The history of the Shawomet Baptist Church is interwoven with
that of the City of Warwick, and this community has a history
unsurpassed in interest by any of the other settlements in New
England.
The first settlement in
Warwick, south of the Pawtuxet, purchase made by Roger Williams
as part of the original purchase from Canonicus and
Miantonomi, was made by John Greene, surgeon, who purchased from
the Indians in 1641, a tract of territory of which Spring Green
Farm formed a part. On January 12, 1642, Samuel Gorton and
a number of companions obtained a deed from Miantonomi of land
south of the John Greene purchase, to the north shore of
Cowesett Bay, and extended twenty miles to the westward, and
known as the “Shawomet Purchase”.
It was within the radius of not more than a mile from this
building that Gorton and his eleven companions with their
families apportioned their “six-aker lotts” and built their
humble homes.
“The same general
reasons”,
wrote one historian,
“that led Roger Williams to form a settlement in Providence, induced Samuel Gorton and his
companions to take up their
abode in the wilderness at Shawomet. Both had sought the more
hospital regions among
the Indians where they hoped quietly to enjoy that freedom in
religious concernments which
they were denied among their own countrymen.”
Samuel Gorton, their leader, was a man of scholarly attainments,
reading the Scriptures
in their original Hebrew and Greek tongues, and from this youth
up devoutly religious,
a teacher and a preacher. For sixty years, first by himself and
afterwards by his followers,
religious services are said to have been conducted every Lord’s
Day in his house.
For 110 years, through times of spiritual drought and of
spiritual plenty, of financial ebb and flow, this church has
been a religious light-house in the community. No historian can
tell of the sermons preached within its walls nor of the
influence for good that has gone out from it.
In the spring of 1842, under the auspices of the R.I. Baptist
State Convention, the Reverend Jonathan Forbush began to labor
here. A revival of religious interest followed, culminating in
the meeting in the fall, at the house of Brother John W. Greene,
to consider the expediency of forming a Regular Baptist Church.
Rev. Forbush was moderator and John Holden, clerk.
A committee to confer with representatives of the old Six
Principle Baptist Church, of which this church is the outgrowth,
was appointed and, upon its report, it was voted unanimously
Wednesday evening, November 2, 1842 to organize the Old Warwick
Baptist Church. This title, upon act of incorporation, nine
years later, April 11, 1851, was changed to that of the Shawomet
Baptist Church.
On November 16, 1842, delegates from seven churches, invited at
the previous meeting, convened in council at 10:00 o’clock A.M.,
in the old meeting house. Brother John Holden, for the church,
presented a list of the members with the Articles of Faith, and
at 2:00 P.M. the church wag publicly recognized, Rev. T. C.
Jameson preaching the sermon and Rev. Jonathan Brayton giving
the right hand of fellowship.
The church began with thirteen constituent members:
Benjamin Greene, deacon, and his wife, Frances Greene, John
Holden, clerk, and his wife, Hester Brown Holden, Wealthy
Potter, Sarah Potter Greene, Sally Greene, Elizabeth Stafford,
Sally H. Low, Waity L. Greene, Sally Low Holden, Rev. Jonathan
E. Forbush, pastor, and his wife, Eliza Hurd Forbush.
This was the beginning. The next few years evidently were times
of difficulty and trial. Rev. Forbush, the pastor in these early
years, is spoken of as a man much loved, and in labors abundant.
Several additions occurred during his pastorate. He resigned in
March, 1845, and went to Westminster, Mass. This-year, the
church united with the Warren Association.
On October 20, 1845, Rev. Alfred Colburn front Saco, Maine,
became pastor. During his term of service the church prospered
and a “pleasant revival” added nine to the membership. on April
7, 1848, By-laws and Articles of Covenant were adopted. Also,
John W. Greene began his twenty-five consecutive years service
as church clerk, On October 1, 1848, Rev. Colburn resigned to
assume charge of the Baptist Church in Sharon, Mass. For the
Next year and a half, in spite of several efforts made, the
church was without a settled pastor.
