St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church, Providence


University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2007

Collection Overview

Title: St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church, Providence
Date range: 1891-1986
Creator: St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church (Providence)
Extent: 20 box(es)
(10 linear feet)
Abstract: St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Providence, Rhode Island was incorporated in 1972 by the merger of St. Peter's Church of Manton (Johnston) and St. Andrew's Church of Providence. Prior to the merger, both churches had long histories as separate parishes. St. Peter's Church was established as a mission church in the Manton section of Johnston in 1842. St. Andrew's was originally established as a missionary church.
Language of materials: English
Repository: University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number: Mss. Gr. 87

Scope & content

This Register describes the records of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Providence, Rhode Island. The records were transferred from the church to the Special Collections Department of the University of Rhode Island Library in 1990. The records are in generally good physical condition. A few items show the effects of water or fire damage, probably incurred during the destruction of St. Peter's Church by fire in 1971.

St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church was established in 1972 by the merger of St. Peter's Church of Manton (Johnston) and St. Andrew's Church of Providence. The majority of the records in this collection were generated by the merged parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's . There are some records in the collection which pre-date the 1972 merger and were created by either of the parishes. The records are arranged by subject and it is possible to find records of all three parishes under one subject heading. In Series III, the parish registers are arranged by specific parish.

Arrangement

After processing, the records were organized into six series as follows:

  • 1. Subject Files, 1899-1986
  • 2. Financial Records, 1900-1907
  • 3. Parish Registers, 1891-1971
  • 4. Church Bulletins, 1972-1986
  • 5. Photographs, 1902-1977
  • 6. Memorabilia, 1960-1975

Historical Information

St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of
Providence, Rhode Island was incorporated in 1972 by the merger of St. Peter's Church of Manton
(Johnston) and St. Andrew's Church of Providence
. Both parishes for some time prior to the merger had been suffering from financial problems and declining membership and had been encouraged to merge by the Bishop. A formal merger agreement was signed on December 31, 1971. The newly created parish headquarters was established at St. Andrew's Church and the charter for St. Peter's was amended to form the new parish. St. Andrew's Church ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity.

Prior to the merger, both churches had long histories as separate parishes. St. Peter's Church was established as a mission church in the Manton section of Johnston in 1842. Services were held in an old schoolhouse until 1846 when the first of three churches to bear the name of St. Peter's was built on land donated by a family from the parish. The modest wooden church was replaced by a more substantial stone edifice in 1857. This structure was destroyed by fire in 1936 and another church was built on the site within a year of the fire.

St. Peter's also suffered from continuous financial difficulties. Twice it had become what is known as an "aided parish," i.e., a parish which receives financial aid from the diocese. It also regularly lost parishioners to other parishes. For many years, the parish was forced to share a minister with other parishes which reduced the number of services.

St. Andrew's was originally established as a missionary church. Beginning in 1890, the Church held services in the Odd Fellows Hall on
Academy Avenue in Providence. Two years later a church was erected on Pomona Avenue in Providence. St. Andrew's also suffered from the financial problems and declining membership in the 1950's and 1960's. It also became an aided parish of the diocese in the mid-1960's.

In 1970, Bishop John Seville Higgins ordered St. Peter's to begin merger discussions with St. Andrew's Church of Providence. As these negotiations were entering their final stage, a fire destroyed the interior of St. Peter's Church in November, 1971 and accelerated the merger discussion. The negotiations were successful and the two parishes signed a merger agreement on December 31, 1971.

