Congdon Street Baptist Church

Description:

A gathering in the First Baptist Meeting House
The progression of events leading to the establishment of the African Union Meeting and Schoolhouse in Providence and eventually to the organization and construction of Congdon Street Baptist Church began on March 9, 1819 in the vestry of the First Baptist Meeting House. At this time and place a meeting was held for the purpose of discussing, and making plans to establish a place for people of color to both worship God in dignity and to obtain secular education for their children. This meeting, called at the request of a group of people of African descent, was attended by representatives of both this group and influential, sympathetic whites.

The African Union Meeting and Schoolhouse Society is opened
As a result of the meeting a committee composed of twelve men, black and white, was appointed to meet with Moses Brown, Esq., who long had intended to do something for the people of color. He thereupon instructed the group to select a suitable lot for the desired building. The site chosen was located at the corner of Meeting and Congdon Streets. True to his word, Mr. Brown purchased it. Construction began, and in June of 1820 the schoolhouse was opened for divine worship. The large room was soon fitted with pews, and the building was completed and dedicated in 1821. It came to be called The African Union Meeting House resulting from the name of its governing body. The African Union Meeting and Schoolhouse Society.

The Meeting Street Baptist Church is organized
This Society was composed of A.M.E., A.M.E. Zion, Free Will Baptist, Calvinist, and Missionary Baptist denominations. Eventually, desiring their own identities, various of these groups pulled out of the African Union Meeting House and established their own churches. By 1840, only the Calvinists were left in charge of the property. Therefore, in December of that year they organized the Meeting Street Baptist Church.

Name changed to Congdon Street Baptist Church
A period of prosperity was followed by a period of devastation and dire hardship for the church. It was during this latter period, 1863 to about 1870, that hostile white neighbors had the church torn down leaving the small black congregation bereft of its place of worship. In 1869, George Hale, a neighbor whose property the church inconveniently bordered, had offered to exchange with the church a lot he owned at Congdon Street and Angel Court. Now, in 1871, the church finally agreed to make the exchange and was permitted by the Court to do so. Thereupon, the new edifice was begun. It was completed and dedicated in July, 1875. By a Legislative Act, the name was changed to Congdon Street Baptist Church.

Celebrating years of religious heritage in Rhode Island
In 1874, the New England Baptist Missionary convention was organized in its vestry during a very spiritual and harmonious meeting. As the result of continuing and remarkable spiritual and physical growth during the following years, the church proudly celebrated its 70th anniversary on December 8, 1910.

As time progressed, Congdon Street was blessed with numerous Pastors who grew the Church. Meanwhile, Congdon Street gave birth to many local Rhode Island Churches such as; Free Will Baptist Church (1830), Bethel A.M.E. Church (1839), Ebenezer Baptist Church (1880), and Olney Street Baptist Church (1901).

Politics, Colleges, and Civil Rights

With the installation of Rev. Dennis Norris in 1966, Congdon Street, ever involved with outreach and education, began intentionally reaching out to African-American students at Brown University and Pembroke College. By being a safe space, the church became a sanctuary for African-American students at Brown University and Pembroke College in 1968 during their student walkout. The end of the student walkout did not see the end of Congdon Street!€™s affiliation with African-American students at Brown and Pembroke as members of the church continued to open their homes to the students.

The fight for civil rights during the 1960s led many members of the congregation to the streets where they marched on Cranston Street and with Doctor Martin Luther King Jr to show that Black lives and rights matter. During the tenure of Rev. Norris, the ABC Church School Curriculum was also initiated.

General Information

Is Shelter?

No

Related Resources

Miscellaneous

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Date of Official Change:

September 27, 2018

Year Incorporated:

1819

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