The Baptist Church in Warren, R. I., was formally constituted and recognized, October 15th, 1764. The persons uniting in its formation were mostly dismissed from the Baptist Church in Swansea, Mass.; and they were brought together under Providence, and led to unite in covenant obligations through the efforts of Rev. James Manning, who had removed to the shores of Narragansett Bay, from New Jersey, to commence the organization of Rhode Island college.The primal elements of the visible church, therefore, are to be found connected with the formation of the ancient church in Swansea, and in the first labors to found Brown University. The Swansea church was the first church of the Baptists in the State of Massachusetts. Mr. John Mills collected a Baptist Church in a place called Swansea, in the principality of Wales, A. D. 1649; of which he quietly remained the pastor until A. D. 1662, when by act of Parliament, he was ejected from his position, soon after which he removed to America, bringing with him the records of the Welch church. Messrs. Tanner, Brown, Thomas, and others, accompanied Mr. Mills , or soon followed him to this country. A church was formed in that part of the Plymouth colony called Rehoboth, A. D. 1663, of which Mr. Mills because the pastor, just a year after leaving his Welch home. Four years after the formation of this body, he obtained a grant of land, through a favoring Providence, from the Plymouth legislature, and called it Swansea. Aiding as he could those laboring in other places, who held to believers' baptism only, and proving himself an affectionate and faithful minister of the gospel of Christ, he died at his post, in a good old age, February 2d, 1683. Mr. Samuel Luther, a man of some distinction in town and provincial matters, succeeded Mr. Mills in the pastoral office, being ordained July 22d, 1685, by Elders Hull and Emblen from Boston. After a ministry of thirty-two years, much esteemed at home and abroad, Mr. Luther died, A. D. 1717. Mr. Ephraim Wheaton, who lived in the town of Rehoboth, Mass., and had been colleague with Mr. Luther thirteen years prior to the death of the latter, was his successor, and filled the office of pastor until April 26th, A. D. 1734, when he died at the age of seventy-five years. One year before the death of Rev. Mr. Wheaton, Mr. Samuel Maxwell was ordained his colleague, who, after a short ministry, changed his sentiments, and advocated the keeping of the seventh day of the week as holy time. His dismission from the pastoral office and from the church took place in April, 1739. Rev. Benjamin Harrington from Narragansett was the individual who next filled the pastor's place, into which he was installed, August 15th, A. D. 1742. His ministry was short, though not entirely fruitless. His preaching drew together large congregations upon the Sabbath, yet his conduct was not without implication, and he died obscurely in Canterbury, Ct., at a great age. In March, 1748, Mr. Jabez Wood, of Middleboro, Mass., was called to preach to this church, over which he was ordained pastor on September 5th, 1751. As some of the members of the church judged that Mr. Wood had used improper measures to obtain the pastoral office, a perquisite to which was a good farm, they removed their membership to other places, and the first church in Swansea declined in strength and apparent piety until Mr. Wood asked and received a dismission in A. D. 1779.(1)
Warren, R. I., being situated in the immediate vicinity of Swansea and Rehoboth, Mass., the meeting house of Mr. Mills standing not more than one mile from the centre of Warren village, as will readily be inferred, the villagers of Warren were mostly connected with the Swansea church and congregation, down to the time of the arrival of Mr. Manning in Rhode Island college. For various and sufficient reasons, the Philadelphia Association became interested in ministerial and general education at an early day of its existence, which led its members to "feel that it was practicable and expedient to erect a college in the colony of Rhode Island," under the special supervision of the Baptists, in which college education might be promoted and superior learning secured, free from those sectarian religious tests, common in nearly all the institutions of a high order then in existence. Mr. James Manning, who took his first degree in New Jersey college, September, 1762, was esteemed a suitable person to lead this important enterprise. On a voyage eastward, he called at Newport, in July, 1763, and consulted in reference to the college and its location with several Baptists of influence and piety, who readily concurred with him in the means necessary for the commencement of the college, and entered diligently upon the use of those means. Notwithstanding many secret and open contrivances to prevent it, an ample charter was granted by the colonial legislature, in February, 1764. In the summer following, Mr. Manning removed to Warren, to preach to a newly formed religious society, and to begin the school which was preparatory to college classes.