St. Peter's Church was demolished, but an open air chapel was operated on the site for several years. The land on which St. Peter's Church had stood was deconsecrated in 1977. The headquarters of the newly created parish was established at the former St. Andrew's Church in Providence.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: Open for research.
Use of the materials: Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation: St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church, Providence, Mss. Gr. 87, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information: University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The records were transferred from the church to the Special Collections Department of the University of Rhode Island Library in 1990.
Custodial history: Custodial HistoryPrior to their transfer, the records were held by St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Providence.
Processing information: The collection was processed in 1990.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Special Collections Staff.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Russell M.Franks on 2007 July 29, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2009 September 2, updated by Mark Dionne on2020 May 04
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: See Mss. Gr. 41, Records of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, 1715-1990, and Mss. Gr. 41.1, Records of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, 1810-2003, for additional related materials regarding St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church.
Separated material: There are no known separate materials.

Inventory


Inventory

Series 1. Subject Files, 1899-1986 [1971-1986]
10 box(es)
(5 linear feet)

The Subject Files series contains the general administrative records of the parish. Included are correspondence, annual reports, minutes of annual meetings, minutes of vestry and corporation meetings, printed histories of the parish, parochial reports, lists of parishioners, mortgages, and deeds. Although the large majority of the records in this series were generated by the merged parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's, there are some records in the series which pre-date the 1972 merger and were created by one of the two parishes. The records are arranged by the subject and it is possible to find records of all three parishes under one subject heading. In all other cases, the records of the two churches prior to 1972 have been identified under the appropriate folder title. Subjects treated in this series include annual meetings, annual reports, guidelines for acolytes, the by-laws and constitution, Diocesan Conventions and Councils, newsletters, renovations to the church, and meetings of the Vestry and Corporation. The minutes of Vestry and Corporation
meetings reveal the struggle of the two separate parishes to survive in the face of financial difficulties and a sharp decline in the number of parishioners. The materials relating to the merger document the process which led to the creation of the combined parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church from the two separate parishes of St. Peter's Church and St. Andrew's Church.

Arrangement:

The records in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within folders.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Acolyte: Guidelines
undated
Box 1, Folder 2 Ad Clerum (Diocesan Newsletter)
1970-1981
Box 1, Folder 3 Annual Meetings, Minutes of
1960, 1974-1986 scattered
Box 1, Folder 4 Annual Reports
1963-1970
Box 1, Folder 5 Annual Reports
1971-1975
Box 1, Folder 6 Annual Reports
1976-1986, scattered
Box 1, Folder 7 Bishops Committee
Meetings: Minutes of
1959 Dec-1961 Dec, 1964-1965
Box 1, Folder 8 Bishops Committee Meetings: Minutes of
1966-1971
Box 1, Folder 9 Blueprints of St. Peter's: Restoration of Chancel
undated
Box 1, Folder 9A Book of Common Prayer: Easter. See: Oversize
1912
Box 1, Folder 10 Building Fund Pledges
undated
Box 2, Folder 11 By-Laws
1974, undated
Box 2, Folder 12 Calvary Church
,
Stonington, CT
undated
Box 2, Folder 13 Canons
1970-1972, 1980
Box 2, Folder 14 Catalog of St. Peter's Sunday School Library

2004 Jun 1
Box 2, Folder 15 Centennial Program
, St. Peter's
1943
Box 2, Folder 16 Chaplaincy
1967-1975
Box 2, Folder 17 Church Interior, Renovations of
1972-1977
Box 2, Folder 18 Church Services, Records of
undated
Box 2, Folder 19 Church School

undated
Box 2, Folder 20 Clergy Evaluation Form
undated
Box 2, Folder 21 Confirmation Schedules
1973, 1976-1987
Box 2, Folder 22 Consecration Service of Bishop Belden
1971 Sep 25
Box 2, Folder 23 Constitution, Revised: St. Peter's
1946 Jan 28
Box 2, Folder 24 Correspondence: Bishops
1973-1986
Box 2, Folder 25 Death and Grief
1972-1982 scattered
Box 2, Folder 26 Diocesan Convention

1981-1982
Box 3, Folder 27 Diocesan Convention
1983-1985
Box 3, Folder 28 Diocesan Council
: Correspondence
1971-1985 scattered
Box 3, Folder 29 Diocesan Council: Meetings of
1971-1974
Box 3, Folder 30 Diocesan Council: Meetings of
1975-1979
Box 3, Folder 31 Diocesan Council: Meetings of
1980-1986
Box 3, Folder 32 Elderly Housing Project

