West Exeter Baptist Church records, 1958-2011


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: West Exeter Baptist Church records
Date range: 1958-2011
Creator: West Exeter Baptist Church.
Extent: 1.0 linear foot
Abstract: Administrative and financial records, photographs, weekly bulletins for each Sunday service, and attendance records for a small Baptist congregation in Exeter, RI. This is part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number: MS.2012.018

Scope & content

This collection contains the records of the West Exeter Baptist Church dating from 1958-2011. The materials relate primarily to the administration of the church and include the Clerk's records, meeting minutes, treasurer's records and attendance records. The weekly Sunday bulletins printed for each service give detailed information on the religious services enjoyed by the congregants. This is part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Document Types Subject Topics

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Historical note

The West Exeter Baptist Church originated in 1858 as a branch of the West Greenwich Baptist Church and remained as such until 1878. Originally called the “Four Corners Meeting House,” it later was called the West Exeter Baptist Church. The meetinghouse was located at 2019 Ten Rod Road in Exeter, RI and was dedicated in 1860. The first settled clergyman was John Tillinghast (1870-1878). As a rural church, it always had a small membership, and by the 1930s and 1940s, it ceased to function and the meetinghouse went unused. When a lumber dealer sought to acquire the building for a store in the late 1950s, some local people got the Rhode Island State Convention to become involved in saving the meetinghouse. The church was declared “extinct” on August 2, 1957 by a decree of the Superior Court of Rhode Island, and its property was turned over to the Rhode Island State Convention. Services resumed in January 1958, but the congregation remained small. In the last decades the membership dwindled to about 20 people who were increasingly elderly. The congregation finally disbanded in December 2011.

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: West Exeter Baptist Church records, Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection, Ms.2012.018, 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.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Karen Eberhart
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:

Inventory

Box 1, Folder 1 Attendance Records
 1974-2006
Box 1, Folder 2 By-Laws
 1986-2009
Box 1, Folders 3-13 Clerk's Records
 2000-2010
Box 1, Folder 14 Clerk's Report and Financial Report
 2011
Box 1, Folder 15 Bulletins
 1986, 1988-1995
Box 1, Folders 16-28 Bulletins
 1997-2010
Box 1, Folder 29 Church History
 1860-2005
Box 1, Folder 30 Guest List
 1975-2009
Box 1, Folder 31 Job Descriptions and Policies
 1981-2011
Box 1, Folder 32 Meetings
 1990-2001
Box 1, Folder 33 Meetings, Trustees, Deacons, Annual Meetings, Misc.
 1990-2008
Box 1, Folder 34 Membership List
 1924-1998
Box 1, Folder 35 Photo Album
 2000-2006
Box 1, Folder 36 Photo Album #2
 2000-2006
Box 1, Folder 37 Reports to American Baptist Churches of RI [ABCORI]
 1993-2010
Box 1, Folder 38 Transfer of Property to RI Baptist Convention Declared W. Exeter B.C. - "Extinct"
 1957
Box 1, Folders 39-42 Treasury Records
 1958-1994
Box 1, Folder 43 Treasurer Reports - Offerings
 1960-1971
Box 1, Folder 44 Treasurer Reports - Offerings
 1972-1999