Overview of the Collection
St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church (Providence)
Records of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church (Providence)
1891-1986
20 box(es) (10 linear feet)
St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Providence, Rhode Island was incorporated in 1972 by the merger of
St. Peter's Church of Manton (Johnston) and St. Andrew's Church of Providence. Prior to the merger, both churches had long histories as separate parishes. St. Peter's Church was established as a mission church in the Manton section of Johnston in 1842. St. Andrew's was originally established as a missionary church.
Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
Mss. Gr. 87
The records are in English.
Historical InformationSt. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of
Providence, Rhode Island was incorporated in 1972 by the merger of
St. Peter's Church of Manton (Johnston) and
St. Andrew's Church of Providence. Both parishes for some time prior to the merger had been suffering from financial problems and declining membership and had been encouraged to merge by the Bishop. A formal merger agreement was signed on December 31, 1971. The newly created parish headquarters was established at St. Andrew's Church and the charter for St. Peter's was amended to form the new parish. St. Andrew's Church ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity.
Prior to the merger, both churches had long histories as separate parishes. St. Peter's Church was established as a mission church in the Manton section of Johnston in 1842. Services were held in an old schoolhouse until 1846 when the first of three churches to bear the name of St. Peter's was built on land donated by a family from the parish. The modest wooden church was replaced by a more substantial stone edifice in 1857. This structure was destroyed by fire in 1936 and another church was built on the site within a year of the fire.
St. Peter's also suffered from continuous financial difficulties. Twice it had become what is known as an "aided parish," i.e., a parish which receives financial aid from the diocese. It also regularly lost parishioners to other parishes. For many years, the parish was forced to share a minister with other parishes which reduced the number of services.
St. Andrew's was originally established as a missionary church. Beginning in 1890, the Church held services in the Odd Fellows Hall on
Academy Avenue in Providence. Two years later a church was erected on Pomona Avenue in Providence. St. Andrew's also suffered from the financial problems and declining membership in the 1950's and 1960's. It also became an aided parish of the diocese in the mid-1960's.
In 1970, Bishop
John Seville Higgins ordered St. Peter's to begin merger discussions with St. Andrew's Church of Providence. As these negotiations were entering their final stage, a fire destroyed the interior of St. Peter's Church in November, 1971 and accelerated the merger discussion. The negotiations were successful and the two parishes signed a merger agreement on December 31, 1971.
St. Peter's Church was demolished, but an open air chapel was operated on the site for several years. The land on which St. Peter's Church had stood was deconsecrated in 1977. The headquarters of the newly created parish was established at the former St. Andrew's Church in Providence.
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
St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church (Providence), Mss. Gr. 87, University of Rhode Island Special Collections.
Scope and Content NoteThis Register describes the records of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Providence, Rhode Island. The records were transferred from the church to the Special Collections Department of the University of Rhode Island Library in 1990. The records are in generally good physical condition. A few items show the effects of water or fire damage, probably incurred during the destruction of St. Peter's Church by fire in 1971.
St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church was established in 1972 by the merger of St. Peter's Church of Manton (Johnston) and St. Andrew's Church of Providence. The majority of the records in this collection were generated by the merged parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's . There are some records in the collection which pre-date the 1972 merger and were created by either of the parishes. The records are arranged by subject and it is possible to find records of all three parishes under one subject heading. In Series III, the parish registers are arranged by specific parish.
Arrangement
After processing, the records were organized into six series as follows:
- 1. Subject Files, 1899-1986
- 2. Financial Records, 1900-1907
- 3. Parish Registers, 1891-1971
- 4. Church Bulletins, 1972-1986
- 5. Photographs, 1902-1977
- 6. Memorabilia, 1960-1975
Open for research.
Acquisitions InformationThe records were transferred from the church to the Special Collections Department of the University of Rhode Island Library in 1990.
Custodial HistoryPrior to their transfer, the records were held by St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Providence.
Processing InformationThe collection was processed in 1990.
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.
See Mss. Gr. 41, Records of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, 1715-1990, and Mss. Gr. 41.1, Records of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, 1810-2003, for additional related materials regarding St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church.
There are no known separate materials.
Names
St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Providence, R.I.)