1981-1982
Box 3, Folder 33 Episcopal Charities
1982, 1986 Aug 13
Box 3, Folder 34 Ethics
undated
Box 4, Folder 35 Greetings from St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
1972?
Box 4, Folder 36 Home Prayer Scripture Readings
1986
Box 4, Folder 37 Inventories
1938, 1955, 1971, 1983, undated
Box 4, Folder 38 Lesson and Carol Services
1969, 1973, 1976
Box 4, Folder 39 Memorials
1972-1973, undated
Box 4, Folder 40 Men's Community Club
, Meetings of St. Peter's
1919?-1953?
Box 4, Folder 41 Merger of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
1970-1974, undated
Box 4, Folder 42 Music Recitals
1977-1978, undated
Box 4, Folder 43 Music Recitals: Scrapbook
1977-1978
Box 4, Folder 44 Music Recitals: Scrapbook
1978-1981
Box 5, Folder 45 News Clippings
1936-1984 scattered, undated
Box 5, Folder 46 Newsletters
1965, 1971-1976
Box 5, Folder 47 Newsletters
1977-1980
Box 5, Folder 48 Newsletters
1980-1986
Box 5, Folder 49 Newsletters and Brochures
1983-1984, undated
Box 5, Folder 50 One Hundred Years, 1842-1943 A History of St. Peter's Church
1943
Box 5, Folder 51 Ordination Guidelines
1973, 1977, 1981
Box 6, Folder 52 Organ Recitals. See also: Music Recitals
1977, undated
Box 6, Folder 53 Parish Biography
1980?
Box 6, Folder 54 Parish Clergy, List of
1975
Box 6, Folder 55 Parish House Renovation
1971, undated
Box 6, Folder 56 Parish Profile: History of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church
1986
Box 6, Folder 57 Parishioners: Correspondence
1974, 1981-1986
Box 6, Folder 58 Parishioners: List of
1964-1980 scattered
Box 6, Folder 59 Parochial Reports
1941-1956, 1959
Box 6, Folder 60 Parochial Reports
1964-1972
Box 6, Folder 61 Parochial Reports
1973, 1975-1984, 1986
Box 7, Folder 62 Pastoral Letters
1967-1986 scattered
Box 7, Folder 63 Philippines Mission Project

1975-1977, undated
Box 7, Folder 64 Pledge Drives
1978-1985 scattered
Box 7, Folder 65 Postulancy and Candidacy
1985-1986
Box 7, Folder 66 Quotas and Apportionments
1979-1982, 1985, undated
Box 8, Folder 67 Real Estate: Mortgages and Deeds
1904, 1973-1977, undated
Box 8, Folder 68 Rededication Service of the Nave and Organ: Program
1977
Box 8, Folder 69 Register of Church Services: St. Peter's
1929 Jul 7, 1939 Feb 19
Box 8, Folder 70 Sexton's Weekly Work Sheet
undated
Box 8, Folder 71 Special Area Study
1972
Box 8, Folder 72 Termite Control Program

1970-1971
Box 8, Folder 73 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's
1920 Apr 19-1953 Jan
Box 9, Folder 74 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's
1953-1957, 1959
Box 9, Folder 75 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Peter's
1913 Mar 24-1943 Feb 24
Box 9, Folder 76 Vestry/Corporation
Meetings: St. Andrew's and St. Peter's
1943 Mar 17-1970 Jan 27
Box 9, Folder 77 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's and St. Peter's
1971 Jul-1972 Dec
Box 10, Folder 78 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St Andrew's and St. Peter's
1973
Box 10, Folder 79 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Andrew's and St. Peter's
1974-1978
Box 10, Folder 80 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
1978-1981
Box 10, Folder 81 Vestry/Corporation Meetings: St. Peter's and St. Andrew's
1982-1985
Box 10, Folder 82 Wedding Guidelines
1970-1971, 1985, undated
Box 10, Folder 83 Wills and Bequests
1899, 1959, 1977, 1970
Box 10, Folder 84 Miscellaneous
1928, 1978-1986 scattered