Thus the church in Warren, in its beginning, had an intimate connection with the Swansea church, and with the formative work of Brown University.(2) At the time it was determined to locate the college in Warren, about sixty communicants resided in the town, a majority of whom had their membership in Swansea, and preferred to remain a branch of that church, in which they and their fathers before them had enjoyed so much Christian comfort, and experienced so much religious improvement. Yet, as the population of the village was rapidly increasing, and the advantages of a distinct church organization became better understood; after much prayerful deliberation, it was concluded, by the Baptists in town and the friends of the college, that Mr. Manning should remove to Warren to organize a church and begin the college. It was in the summer of 1764, that he removed his family from New Jersey to Warren. Immediately upon his arrival, he commenced teaching, and preaching the gospel. He had been ordained to the latter work by the church at Scotch-Plains, N. J., near Elizabethtown, then under the care of Rev. Benjamin Miller, whose ministry was long continued and attended with many conversions. On the day of its constitution, the church was composed of fifty-eight members, thirty-five being received from Swansea, the others having been baptized by Rev. Samuel Maxwell and Rev. Gardner Thurston, of Newport, R. I., and others by Mr. Manning after his arrival in town, and before the day of organization, which was November 15th, 1764. The members intending to be recognized as a church, had invited Rev. Messrs. John Gano, of New York, Gardner Thurston, of Newport, R. I., and Ebenezer Hinds, of Middleboro, Mass., to be present and take part in the services. The day was kept as a day of "fasting and prayer," during which, in the forenoon, Rev. Mr. Thurston preached a sermon, and, after a short intermission of services, the people returning, the Rev. John Gano, James Manning, and Ebenezer Hinds each in turn made a prayer suitable to the occasion. After the offering of the prayer, the church covenant, previously prepared by Mr. Manning, was presented and read, and signed individually by the constituent members. When the covenant had been adopted, three of the brethren, Samuel Hix, Amos Haile, and John Coomer, in behalf of the church, presented a previously prepared call to Mr. Manning to become their pastor. Mr. Gano publicly read the call, and asked Mr. Manning if he accepted it, which question was answered in the affirmative. "Then Mr. Gano preached a sermon suitable to the occasion, in which he reminded both pastor and people of their respective duties, and urged the mutual performance of both, from those important motives which the nature of the relation requires. Thus ended the solemnities of the day."(3) Thus Christ united his disciples in Warren under their pastor.
From this time onward, through the six years of Rev. Mr. Manning's ministry, the church and college shared a mutual and common prosperity. Shortly after the church was organized, and the college established, a house of worship was erected; and a spacious mansion was built, for the double purpose of a college and parsonage, on the land occupied by the edifice for worship which is now used by the church.
The Warren Association had its origin in three years from the date of the founding of the church and college. Organizations similar to Associations had become common among other denominations long before this period of time, in other colonies, but they had assumed and exercised such powers over the churches as to cause the liberty-loving Baptists to regard the proposition of a Baptist Association with a large amount of suspicion. The Baptists suffered so much from these organizations, that they could not be persuaded to meet in an association for many years, though the plan proposed differed essentially from that of associations in other denominations. Yet, in September 1766, a number of elders and brethren agreed to send to their churches an invitation to appoint a meeting the next year, 1767, to confer upon these things. Thus, on September 8th, 1767, ten churches met by delegation in Warren, with three ministers from the Philadelphia Association, Revs. John Gano, Samuel Jones, and Morgan Edwards, they having been appointed the previous year for that purpose, who also brought a letter from the body appointing them, written for the purpose by Rev. Mr. Jones. Most of the brethren, who were assembled for deliberation, thought that they were not then fully prepared to proceed to the formation of an association; yet four churches were apparently prepared, and they formed the association, and named it from the town where they met. These four churches were Warren, R. I., Rev. James Manning, pastor; Haverhill, Mass., Rev. Hezekiah Smith, pastor; Bellingham, Mass., Rev. Noah Alden, pastor; and the second church in Middleboro, Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, pastor. The Rev. Isaac Backus was present, and officiated as clerk, though his church and himself did not then join in the formation of the body. And as the anniversary of the college or its commencement came annually on the first Wednesday in September, and some who came to attend that also wished to be present at the meeting of the association, the latter was appointed to be on the Tuesday first following the former -- the Tuesday after the first Wednesday of September. (4)
The pastors and delegates met accordingly in Warren, September 18th, 1768, when four churches joined the association. Four more churches joined it when it met in the same village, on the following year, September 12th, 1769. The next meeting of the body was at Bellingham, Mass., September 11th, 1770, and the following one was at held in Sutton, Mass., September 10th, 1771, when the association had increased to twenty churches, having in all 837 members, each year seeing tokens of divine approbation. With this meeting of the association was adopted the rule to print the minutes of the doings, which custom has been continued down to the present time. In due time the association began to collect a fund for assisting pious young men in obtaining an education, preparatory to the gospel ministry, thirteen men being chosen by the association, and incorporated by the legislature of Massachusetts, as managers of the fund.(5) The location of the college in Warren, in connection with the constitution of the church and the organization of the Warren Association, made Warren a place of much resort and a general rallying-point for the influential and pious members of the denomination, during several successive years.