Subjects
St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Providence, R.I.) -- Records and correspondence
St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Providence, R.I.) -- History|vSources
St. Peter's Church (Johnston, R.I.) -- Registers
St. Andrew's Church (Providence, R.I.) -- Registers
Episcopal Church -- Rhode Island -- History -- Sources
Registers of births, etc. -- Rhode Island -- Providence
Registers of births, etc. -- Rhode Island -- Johnston
Marriage records -- Rhode Island -- Providence
Marriage records -- Rhode Island -- Johnston
Confirmation records -- Rhode Island -- Providence
Confirmation records -- Rhode Island -- Johnston
Baptismal records -- Rhode Island -- Providence
Baptismal records -- Rhode Island -- Johnston
Providence (R.I.) -- Genealogy
Johnston (R.I.) -- Genealogy
Providence (R.I.) -- Church history -- Sources
Johnston (R.I.) -- Church history -- Sources
RIAMCO Browsing Terms
Religion
Inventory
Series 1
Subject Files
1899-1986 [1971-1986]
10 box(es) (5 linear feet)
annual reports
bylaws (administrative records)
deeds
histories
letters (correspondence)
membership lists
minutes
parochial records
The Subject Files series contains the general administrative records of the parish. Included are correspondence, annual reports, minutes of annual meetings, minutes of vestry and corporation meetings, printed histories of the parish, parochial reports, lists of parishioners, mortgages, and deeds. Although the large majority of the records in this series were generated by the merged parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's, there are some records in the series which pre-date the 1972 merger and were created by one of the two parishes. The records are arranged by the subject and it is possible to find records of all three parishes under one subject heading. In all other cases, the records of the two churches prior to 1972 have been identified under the appropriate folder title.
Subjects treated in this series include annual meetings, annual reports, guidelines for acolytes, the by-laws and constitution, Diocesan Conventions and Councils, newsletters, renovations to the church, and meetings of the Vestry and Corporation.
The minutes of
Vestry and Corporation meetings reveal the struggle of the two separate parishes to survive in the face of financial difficulties and a sharp decline in the number of parishioners. The materials relating to the merger document the process which led to the creation of the combined parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church from the two separate parishes of St. Peter's Church and St. Andrew's Church.
ArrangementThe records in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within folders.
1
1
undated
Acolyte: Guidelines
1
2
1970-1981
Ad Clerum (Diocesan Newsletter)
1
3
1960, 1974-1986 scattered
Annual Meetings, Minutes of
1
4
1963-1970
Annual Reports
1
5
1971-1975
Annual Reports
1
6
1976-1986, scattered
Annual Reports
1
7
1959 Dec-1961 Dec, 1964-1965
Bishops Committee Meetings: Minutes of
1
8
1966-1971
Bishops Committee Meetings: Minutes of
1
9
undated
Blueprints of St. Peter's: Restoration of Chancel
1
9A
1912
Book of Common Prayer: Easter. See: Oversize
1
10
undated
Building Fund Pledges
2
11
1974, undated
By-Laws
2
12
undated
Calvary Church, Stonington, CT
2
13
1970-1972, 1980
Canons
2
14
2004 Jun 1
Catalog of St. Peter's Sunday School Library
2
15
1943
Centennial Program, St. Peter's
2
16
1967-1975
Chaplaincy
2
17
1972-1977
Church Interior, Renovations of
2
18
undated
Church Services, Records of
2
19
undated
Church School
2
20
undated
Clergy Evaluation Form
2
21
1973, 1976-1987
Confirmation Schedules
2
22
1971 Sep 25
Consecration Service of Bishop Belden
2
23
1946 Jan 28
Constitution, Revised: St. Peter's
2
24
1973-1986
Correspondence: Bishops
2
25
1972-1982 scattered
Death and Grief
2
26
1981-1982
Diocesan Convention
3
27
1983-1985
Diocesan Convention
3
28
1971-1985 scattered
Diocesan Council: Correspondence
3
29
1971-1974
Diocesan Council: Meetings of
3
30
1975-1979
Diocesan Council: Meetings of
3
31
1980-1986
Diocesan Council: Meetings of
3
32
1981-1982
Elderly Housing Project
3
33
1982, 1986 Aug 13
Episcopal Charities
3
34
undated
Ethics
4
35
1972?
Greetings from St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
4
36
1986
Home Prayer Scripture Readings
4
37
1938, 1955, 1971, 1983, undated
Inventories
4
38
1969, 1973, 1976
Lesson and Carol Services
4
39
1972-1973, undated
Memorials
4
40
1919?-1953?