In April, 1850, Rev. George A. Willard, of the Warwick and
Coventry Church, began his pastorate of nine years.
During those years, there were several seasons of revival,
and twenty—eight were added to the church. In 1851, the church
parsonage was built at a cost of $1,400. The lot, one—half acre,
was given by Warren Lippitt of Providence.
Eight years later, in 1859, the church dismissed to the
Swansey Church, Benjamin Green, its first and only deacon for a
period of sixteen consecutive years.
Brother Willard resigned May 1, 1859. However, he remained with
the church as a member until January 5, 1868, when he took
letters to the Baptist Church in Harlem, N.Y. During all those
years, he labored faithfully with and for the church, adding to
his other labors, the care of a boys’ school, most favorably
known and conducted with eminent success.
The period following the resignation of Rev. Willard was a
season of trial. For months no regular church meetings or public
religious services were held. But on March 4, 1860, Rev. H.G.
Stewart, of Providence, assumed the pastorate.
The following year the Civil War broke out. Rev. Stewart served
until April 1, 1863, when he asked to be released from his
duties to serve as a Chaplain in the army.
The next pastor to be called was Rev. E. H. Watrous of
Colchester, Conn. A refreshing revival high-lighted his
pastorate. He stayed a little less than two years.
Rev. Charles H. Ham of Providence followed, but he served only a
little over a year.
We have now reached the year 1868, twenty-six years since the
church was organized. Rev. Josiah Torrey Smith of West
Woodstock, Connecticut, accepted the call to the Shawomet
Church, provisionally, on November 27th of that year.
However, it was not until the following year, July 3, 1869,
that he began his memorable pastorate, lasting till October 1,
1882, a period of more than thirteen years. He was a man of
scholarly instincts and research, beloved for his own work and
for his work’s sake.
The years of 1872-73 were prosperous ones, and for the first
time the church secured control of the meeting-house which it
had occupied on sufferance, and rejoiced in an outlay of some
$2,000.00 for repairs on both meeting-house and parsonage, with
the generous cooperation of the people throughout the
community.
Five years of trial and labor followed. The letters to the
Association for those years “look with concern upon the signs of
growing laxity of the public mora1s’; deplore the lack of faith
and the indisposition on the part of the church to meet unitedly
the opposition of the enemies without; and report the laying of
special emphasis upon the faithful observance of the “Biblical
principles and practices which distinguish us” from other
Christian bodies. And the effort was rewarded. For the year 1878
opened with revival. The church “was thoroughly revive and
united together with one spirit and purpose.”
The Sunday School and the church membership increased, and
that same year, Brother Clayton E. Higgins was licensed to
preach the gospel. On September 16, 1880, he was dismissed for
ordination to the gospel ministry in a church in Iowa.
On the Lord’s Day, September 1.9, 1880, a new bell rang out
from the belfry for the first time.
At a special meeting of the Shawomet Baptist Church held in the
Old Warwick Meeting House on September 14, 1882, the pastor,
Rev. J. Torrey Smith tendered his resignation.
Rev. Smith remained with the church another year until the fall
of 1883, when he removed to West Royalston, Mass.
Thus closed the longest pastorate in the history of our
church up to that time, in labors varied and abundant and
blessed of God, of which the church properly records its
grateful appreciation.
On June 17, 1883,
Rev. Samuel T. Frost began his pastorate at a salary the largest
of any pastor serving the church up to that time. It was
$1,000.00, “this sum to include the use of the parsonage and lot
valued at
$150.00.” On July 3rd was held the first public recognition
service to a pastor. After a year of strenuous labor, Rev. Frost
resigned to accept a call from the Baptist church at Phenix,
R.I.
