Niantic Baptist Church records, 1987-2012

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	Niantic Baptist Church records
Date range:	1987-2012
Creator:	Niantic Baptist Church
Extent:	0.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	Records of the church documenting the administration of it with annual reports, minutes, and financial records. This is part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	MS.2012.010

Scope & content

The records of the Niantic Baptist Church include annual reports, treasurer's reports and financial records, business correspondence, membership lists and transfers, meeting minutes, information regarding the hiring and resignations of pastors, and miscellaneous documents. These records document the operations of the church during the 20th century, with special attention to its last years from 1987 to 2012. This is part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center

Subject Topics

• Baptists--Rhode Island

Document Types

• Administrative records

Subject Topics

• Religion

Arrangement

Arranged alpabetically.

Biographical/Historical note

The Niantic Baptist Church in Westerly, Rhode Island began with a gathering of Baptists in private homes about 1850. The church was organized and recognized in 1851, and they erected a meetinghouse in the village of Niantic. The village of Niantic was renamed Bradford after the Bradford Dyeing Association of Bradford, England, built a mill in the village between 1911 and 1914. The church grew to its fullest extent as a result of the Bradford mill. Never a large church, the membership dwindled in the last quarter of the 20th century to the point that by 1999, over 64 percent of the names on the church rolls were inactive or non-resident. Just 47 people (35.8 percent) were listed as “active.” However attendance at church meetings fell below twenty by 2005, and by 2009 the church held discussions with Central Baptist of Westerly about merging. Only twelve people showed up for the 2009 annual meeting. The church affiliated itself with the First Baptist Church of Charlestown at Quonochontaug in 2011 and shared its pastor. On January 15, 2012, the Niantic Baptist Church held its final meeting (six members and the pastor present) and closed the church.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Niantic Baptist Church, Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection, Ms.2012.010, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center in 2012 and 2018.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Nicholas Friesner.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-04-16
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material:

This collection forms part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection. See also: Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection (Ms.2008.017) Homer Trickett papers (Ms.2011.031) Meshanticut Park Community Baptist Church records (Ms.2012.007) Roger Williams Baptist Church records (Ms.2012.009) Shawomet Baptist Church records (Ms.2011.018) West Exeter Baptist Church records (Ms.2012.018)

Inventory

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