But the college was still unendowed, and the place of its permanent location was seemingly undetermined. Many were unwilling that it should be in Warren, and some were unwilling that it should be anywhere else. Thus originated a proposition, that the county which would raise the most money to endow it should be honored with its location. Several competitors entered the list, among which Warren made noble and extensive offers; but Providence excelled all other applicants, and the college was accordingly removed to that place. On the 1st February, 1770, the corporation of the college decided, by a vote of twenty-one to fourteen, that the college be removed to Providence, and be continued there forever. Mr. Manning was intimately identified with the college and this church, and a question of much practical importance arose, which shall he relinquish? The attachment between pastor and people was mutual and strong, and it led the pastor to greatly prefer the pastorate. After much correspondence, and after much prayer, doubtless, Mr. Manning determined to ask dismission from the pastoral office of the church. In the May following, 1770, he removed to Providence, accompanied by the undergraduates, which removal "was to the wonderment of his people, he being greatly admired and renowned before he rejected his people, which was in the sixth year of his ministry."
After the church had been destitute of a pastor about one year, the members invited Rev. Charles Thompson, the valedictorian of the first graduating class, to preach to them. Mr. Thompson was ordained to the pastoral office, July 3d, 1771, Revs. Messrs. Ebenezer Hinds of Middleboro, Mass., and Noah Alden of Bellingham, Mass., acting for the churches represented in the council. Mr. Thompson was born in Amwell, New Jersey, April 14th, 1748, and was ordained, therefore, at the age of twenty-three years. The blessing of heaven attended his ministry, as, during the four years of his pastorate, the membership of the church was doubled.(6) When the war of the Revolution commenced, in 1775, its effects were greatly felt by the inhabitants of Warren. Mr. Thompson was appointed chaplain in the continental army, where he officiated until 1778, when, being at home on a visit, he was taken prisoner by the British troops on the morning of May 25th, 1778, who, after burning the meeting-house, parsonage, arsenal, and several dwellings, carried Mr. Thompson to Newport a prisoner. He was released, however, from imprisonment about the middle of the following June. After his deliverance from the guard-ship was secured, Mr. Thompson went into Connecticut and preached at Ashford, until 1779, when he came to Swansea, Mass., where he was again settled as pastor. The burning of their house of worship and parsonage was a severe loss to the church in Warren; and the proximity of British soldiers and the calamities of war made many people of the village seek food, safety, and quietude in the interior of the country. Thus was the church prevented, several years, from erecting another house of worship and parsonage, from settling a pastor, and from holding meetings. A large part of the remaining members resumed a connection with the Swansea church, doing so upon the condition that they be at liberty to return to Warren when Providence prepared the way for the re-establishment of that church. Thus, after fifteen years of visible existence, and after much prosperity, the church became for a time invisible. The union of Warren brethren with the Swansea church encouraged Mr. Thompson to become pastor of the latter congregation, upon which the cause of Christ, revived, and some thirty persons of Warren were baptized by him with some forty-five in Swansea.