Men's Community Club, Meetings of St. Peter's
4
41
1970-1974, undated
Merger of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
4
42
1977-1978, undated
Music Recitals
4
43
1977-1978
Music Recitals: Scrapbook
4
44
1978-1981
Music Recitals: Scrapbook
5
45
1936-1984 scattered, undated
News Clippings
5
46
1965, 1971-1976
Newsletters
5
47
1977-1980
Newsletters
5
48
1980-1986
Newsletters
5
49
1983-1984, undated
Newsletters and Brochures
5
50
1943
One Hundred Years, 1842-1943 A History of St. Peter's Church
5
51
1973, 1977, 1981
Ordination Guidelines
6
52
1977, undated
Organ Recitals. See also: Music Recitals
6
53
1980?
Parish Biography
6
54
1975
Parish Clergy, List of
6
55
1971, undated
Parish House Renovation
6
56
1986
Parish Profile: History of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church
6
57
1974, 1981-1986
Parishioners: Correspondence
6
58
1964-1980 scattered
Parishioners: List of
6
59
1941-1956, 1959
Parochial Reports
6
60
1964-1972
Parochial Reports
6
61
1973, 1975-1984, 1986
Parochial Reports
7
62
1967-1986 scattered
Pastoral Letters
7
63
1975-1977, undated
Philippines Mission Project
7
64
1978-1985 scattered
Pledge Drives
7
65
1985-1986
Postulancy and Candidacy
7
66
1979-1982, 1985, undated
Quotas and Apportionments
8
67
1904, 1973-1977, undated
Real Estate: Mortgages and Deeds
8
68
1977
Rededication Service of the Nave and Organ: Program
8
69
1929 Jul 7, 1939 Feb 19
Register of Church Services: St. Peter's
8
70
undated
Sexton's Weekly Work Sheet
8
71
1972
Special Area Study
8
72
1970-1971
Termite Control Program
8
73
1920 Apr 19-1953 Jan
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's
9
74
1953-1957, 1959
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's
9
75
1913 Mar 24-1943 Feb 24
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Peter's
9
76
1943 Mar 17-1970 Jan 27
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's and St. Peter's
9
77
1971 Jul-1972 Dec
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's and St. Peter's
10
78
1973
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St Andrew's and St. Peter's
10
79
1974-1978
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's and St. Peter's
10
80
1978-1981
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
10
81
1982-1985
Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
10
82
1970-1971, 1985, undated
Wedding Guidelines
10
83
1899, 1959, 1977, 1970
Wills and Bequests
10
84
1928, 1978-1986 scattered
Miscellaneous
Series 2
Financial Records
1900-1907 [1958-1986]
4 box(es) (2 linear feet)
financial records
This series consists of financial records documenting the fiscal activity of the two separate parishes and the later combined parish. Although the majority of the records in this series were generated by the combined parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's, there are some fiscal records which predate the 1972 merger of the two parishes. No attempt has been made to distinguish among the records of the two pre-merger parishes and the new parish created by the merger. Records for all three are intermingled by the subject or type of record in the appropriately labeled folders (e.g., Treasurer's Reports).
Included among the records are audits, bank statements, bills and receipts, correspondence, cancelled checks, leases, pledges, and subscriptions, and annual and monthly treasurer's reports. Also included are records relating to the parish's rental property. The parish owned apartments which it rented in order to supplement its income. The folders labeled "Rental Property" document these activities.
ArrangementThe records in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of record and chronologically within folders.
