rector's Record Requests 20 143 1942-1946 Rector's Reports 20 144 1947-1950 Rector's Reports 20 145 1951-1957 Rector's Reports 20 146 1958-1962 Rector's Reports 20 147 1963-1968 Rector's Reports 20 148 1969-1979 Rector's Reports 20 149 1964-1965 Rector's Visitors 20 150 1991-2000 Regional Ministry 20 151 1975-2004 Repairs and Restorations 20 152 1950-1986 R.I. Churchman 21 153 1979-1980 Search Committee 21 154 1990-1991 Seminars 21 155 1965-1989 Sextons 21 156 1979-1991 Sick and Shut-In Lists 21 157 1982-1989 Smith, Timothy 21 158 1983-1985 Soup Kitchen 21 159 1967-1987 Speakers 21 160 1964-1980 Special Prayers and Services 21 161 1981-1988 Special Prayers and Services 21 162 1982-1984 Special Projects 22 163 1957-1964 Stained Glass Windows (incl. photographs) 22 163A 1961 Jun 29 Stained Glass Windows: E. Clinton Michaelson Memorial, letter 22 163B 1955 Stained Glass Windows: St. Andrews Stained Glass Studio 22 163C 1961 Stained Glass Windows: Whittemore, Inc. 22 164 1989, 1991, 2002 Stewardship 22 165 1967-1980 Summer Vacation Bible School 22 166 1965-1988 Suppers 22 167 1989 Survey 22 168 1974-1989 Surveys and Workshops 22 169 1982-1989 United Thanks Offering 22 170 1950-1966 Urban Church 22 171 1941-1963 Urban Church Problems 23 172 1982 Urban Church Study 23 173 1986 Urgent Action Committee 23 174 1976-1989 Ushers 23 175 1982, 1984 Volunteers for Mission 23 176 1980-1990, 2004 Walter C. Simmons Correspondence 23 177 1981 Wheelchair Access 23 178 1886-1996 Wills and Trust Agreements Series 2 Financial Records 1854-2004 17 box(es) (9.75 linear feet)

The Financial Records series includes account books, treasurer’s reports, financial reports and correspondence, pew rental registers, church fund records, and check registers. There are some gaps in the yearly financial reports. Monthly budgets can be found chronologically in the Vestry series. At the end of the series with the oversized materials is a metal box containing financial receipts/records for the years 1854-1889. Also there are records of Parish Bank Accounts covering the years 1982-1985 and a Pledge Record Book from 1930.

The records are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of record and chronologically within folders.