When the war with England was no longer a terror, the Warren church members dissolved their family connection with the Swansea church and on the 5th February, 1784, resolved to build another house of worship, which was completed in the following year. The house of worship being erected, and a chartered society established, in September, 1786, the former members of the church attached to Swansea and other persons were re-organized on the platform of their former covenant. Mr. Thompson continued pastor at Swansea till 1803, when he removed to Charlton, Mass., where soon afterwards he died.
The third pastor, Rev. John Pitman, becoming pastor immediately after the re-organization of the church, October 26th, 1786 resigned the office in June, 1790.
The fourth pastor, "Mr. Luther Baker was raised up among them, and he was ordained their minister, October 17th, 1793." He resigned the important charge, November 1st, 1814, having enjoyed a long and heaven-honored ministry.
The fifth pastor, Rev. Silas Hall, graduating at Brown University, 1809, assumed the pastorate on the day of Mr. Bakers's resignation, and continued until May 1st, 1817.
The sixth pastor, Rev. Daniel Chessman, a graduate of Brown University, 1811, was ordained to his ministry and office March 5th, 1818, and was dismissed January 23d, 1820.
The seventh pastor, Rev. Flavel Shurtliffe, graduating from Brown University 1814, commenced his labors in the ministry at Warren, March 11th, 1820, and resigned September, 18th, 1821.
The eight pastor, Rev. John C. Welch, then a recent member of Waterville College, was ordained pastor, June 11th, 1823, and resigned, Nov. 1st, 1840.
The ninth pastor, Rev. Josiah P. Tustin, graduating at Brown University, 1838, was recognized pastor, April 23d, 1842; resigned the office Oct. 23d, 1849.
The tenth pastor, Rev. Robert A Fyfe, graduating at Newton Theological Institution, Mass., became pastor, December 22d, 1849, and resigned the office, August 1st, 1854.
The eleventh pastor, Rev. Myron M. Dean, the present incumbent, a graduate of Middlebury College, Vt., and of the Theological Institution, Newton, Mass., assumed the pastoral care, March 1st, 1854.
The number of members, March 1st, 1855, was 281; whole number of members from the beginning to March 1st, 1855, 914. Of these the constituent members were 58; added by Mr. Manning, in six years, 15; by Mr. Thompson, unknown; added at the re-organization of church, 1786, of those not formerly members, 81; added by Mr. Pitman, in three and a half years, 21; by Mr. Baker, in twenty-one years, 251; by Mr. Hall, in two and one half years, 34; by Mr. Chessman, in about two years, 3; by Mr. Shurtliffe, in one year and a half, 133; in an interval, 2; by Mr. Welch, in seventeen and a half years, 179; in the interval, 23; by Mr. Tustin, in seven years and a half, 82; by Mr. Fyfe, in three years and a half, including a half year interval, 54; by the present incumbent, during one year, 41.
The church edifice, a cut of which is placed at the commencement of these annals, was erected on the ground occupied by the first meeting-house and parsonage, those burned by a detachment of British soldiers. Its dimensions are the following: -- Length of the body of the house, 84 feet; width, is 70 feet; and its height, 34 feet from ground to the outside cornice. In front is a tower 23 feet square, 86 feet high, surmounted with a battlement rising eight feet, and projecting one foot. The walls are of dark brown and gray stone, laid in course.
The style of the edifice is "Medium Gothic," and is uniformly consistent with itself. The windows are arched, fourteen in number, 25 feet high, and filled with stained glass. The pulpit is appropriate, made of black walnut, and containing a very beautiful and commodious baptistery. On the floor of the audience room are 146 pews, arranged in three double rows, with four aisles -- two sides and two medial. There is a gallery across the building, over the vestibule, the organ-room being in the tower, on a level with the gallery, containing a fine instrument, furnished by Messrs. Hook of Boston, at a cost of about $3000. In the basement is a lecture-room, capable of accommodating 500 people, and a small vestry, which will seat about 200 people.
________________________ End Notes
1. Isaac Backus, History..., Vol. iii, pp. 143-6.
2. Backus, Vol. ii, p. 236.
3. Tustin's Historical Discourse, p. 120.
4. Backus, Vol. iii, p.113.
5. Backus, Vol. iii, p. 114.
6. Backus, Vol. iii, p. 237.
============== [Taken from the American Baptist Memorial Journal, 1855, pages 113-118. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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