The following year a new church was built at a cost of
$4,581.00 inclusive of pews. On August 7, 1885, the new
house was dedicated to the worship of God. It seemed as if a new
and brighter era had opened for the 1ong-suffering,
long-struggling little church. But on October 17, 1886, the new
building was entirely destroyed by fire. The record reads, “On
October 17, 1886, our beautiful new church edifice was entirely
consumed by fire. It was the outgrowth of much labor and many
prayers. The origin of the fire still remains a mystery, the
sexton being absent but a short time when smoke was seen issuing
from the rear of the building and in about one hour was entirely
consumed, no article of the furniture being saved.”
Rev. Sylvanus E. Frohock was the pastor, and he and his people
taxed their energies to the utmost to rebuild.
After almost two years of tireless effort, the new edifice
was ready for dedication at a cost of $7,050.00. Rev. Frohock
served faithfully another year, among other activities,
religious services were held for the colored people “on the
plains”, an outskirt of the parish.
On September 1, 1889, Rev. Frohock concluded his abundant and
arduous labors here and went to the Theological Seminary at
Newton Center to pursue his studies.
The next pastor was Rev. Joseph S. Russell. Who served the
church from February 16, 1890 to November, 1891
He was ordained to the gospel ministry on March 26th of
that year.
Rev. Alfred Millington began his pastorate on November 1, 1892.
Re gave to the church three years of devoted service. The
Church, for the first time in its history, was thrown upon its
own resources and, in addition to its current expenses, was busy
taking care of a troublesome debt. The baptistry was finished
and a Young people’s Society formed. In the letter to the State
Convention, dated October 1, 1893, appears this item: “Also, the
long delayed erection of our much needed horse-sheds is to be
commenced about the middle of this month, and we hope to push
the work to a rapid completion.”
This Pastor’s ministry closed on October 11, 1895.
We came now to a pastor who served at Shawomet Church the
longest of any before or since his time. Beginning on December
20, 1895, Rev. William H. Lane ministered to the people of his
parish for sixteen years, until March 1, 1912. The balance of
the mortgage on the building was paid and a new furnace was
installed. And the spiritual life of the church went steadily
forward under the efficient leadership of this pastor.
June 8, 1913 found a new pastor in the church. New impetus was
given to the work which forged ahead under the leadership of
Rev. G. B. Cowell.
The church edifice was thoroughly renovated inside and out, and
on June 28, 1914, special services were held to rededicate the
“house beautiful.”
Rev. Cowell was a great leader and preacher, beloved by all who
knew him. During the “flu” epidemic of 1917, he became a victim,
and went to his reward singing.
Right here the records are not clear as to dates Toothacres of
Ohio was called to the pastorate and remained about a year.
Then in April 1920, Rev. Frederick Barnes became pastor and
served six years. That year a plea was made by the Sunday School
Superintendent for an addition to the church edifice for more
classrooms, as well as for social activities of the young
people. On April 25, 1926, Rev. Barnes resigned from his
pastorate because of ill health, and was sent a note of thanks
and appreciation for his untiring efforts in the work of the
church.
In January 1927, Rev. Carl Pearson came at the call of the
church and served about one a half years. On February 20, 1927
the church building was badly damaged by fire. Some of the
furnishings were saved, including the pews, but many
replacements had to be
made.
The next pastor to be called was Rev. Walter F. Parmalee, whose
pastorate lasted fourteen years, or until September 1942. Dr.
Parmalee was much interested in the young people, and their work
prospered under his leadership. A Men’s Class was formed in the
Sunday School, and a Mission Circle and Junior Church were both
organized during his ministry. A pipe organ was also installed
in the church.
On June 26, 1940, Dr. and Mrs. Parmalee celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary with a reception at the church.
At that time they were remarried by the Rev. Chester
Armstrong of the Lakewood Baptist Church of Warwick.
A younger man now took up his residence in the parsonage.
Rev. James Currie began his pastorate here in July 1943 and
remained until May 6, 1945, when he resigned to become a
Chaplain in the Armed Forces. During his stay the mortgage of
the church was burned, and the people sang praises to God that
at long last their church was free from debt.