Series 2. Financial Records, 1900-1907 [1958-1986]
4 box(es)
(2 linear feet)

This series consists of financial records documenting the fiscal activity of the two separate parishes and the later combined parish. Although the majority of the records in this series were generated by the combined parish of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's, there are some fiscal records which predate the 1972 merger of the two parishes. No attempt has been made to distinguish among the records of the two pre-merger parishes and the new parish created by the merger. Records for all three are intermingled by the subject or type of record in the appropriately labeled folders (e.g., Treasurer's Reports).

Included among the records are audits, bank statements, bills and receipts, correspondence, cancelled checks, leases, pledges, and subscriptions, and annual and monthly treasurer's reports. Also included are records relating to the parish's rental property. The parish owned apartments which it rented in order to supplement its income. The folders labeled "Rental Property" document these activities.

Arrangement:

The records in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of record and chronologically within folders.

Container Description Date
Box 11, Folder 1 Audits
1966-1974, 1979, undated
Box 11, Folder 2 Bank Statements: Hospital Trust
1986
Box 11, Folder 3 Bank Statements: People's Bank

1986
Box 11, Folder 4 Bills and Receipts
1986 Jan-1986 Apr, 1986 May-1986 Aug
Box 11, Folder 5 Bills and Receipts
1986 Sep-1986 Dec
Box 11, Folder 6 Cancelled Checks: People's Bank
1986
Box 11, Folder 7 Cash Receipts and Disbursements
1986
Box 12, Folder 8 Charitable Pledges
1968 Mar 1
Box 12, Folder 9 Check Register: Old Stone Bank

1986
Box 12, Folder 10 Check Register: People's Bank

1986
Box 12, Folder 11 Contracts: Music
undated
Box 12, Folder 12 Contracts: Videotape
1981-1982
Box 12, Folder 13 Fundraising Events
1985
Box 12, Folder 14 Pledges and Subscriptions: St. Peter's Church
1900-1907
Box 12, Folder 15 Rental Property: Bills and Receipts
1985-1986
Box 12, Folder 16 Rental Property: Correspondence
1982-1986
Box 12, Folder 17 Rental Property: Laws Relating to
1970-1983 scattered
Box 12, Folder 18 Rental Property: Leases
1981-1986
Box 13, Folder 19 Rental Property Account: Bank Statements
1986
Box 13, Folder 20 Rental Property Cancelled Checks
1986
Box 13, Folder 21 St. Peter's Church School
: Bank Statements
1958
Box 13, Folder 22 St. Peter's Church School: Financial Reports
1958-1959
Box 13, Folder 23 Salaries: Clergy Salaries
1963, 1972-1983 scattered
Box 13, Folder 24 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1958-1960
Box 13, Folder 25 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1961-1963
Box 13, Folder 26 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1964-1966
Box 13, Folder 27 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1967-1971
Box 14, Folder 28 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1972-1974
Box 14, Folder 29 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1975-1976
Box 14, Folder 30 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1977-1978
Box 14, Folder 31 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1979-1980
Box 14, Folder 32 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1981-1982
Box 14, Folder 33 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1983
Box 14, Folder 34 Treasurer's Annual and Monthly Reports
1984-1985
Box 14, Folder 35 U.S. Government
: Internal Revenue Tax Exemption
1980-1982

Series 3. Parish Registers, 1891-1971
2 box(es)
(1 linear feet)

This series consists of baptism, confirmation, marriage, and burial registers for the separate parishes of St. Peter's Church of Manton, and St. Andrews Church of Providence. Registers for the combined parish are located at the St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church. The registers provide quite detailed information. For example, the marriage registers lists the names, ages, residence, parents, and prior marital status (e.g., bachelor, widower, maiden, widow) of the prospective bride and groom. The burial registers, in addition to listing the name and age at death of the deceased, also list the cause of death.