1 1 1990 Bank Transactions 1 2 2000 Bank Transactions 1 3 2002 Bank Transactions 1 4 2000-2001 Budget 1 5 2001 Budget 1 6 2001 Budget 1 7 2001 Budget 2 8 2002 Budget 2 9 2003 Budget 2 10 2004 Budget 2 11 1987-1989 Century Fund 2 12 1981-1984 Energy Fund 2 13 1989 Endowed Funds Account Book 2 14 1957-1984 Episcopal Charities Fund 2 15 1985-1986 Episcopal Charities Fund 3 16 1987-1989 Episcopal Charities Fund 3 17 1990-1993 Episcopal Charities Fund 3 18 1944-1949,1963 Financial Records 3 19 1970-1980 Financial Records 3 20 1981-1984 Financial Records 3 21 1985-1989 Financial Records 4 22 1990 Financial Records 4 23 1990 Financial Records 4 24 1991-1994 Financial Records 4 25 1995 Financial Records 4 26 1996-1997 Financial Records 4 27 1998-1999 Financial Records 4 28 2000-2004 Financial Records 5 29 1943-1968 Memorial Fund 5 30 1969-1970 Memorial Fund 5 31 1971 Memorial Fund 5 32 1972 Memorial Fund 5 33 1974-1988 Memorial Fund 6 34 1989-1995 Memorial Fund 6 35 1989-2001 Memorial Fund 6 36 1848-1905 Mortgage Deeds 6 37 1978-1979 Paint Fund 6 38 1863-1870 Pew Rentals Account Book 7 39 1871-1885 Pew Rentals Account Book 7 40 1881-1889 Pew Rentals Account Book 7 41 1875 Promissory Note 7 42 1982-1986 Receipts and Disbursements (see Oversized) 7 43 1935-1942 R.I. Hospital National Bank Check Book 7 44 1859-1864 Treasurer's Account Book 7 45 1864-1870 Treasurer's Account Book 7 46 1870-1879 Treasurer's Account Book 7 47 1871-1879 Treasurer's Account Book 8 48 1871-1883 Treasurer's Account Book 8 49 1889-1897 Treasurer's Account Book 8 50 1893-1894 Treasurer's Account Book 8 51 1897-1905 Treasurer's Account Book 8 52 1905-1913 Treasurer's Account Book 8 53 1905-1940 Treasurer's Account Book 9 54 1938-1960 Treasurer's Account Book 9 55 1941-1944 Treasurer's Account Book 9 56 1941-1955 Treasurer's Account Book 9 57 1945-1948 Treasurer's Account Book 9 58 1948-1954 Treasurer's Account Book 9 59 1948-1965 Treasurer's Account Book 10 60 1950-1953 Treasurer's Account Book 10 61 1953-1954 Treasurer's Account Book 10 62 1953-1955 Treasurer's Account Book 10 63 1954 Treasurer's Account Book 10 64 1990 Weekly Collections 10 65 1991 Jan-1991 Apr Weekly Collections 11 66 1991 May-1991 Jul Weekly Collections 11 67 1991 Aug-1991 Nov 3 Weekly Collections 11 68 1991 Nov 17-1991 Dec Weekly Collections 11 69 1995 Jan, 1999 Weekly Collections 11 70 2000 Jan-2000 May Weekly Collections 11 71 2000 Jun-2000 Dec Weekly Collections 11 72 2001 Weekly Collections 12 73 2002 Jan-2002 Mar Weekly Collections 12 74 2002 Apr-2002 Jun Weekly Collections 12 75 2002 Jul-2002 Sep Weekly Collections 12 76 2002 Oct-2002 Dec Weekly Collections 12 77 2003 Jan-2003 Apr Weekly Collections 12 78 2003 May-2003 Aug Weekly Collections 12 79 2003 Sep-2003 Dec Weekly Collections 13 80 2004 Jan-2004 May Weekly Collections 13 81 2004 Jun-2004 Sep Weekly Collections 13 82 2004 Oct-2004 Dec Weekly Collections 14 83 1893-1897 Guild Hall Account Book (Legal Sized) 14 84 1885-1889 Pew Rentals Account Book (Legal Sized) 14 85 1913-1924 Treasurer's Account Book (Legal Sized) 15 86 1924-1932 Treasurer's Account Book (Legal Sized) 15 87 1933-1940 Treasurer's Account Book (Legal Sized) 15 88 1897-1946 Treasurer's Report Book (Legal Sized) 15 89 1854-1944 Treasurer's Reports (Legal Sized) 16 90 1854-1859 Financial Records 17 91 1930 Pledge Offering Record Book 17 92 1982-1986 Savings Account Deposit Records Series 3 Pledges 1930-2004 2 box(es) (1 linear foot)

The Pledges Series contains records of pledge payments made by parish members and families to the church. The records document regular annual or monthly payments.

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each folder. Other pledge material can be found in the oversize materials of the Financial Series and in the Registers Series.

 1 1 2000 Contribution Reports (A-K) 1 2 2000 Contribution Reports (L-W) 1 3 2001 Contribution Reports (A-D) 1 4 2001 Contribution Reports (E-M) 1 5 2001 Contribution Reports (N-W) 1 6 1979-2002 Correspondence 1 7 1987-1989 Pledge Cards 1 8 2000 Pledge Cards 2 9 2001 Pledge Cards 2 10 2002 Pledge Cards 2 11 1990 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 12 2000 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 13 2000-2001 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 14 2002 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 15 2002 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 16 2002 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 17 2004 Yearly Pledge Payments 2 18 1930-1946 Pledge Offering Record Book (See Financial Series Oversize) Series 4 Publications 1886-2004 19 box(es) (9.25 linear feet)

The Publications series includes Parish Bulletins, newsletters (missing Messiah News for 1998), weekly service programs (missing 1990), Bazaar programs (missing 1961).

The records are arranged alphabetically by publication title, and chronologically within folders.

