Clarke Street Meeting House
Encyclopedia
Clarke Street Meeting House (also known as Second Congregational Church Newport County or Central Baptist Church) is an historic former meeting house and Reformed Christian church building in Newport, Rhode Island
.
, a well-known minister who later became president of Yale University
, pastored the church and lived in the Ezra Stiles House
across the street. During the Revolutionary War, the British occupied the meeting house and minister's house for use as a barracks and hospital from 1776 to 1779. After the War, a committee of Second Church members, including William Ellery, Henry Marchant
, Robert Stevens and William Channing wrote to John Adams
in the Europe requesting that he contact Reformed congregations there for assistance in repairing the church due to the British army's damage to the building. Adams responded that he would be unable to help because of differences in European attitudes toward soliciting for funds. Regardless of the difficulties, the building was extensively repaired in 1785. The congregation later left the building and merged with Newport's First Congregational Church to become United Congregational Church to which the building was sold in 1835. In 1847 the Central Baptist Society purchased and extensively modified the building. In 1950 St. Joseph's Church of Newport purchased the meeting house and further renovated the structure. The Clarke Street Meeting House was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
History
The meeting house was built in 1735 and served as a worship place for the Second Congregational Church, originally a Calvinist congregation. From 1755 to 1786, Ezra StilesEzra Stiles
Ezra Stiles was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian and author. He was president of Yale College .-Early life:...
, a well-known minister who later became president of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, pastored the church and lived in the Ezra Stiles House
Ezra Stiles House
The Ezra Stiles House is an historic house at 14 Clarke Street in Newport, Rhode Island owned by Rev. Ezra Stiles, a president of Yale University....
across the street. During the Revolutionary War, the British occupied the meeting house and minister's house for use as a barracks and hospital from 1776 to 1779. After the War, a committee of Second Church members, including William Ellery, Henry Marchant
Henry Marchant
Henry Marchant was American lawyer from Newport, Rhode Island and United States federal judge. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779, and was a signer of the Articles of Confederation for Rhode Island.-Life of service:Born in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Marchant...
, Robert Stevens and William Channing wrote to John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
in the Europe requesting that he contact Reformed congregations there for assistance in repairing the church due to the British army's damage to the building. Adams responded that he would be unable to help because of differences in European attitudes toward soliciting for funds. Regardless of the difficulties, the building was extensively repaired in 1785. The congregation later left the building and merged with Newport's First Congregational Church to become United Congregational Church to which the building was sold in 1835. In 1847 the Central Baptist Society purchased and extensively modified the building. In 1950 St. Joseph's Church of Newport purchased the meeting house and further renovated the structure. The Clarke Street Meeting House was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.
Notable congregants
- William VernonWilliam VernonWilliam Vernon , of Newport, Rhode Island, was a New England trader who played a leading role in the Continental Congress' maritime activities during the American Revolution...
, merchant - Henry MarchantHenry MarchantHenry Marchant was American lawyer from Newport, Rhode Island and United States federal judge. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779, and was a signer of the Articles of Confederation for Rhode Island.-Life of service:Born in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Marchant...
, U.S. District Judge - William Ellery, signer of Declaration of Independence