Arrangement:

The registers are divided by parish and then arranged alphabetically by the type of the register for each parish.

Container Description Date
Box 15, Folder 1 St. Andrew's
: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
1891-1899
Box 15, Folder 2 St. Andrew's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
1897-1914
Box 15, Folder 3 St. Andrew's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages. See: Oversize
1912-1923
Box 15, Folder 4 St. Andrew's: Marriages
1920 Jan 14-1945 Jan 27
Box 16, Folder 5 St. Andrew's: Marriages
1971 Feb 27-1971 Dec 27
Box 16, Folder 6 St. Peter's
: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
1897 Aug 22-1908 Apr 5
Box 16, Folder 7 St. Peter's: Baptisms, Burials, Confirmations, Marriages
1908 Apr 12-1925 Jul 18
Box 16, Folder 8 St. Peter's: Marriages
1971 Nov 6

Series 4. Church Bulletins, 1972-1986
2 box(es)
(2 linear feet)

This series contains the bulletins issued by St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for their weekly services, as well as bulletins for special services such as Easter and Christmas. The bulletins contain schedules for church services, announcements of events, requests for prayers, and communications from the diocese. Only bulletins from the combined parish are represented in this series. Bulletins from the previously separate parishes were not included among the records transferred to Special Collections.

Arrangement:

The weekly bulletins are arranged chronologically. Bulletins for special services were grouped together under the folder title of "Christmas - Easter" and placed at the beginning of the series.

Container Description Date
Box 17, Folder 1 Christmas/Easter
1972-1986
Box 17, Folder 2 Weekly Bulletin
1972
Box 17, Folder 3 Weekly Bulletin
1973
Box 17, Folder 4 Weekly Bulletin
1974
Box 17, Folder 5 Weekly Bulletin
1975
Box 17, Folder 6 Weekly Bulletin
1976
Box 17, Folder 7 Weekly Bulletin
1977
Box 18, Folder 8 Weekly Bulletin
1978
Box 18, Folder 9 Weekly Bulletin
1979
Box 18, Folder 10 Weekly Bulletin
1980
Box 18, Folder 11 Weekly Bulletin
1981
Box 18, Folder 12 Weekly Bulletin
1982
Box 18, Folder 13 Weekly Bulletin
1983
Box 18, Folder 14 Weekly Bulletin
1984-1986

Series 5. Photographs, 1902-1977
1 box(es)
(0.5 linear feet)

The photograph series contains about 200 color and black and white photographs documenting events and people in the history of St. Peter's Church, St. Andrew's Church and St. Peter's and Andrew's Church. The photographs are unidentified and have been organized into broad categories (e.g. building exteriors, building interiors, people in groups, social events).

Arrangement:

The photographs are arranged alphabetically by category.

Container Description Date
Box 19, Folder 1 Buildings: Exterior
undated
Box 19, Folder 2 Buildings: Interior
undated
Box 19, Folder 3 Choir and Clergy Entering the Church
undated
Box 19, Folder 4 Fire Damage and Reconstruction: St. Peter's Church
1936?
Box 19, Folder 5 Garden Chapel: St. Peter's
undated
Box 19, Folder 6 Organ. See: Oversize
undated
Box 19, Folder 7 People in Groups
1902, undated
Box 19, Folder 8 St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Church: Pen and Ink Sketch
1977
Box 19, Folder 9 Social Events
undated

Series 6. Memorabilia, 1960-1975
1 box(es)
(0.5 linear feet)

The Memorabilia series consists of dedicatory/memorial plaques and four printer's engravings used in illustrating church publications.

Arrangement:

There is no particular arrangement to this series.