 1 1 1951-1960 Bazaar Programs 1 2 1962-1967 Bazaar Programs 1 3 1968-1971 Bazaar Programs 1 4 1972-1975 Bazaar Programs 1 5 undated Handbooks and Pamphlets 2 6 undated Handbooks and Pamphlets 2 7 1909-1912 Messiah Messenger 2 8 1913-1917 Messiah Messenger 2 9 1907-1922 Messiah Messenger 3 10 undated Messiah Newsletter 3 11 1950-1951 Messiah News 3 12 1952-1953 Messiah News 3 13 1954-1955 Messiah News 4 14 1956-1957 Messiah News 4 15 1958-1959 Messiah News 4 16 1960 Messiah News 4 17 1961 Messiah News 4 18 1962 Messiah News 5 19 1963 Messiah News 5 20 1964 Messiah News 5 21 1965 Messiah News 5 22 1966 Messiah News 5 23 1967 Messiah News 6 24 1968 Messiah News 6 25 1969 Messiah News 6 26 1970 Messiah News 6 27 1971 Messiah News 6 28 1972-1973 Messiah News 7 29 1974-1975 Messiah News 7 30 1976-1977 Messiah News 7 31 1978-1979 Messiah News 7 32 1980 Messiah News 7 33 1981 Messiah News 8 34 1982 Messiah News 8 35 1983 Messiah News 8 36 1984 Messiah News 8 37 1985 Messiah News 8 38 1986 Messiah News 8 39 1987 Messiah News 9 40 1988 Messiah News 9 41 1989 Messiah News 9 42 1990 Messiah News 9 43 1992-1993 Messiah News 9 44 1995-1996 Messiah News 9 45 1997, 1999 Messiah News 10 46 2000-2002 Messiah News 10 47 undated Non-Messiah Publications 10 48 undated Non-Messiah Publications 10 49 undated Non-Messiah Publications 10 50 undated Non-Messiah Publications 10 51 undated Non-Messiah Publications 10 52 2002-2004 Open Door/Doorways Newsletter 11 53 1895, 1945, 1949 Parish Bulletins 11 54 1957-1961 Parish Bulletins 11 55 1962-1968 Parish Bulletins 11 56 1969-1975 Parish Bulletins 11 57 1976-1986 Parish Bulletins 11 58 1886-1888 S. Cecilia Newsletter 12 59 1889-1894 S. Cecilia Newsletter 12 60 undated St. Mary's Publications 12 61 1941-1942 Weekly Programs 12 62 1943-1944 Weekly Programs 12 63 1945-1946 Weekly Programs 13 64 1947-1948 Weekly Programs 13 65 1949-1950 Weekly Programs 13 66 1951-1952 Weekly Programs 13 67 1953-1954 Weekly Programs 14 68 1955-1956 Weekly Programs 14 69 1957 Weekly Programs 14 70 1958-1959 Weekly Programs 14 71 1960 Weekly Programs 14 72 1961 Weekly Programs 14 73 1962 Weekly Programs 15 74 1963 Weekly Programs 15 75 1964 Weekly Programs 15 76 1965 Weekly Programs 15 77 1966-1967 Weekly Programs 15 78 1968 Weekly Programs 15 79 1969 Weekly Programs 16 80 1970 Weekly Programs 16 81 1971 Weekly Programs 16 82 1972 Weekly Programs 16 83 1973 Weekly Programs 16 84 1974 Weekly Programs 16 85 1975 Weekly Programs 16 86 1976-1977 Weekly Programs 17 87 1978 Weekly Programs 17 88 1979 Weekly Programs 17 89 1980 Weekly Programs 17 90 1981 Weekly Programs 17 91 1982 Weekly Programs 18 92 1983 Weekly Programs 18 93 1984 Weekly Programs 18 94 1985 Weekly Programs 18 95 1986 Weekly Programs 18 96 1987 Weekly Programs 18 97 1988 Weekly Programs 19 98 1989 Weekly Programs 19 99 1991 Weekly Programs 19 100 1992 Weekly Programs Series 5 Organizations 1885-1989 7 box(es) (3.25 linear feet)

The Church Organizations series includes records, registers, and meeting minutes for church organizations including auxiliaries, camps, classes, chapter, guilds, and groups.

The records are arranged alphabetically by name of organization, and chronologically within folders.