11
1
1966-1974, 1979, undated
Audits
11
2
1986
Bank Statements: Hospital Trust
11
3
1986
Bank Statements: People's Bank
11
4
1986 Jan-1986 Apr, 1986 May-1986 Aug
Bills and Receipts
11
5
1986 Sep-1986 Dec
Bills and Receipts
11
6
1986
Cancelled Checks: People's Bank
11
7
1986
Cash Receipts and Disbursements
12
8
1968 Mar 1
Charitable Pledges
12
9
1986
Check Register: Old Stone Bank
12
10
1986
Check Register: People's Bank
12
11
undated
Contracts: Music
12
12
1981-1982
Contracts: Videotape
12
13
1985
Fundraising Events
12
14
1900-1907
Pledges and Subscriptions: St. Peter's Church
12
15
1985-1986
Rental Property: Bills and Receipts
12
16
1982-1986
Rental Property: Correspondence
12
17
1970-1983 scattered
Rental Property: Laws Relating to
12
18
1981-1986
Rental Property: Leases
13
19
1986
Rental Property Account: Bank Statements
13
20
1986
Rental Property Cancelled Checks
13
21
1958
St. Peter's Church School: Bank Statements
13
22
1958-1959
St. Peter's Church School: Financial Reports
13
23
1963, 1972-1983 scattered
Salaries: Clergy Salaries
13
24
1958-1960
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
13
25
1961-1963
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
13
26
1964-1966
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
13
27
1967-1971
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
28
1972-1974
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
29
1975-1976
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
30
1977-1978
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
31
1979-1980
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
32
1981-1982
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
33
1983
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
34
1984-1985
Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
14
35
1980-1982
U.S. Government: Internal Revenue Tax Exemption
Series 3
Parish Registers
1891-1971
2 box(es) (1 linear feet)
baptismal registers
burial registers
confirmations
marriage registers
This series consists of baptism, confirmation, marriage, and burial registers for the separate parishes of St. Peter's Church of Manton, and St. Andrews Church of Providence. Registers for the combined parish are located at the St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church.
The registers provide quite detailed information. For example, the marriage registers lists the names, ages, residence, parents, and prior marital status (e.g., bachelor, widower, maiden, widow) of the prospective bride and groom. The burial registers, in addition to listing the name and age at death of the deceased, also list the cause of death.
ArrangementThe registers are divided by parish and then arranged alphabetically by the type of the register for each parish.
15
1
1891-1899
St. Andrew's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
15
2
1897-1914
St. Andrew's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
15
3
1912-1923
St. Andrew's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages. See: Oversize
15
4
1920 Jan 14-1945 Jan 27
St. Andrew's: Marriages
16
5
1971 Feb 27-1971 Dec 27
St. Andrew's: Marriages
16
6
1897 Aug 22-1908 Apr 5
St. Peter's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
16
7
1908 Apr 12-1925 Jul 18
St. Peter's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
16
8
1971 Nov 6
St. Peter's: Marriages
Series 4
Church Bulletins
1972-1986
2 box(es) (2 linear feet)
church bulletins
This series contains the bulletins issued by St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for their weekly services, as well as bulletins for special services such as Easter and Christmas. The bulletins contain schedules for church services, announcements of events, requests for prayers, and communications from the diocese.
Only bulletins from the combined parish are represented in this series. Bulletins from the previously separate parishes were not included among the records transferred to Special Collections.
ArrangementThe weekly bulletins are arranged chronologically. Bulletins for special services were grouped together under the folder title of "Christmas - Easter" and placed at the beginning of the series.
17
1
1972-1986
Christmas/Easter
17
2
1972
Weekly Bulletin
17
3
1973
Weekly Bulletin
17
4
1974
Weekly Bulletin
17
5
1975
Weekly Bulletin
17
6
1976
Weekly Bulletin
17
7
1977
Weekly Bulletin
18
8
1978
Weekly Bulletin
18
9
1979
Weekly Bulletin
18
10
1980
Weekly Bulletin
18
11
1981
Weekly Bulletin
18
12
1982
Weekly Bulletin
18
13
1983
Weekly Bulletin
18
14
1984-1986
Weekly Bulletin
Series 5
Photographs
1902-1977
1 box(es) (0.5 linear feet)
black-and-white photographs
color photographs
The photograph series contains about 200 color and black and white photographs documenting events and people in the history of St. Peter's Church, St. Andrew's Church and St. Peter's and Andrew's Church. The photographs are unidentified and have been organized into broad categories (e.g. building exteriors, building interiors, people in groups, social events).
ArrangementThe photographs are arranged alphabetically by category.
19
1
undated
Buildings: Exterior
19
2
undated
Buildings: Interior
19
3
undated
Choir and Clergy Entering the Church
19
4
1936?
Fire Damage and Reconstruction: St. Peter's Church
19
5
undated
Garden Chapel: St. Peter's
19
6
undated
Organ. See: Oversize
19
7
1902, undated
People in Groups
19
8
1977
St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church: Pen and Ink Sketch
19
9
undated
Social Events
Series 6
Memorabilia
1960-1975
1 box(es) (0.5 linear feet)
realia
The Memorabilia series consists of dedicatory/memorial plaques and four printer's engravings used in illustrating church publications.
ArrangementThere is no particular arrangement to this series.