On September 1, 1945, Rev. Ronald MacCormack began his work at
Shawomet and gave four years of consecrated service, ending on
November 27, 1949. A Hammond organ was installed, and a building
campaign started for a new addition to the church edifice. The
World Mission Crusade, a missionary effort of the NBC, went over
the top, and the church enjoyed financial prosperity. Nor was
the spiritual side neglected, for Rev. MacCormack was of an
evangelical nature and a devoted servant of the Lord.
On February 5, 1950, another pastor took his place in the pulpit
of Shawomet Church. Rev. Lincoln H. Barr came to us from
Stonington, Conn. On November 9 of that year, the ground was
broken for the much needed addition to the church building. Ten
months later, on September 16th, 1951, the new building of ten
classrooms, pastor’s and church offices was dedicated with
appropriate services.
The sanctuary had been remodeled and redecorated and the grounds
landscaped, so that we were justly proud of. our church home.
A new venture in the form of a week-day kindergarten was
launched, which proved very successful and has since almost
tripled the original number of pupils.
In November 1952, Shawomet Baptist Church observed its 110th
anniversary that closed with a dramatization of its long
history.
From the coming of Samuel Gorton to Warwick to the
organization of the Old Warwick Baptist Church with its thirteen
members and its first pastor, down through the years of its
ministry under twenty—one successive pastors, the history of the
church was told as each pastor in turn took his place in the
large, life-size gilded picture frame.
Shawomet Church was destined to give Uncle Sam another of her
faithful ministers, for in February, 1953, Rev. Barr left to
take up his duties as Chaplain in the Air Force, and once more,
we were a church without a pastor.
In July, 1953, Rev. Wesley Drolette came to us from the First
Baptist Church in Lensdale and he has proved to be an able
spiritual leader. The attendance at all services has greatly
increased and many new members have been received into the
fellowship of Shawomet Church.
The original parsonage was torn down and construction of a new
one began in May, 1956.
A three-alarm fire
occurred on January 18, 1957. The vestry was gutted and the
sanctuary suffered heavy smoke damage. Services were held at
Gorton Jr. High School and the Lambskin Club.
On January 29, 1957, Rev. Drolette and his family moved into the
current parsonage built on the site of the old one on West Shore
Road. In September, the restored Church was dedicated.
Ground breaking ceremonies
were held in 1966 for the Christian Center addition on West
Shore Road. Rev. Drolette, however, died before the construction
was completed.
The Rev. Robert Drechsler began his pastorate in August, 1967.
The Drolette Christian Center was dedicated in February, 1968.
During his 10 years of service, new hymnals were purchased.
For several years a youth group in the Center was in full
swing, attracting as many as 100 teenagers on a Friday night.
Rev. Drechsler left the church in June, 1977 for work in
the business world on the West Coast.
May, 1978 began the 10 year ministry of Rev. Donald N.
Valentine. New accessories and carpeting were installed in the
sanctuary. Chair lifts and large print Bibles made our church
more comfortable for the handicapped and elderly.
Several weekend retreats called “Advances” were held at
Grotonwood, the Baptist camp of Massachusetts.
Rev. Valentine left Shawomet in December of 1988 for a call
to Meriden, Connecticut.
During the next 2 years, Shawomet was fortunate to have Dr.
Lloyd Frederick as our Interim Pastor.
In June of 1991, the Rev. Henry A. Pedersen began his pastorate.
Rev. Pedersen came to Shawomet from Rochester, Minnesota,
where he served as a prison chaplain. In the one-and-a-half year
that that Rev. Pedersen has been with us, a new bathroom has
been built, all the rooms in the main upper hallway have been
painted and redecorated, and the nursery has been moved from the
Christian Center to a room across from the pastor’s study.
Sunday School has been changed to 9:00 a.m. - after 18 years of
meeting at the same time as the 10:00 a.m. Service!
A service of celebration of our 150th Anniversary was held in
November, 1992. The guest speaker was Rev. Craig Collemer, who
attended Shawomet as a teenager and was ordained here.
Shawomet has continued its tradition of outreach to the
community as well as meeting the spiritual needs of its
members.