1 1 1885-1897 Altar Chapter 1 2 1898-1913 Altar Chapter 1 3 1914-1931 Altar Chapter 1 4 1921-1937 Altar Chapter 1 5 1931-1954 Altar Chapter 1 6 1955-1968 Altar Chapter 2 7 1933-1949 Altar Guild of Rhode Island 2 8 1933-1954 Church School 2 9 1955-1969 Church School 2 10 1970-1976 Church School 2 11 1977-1982 Church School 2 12 1983-1988 Church School 2 13 1981-1983 City Camp 3 14 1984-1985 City Camp 3 15 1986 City Camp 3 16 1987-1988 City Camp 3 17 1955-1973 Episcopal Church Women 3 18 1978-1989 Episcopal Church Women 4 19 1968-1975 Episcopal Young Churchmen 4 20 1934-1943 Fireside Group 4 21 1944-1954 Fireside Group 4 22 1944-1946 Men's Club 4 23 1914-1929 Mission Class 4 24 1918-1931 Mission Class 4 25 1971-1989 Scouts and Girls Friendly Society 5 26 1884-1885 St. John's Guild 5 27 1885-1887 St. John's Guild 5 28 1895-1901 St. Margaret's Chapter 5 29 1901-1904 St. Margaret's Chapter 5 30 1895-1905 St. Margaret's Chapter 5 31 1915-1934 St. Margaret's Chapter 5 32 1934-1941 St. Margaret's Chapter 6 33 1883-1953 St. Margaret's Chapter Book of Memories 6 34 1911-1920 Women's Auxiliary 6 35 1915-1931 Women's Auxiliary 6 36 1921-1932 Women's Auxiliary 7 37 1933-1948 Women's Auxiliary 7 38 1949-1955 Women's Auxiliary Series 6 Vestry 1884-2006 6 box(es) (2.75 linear feet)

The Vestry series includes meeting minutes, monthly budgets, and other records of items discussed during meetings.

The records are arranged chronologically throughout the entire series.

1 1 1884-1893 Vestry 1 2 1893-1899 Vestry 1 3 1952-1956 Vestry 1 4 1958-1959 Vestry 1 5 1960-1961 Vestry 1 6 1962-1963 Vestry 2 7 1964-1965 Vestry 2 8 1966-1967 Vestry 2 9 1968-1969 Vestry 2 10 1970-1971 Vestry 2 11 1972-1973 Vestry 2 12 1974-1975 Vestry 3 13 1976 Vestry 3 14 1977 Vestry 3 15 1978 Vestry 3 16 1979 Vestry 3 17 1979 Vestry 3 18 1980 Vestry 3 19 1981 Vestry 4 20 1982 Vestry 4 21 1983 Vestry 4 22 1984 Vestry 4 23 1985 Vestry 4 24 1986 Vestry 4 25 1987 Vestry 4 26 1988 Vestry 5 27 1989 Vestry 5 28 1990 Vestry 5 29 1991 Vestry 5 30 1992-1993 Vestry 5 31 1994-1995 Vestry 5 32 2000 Vestry 5 33 2001 Vestry 6 34 2002-2003 Vestry 6 35 2006 Vestry 6 36 1944-1987 Vestry Committees 6 37 1945-1986 Vestry Lists Series 7 Registers 1854-2000 8 box(es) (4.75 linear feet)

The Parish Registers contain records of baptisms, burials, marriages, confirmations, Sunday mass and other church services that were conducted at the church. Some of the registers contain lists of families or members of the church community.

The records are arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

 1 1 1854-1864 Parish Register 1 2 1957-1961 Baptisms 1 3 1962-1965 Baptisms 1 4 1966-1968 Baptisms 1 5 1969-1973 Baptisms 1 6 1974-1980 Baptisms 1 7 1980-1983 Baptisms 1 8 1984-1987 Baptisms 2 9 1998-1993 Baptisms 2 10 1957-1961 Burials 2 11 1962-1965 Burials 2 12 1966-1968 Burials 2 13 1969-1973 Burials 2 14 1973-1980 Burials 3 15 1980-1986 Burials 3 16 1987-2000 Burials 3 17 1959-1981 Burials, List of 3 18 1976-1990 Marriages 3 19 1967-1974 Register of Church Services 3 20 1974-1984 Register of Church Services 4 21 1984-1994 Register of Church Services 4 22 1994-2002 Register of Church Services 5 23 1865-1893 Parish Register (Oversized) 5 24 1889-1893 Parish Register (Oversized) 6 25 1893-1935 Parish Register (Oversized) 7 26 1930-1940 Register Cards 8 27 1930-1940 Register Cards/Pledge Cards Series 8 Images 1864-2006 7 box(es) (6 linear feet)

The Images series includes photographs of all sizes documenting people, events, organizations, and buildings associated with the church. The photographs, most undated, appear to span the duration of the Church of the Messiah’s existence. There are three oversized boxes at the end of the series that contain large, mostly framed, photographs. Two additional oversize boxes contain photo albums. Also at the end of the series is a poster of photographs of church groups and events spanning several years.

The photographs that have similar subject matter are grouped together within different folders and placed in chronological order. The oversize materials are listed in the order that they are arranged within the boxes.

 1 1 1864-1910 People, Parish Groups and Events 1 2 1909-1911 Parish Event Photos 1 3 1920-1939 Parish Group Photos and Portraits 1 4 1940-1949 People, Parish Groups and Events 1 5 1950-1959 Parish Groups, Youth Organizations, Sunday School 1 6 1960-1979 People, Parish Groups and Events 1 7 1980-1989 People, Parish Groups and Events 1 8 1990-1999 People, Parish Groups, Events and Church Repairs 1 9 2000-2006 People, Parish Groups and Events 1 10 2000-2006 People, Parish Groups and Events 1 11 undated Undated Photos 1 12 undated Photo Negatives 1 13 undated Post Cards 1 14 1912-2006 Church Photographs, Interrior and Exterior 2 14A 1884 Nov 6 Church of the Messiah Thanksgiing Service 2 14B undated Photographs of the Church 2 15 undated City, Marching Soldiers (Oversized) 2 16 undated Portrait Photos (Oversized) 2 17 undated Group Photos (Oversized) 2 18 undated Church Photographs, Interrior and Exterior (Oversized) 2 19 undated Church Altar Drawings (Oversized) 2 20 1909, 1936, 1991 Messiah Class Group Photos (Oversized) 2 21 1897-1939 Group Photos (Oversized) 2 22 1924 Pageant Photo (Oversized) 2 23 1893, 1907, 1911 Brotherhood of St. Andrew (Oversized) 3 24 1917-1918 Messiah Bowling Team Group Photo (Oversized) 3 25 undated St. Alban's Church, Danielsonville, CT (Oversized) 3 26 1919 Mission Class 10th Anniversary 3 27 1923 Portrait Photo - Charles R. Haslam 3 28 1922 Portrait Photo - Charles S. Battle 3 29 1859 Portrait Photo - Rev. Benjamin B. Babbitt 4 30 1989 Arthur Amory Gammell Memorial, 100th Anniversary Celebration Photo Album 4 31 1991-1997 Over the Years with Messiah Photo Album 4 32 1995-1996 Event Photo Album 4 33 1990-1997 Event Photo Album 4 34 1990 Small Photo Books (2) 5 35 1990-1997 Photo Album: Parish Events 5 36 1890-1905 Scrapbook - Newspaper Articles 6 37 1929 Portrait Photo: Rev. Frederick Irving Collins 6 38 1918 Portrait Photo: John Blitcliffe 6 39 1909 Portrait Photo: Rev. D. G. Rice 6 39A 1942 Messiah Church School Group Photo 6 40 undated Messiah Group Photo 6 41 1898 Portrait Photo: Unknown 6 42 1940-1946 World War II Roll of Honor 6 43 1894 Portrait Photo: Unknown 6 44 undated Girl's Friendly Society Poster 6 45 undated Bowling Rules Poster 6 46 2005 Church of the Messiah Annual Meeting Poster 6 47 undated Portrait Photo: Unknown 6 48 undated Portrait Photo: Unknown 6 49 1929 Portrait Photo: Rev. Frederick Irving Collins (#2) 6 50 1889 Portrait Photo: Arthur Amory Gammell 6 51 1911 Bishop James DeWolf Perry 7 51A undated Photographs of Church Property, Inventory 7 51B undated VHS recording of stained glass windows 7 51C undated Audio Tapes of interviews with Rev Elbridge Welch, Walter C Simmons and a group interview 7 51D 2006 Compact Disk of photographs of church stained glass windows (TIFF format) 7 52 undated Wooden Stamps 7 53 undated Do You Remember? Photo Display Board 7 54 1900 The Messiah Church School Prayer (Map case C in Room 231, Drawer 8) 7 55 1920s Church of the Messiah (Map case C in Room 231, Drawer 8) 7 56 1950s Church of the Messiah, Easter Sunday (Map case C in Room 231, Drawer 8) 7 57 1884 Church of the Messiah, original church (Map case C in Room 231, Drawer 8) 7 58 1940s Our roll of honour, four consecutive years (Map case C in Room 231, Drawer 9) Series 9 Realia 1860-2004 6 box(es) (9 linear feet)

The Realia series includes scrapbooks, plaques, calendars, certificates, art, flags, wall hangings, alter service books, prayer books, hymnals, and miscellaneous items that were gifted to the Church of the Messiah.

The items are listed according to their orientation within each of the boxes. There are two oversized boxes containing cloth items such as flags and wall hangings, as well as framed and unframed art. At the end of the series there is a donation box in the shape of a church and a bowling trophy in a glass display case.

 1 1 1944 Altar Service 1 2 1944 Altar Service 1 3 1938 Altar Service 1 4 1929 Altar Service 1 5 undated An Every-Day Cookbook compiled by Church Aid Chapter by the Guild 1 6 1897 Ships and Havens by Van Dyke 1 7 undated Symbols and Emblems of the Christian Church 1 8 1953 Sep 1 The Book of Common Prayer 1 9 1929 The Book of Common Prayer 1 10 1893 Jul The Litany of General Supplication 1 11 1894 May The New Testament 2 12 undated Episcopal Sunday School Pin 2 13 1860-1992 Book of Remembrance, Parish Memorial Record Book 2 14 1990 David and Jo Stark, "Shelligram" Artwork 2 15 1933 Scrapbook 2 16 1930-1950 Scrapbook 2 17 1915 Mother Goose's Visit to Santa Claus 2 18 2004 150th Anniversary Recognition from the Mayor of Providence, David Cicilline 2 19 1998 Jun 1 Jubilee Center Certificate 2 20 1918 Letter, death of Thomas McAllister 2 21 1979 Order of St. Vincent Certification 2 22 1899 Brotherhood of St. Andrew Certification 2 23 1946 Church Calendar 2 24 1933 Church Calendar 2 25 undated Melody Ennis 2 26 1988 Rules of the Parish House 3 27 2004 150th Anniversary Recognition from Gov. Carcieri 3 28 2004 150th Anniversary Recognition from Iglesia Vision Evangelica 3 29 1998 Certified Nurse Assistants, Thank You Plaque 3 30 undated Chalice for the Church at the State Institutions 3 31 1935 Herb Murray Trophy, Providence Church Twilight Baseball League 3 32 1921-1922 Messiah House League Bowling Championship Plaque 3 33 1925-1926 Messiah House League Bowling Championship Trophy 3 34 1997 Thank You Plaque from the Hospital Association of RI 3 35 undated Unmarked Basketball Trophy 3 36 1994 Vision Evangelica Church, Rev. Mercedes, Recognition Plaque 4 37 1917-1918 Messiah House League Bowling Championship Trophy 4 38 1922-1923 Messiah House League Bowling Championship Trophy 4 39 1931 Messiah House League Bowling Championship Trophy 4 40 1923-1924 Messiah House League Bowling Championship Trophy 4 41 undated Messiah House League Bowling Second Place Trophy 5 42 undated Church of the Messiah Flag 5 43 1911 Cora Tourtellot Nickerson's Dress 5 44 undated Church of the Messiah Banner 5 45 undated Children of the Church 5 46 undated St. Matthew's Flag 5 47 undated St. Mark's Flag 5 48 undated The Good Sheperd Flag 5 49 undated Flag, Lilies 5 50 undated Flag, Cross and Lilies 5 51 undated St. Peter's Flag 5 52 undated Beginner's Flag 5 53 undated Flag, Olive branches, ribbon, crown 5 54 undated Junior Flag 5 55 undated Intermediate Flag 5 56 undated Banner Class 5 57 undated Iron Cross Flag 5 58 undated Class of the Redeemer Flag 5 59 undated St. Christopher Flag 6 60 undated Designs for Church Lighting 6 61 1943 Service Flag WWII 6 62 1987 Rector's Sabbatical Trip to China, Artwork 6 63 undated Cradle Roll 6 64 1913 Church Consecration Document 6 65 1938 Standard Picture Roll, Sunday School 6 66 1919 Beginner's Picture Roll, Sunday School 6 67 undated Wooden Church Model 6 68 1919-1920 Rainbow Bowling League Trophy, Plexiglas case