Central Congregational Church (Providence, Rhode Island)

Central Congregational Church
Central Congregational Church

Location within the state of Rhode Island

41°49′44″N 71°23′45″W / 41.82889°N 71.39583°W
Location 296 Angell Street, Providence, RI
Country USA
Denomination United Church of Christ
Membership 661
Weekly attendance 300+
Website http://www.centralchurch.us/
History
Founded 1852
Architecture
Architect(s) Carrère and Hastings
Style Renaissance Revival
Completed 1893
Specifications
Capacity 1000
Clergy
Minister(s) Rev. Rebecca L. Spencer

Central Congregational Church is a United Church of Christ congregation established in 1852 in Providence, Rhode Island. The current church building at 296 Angell Street was built in 1893, designed by New York architectural firm Carrère and Hastings. It is part of the Stimson Avenue Historic District. The church has a long tradition of social and community work in the Providence area, the United States and around world.[1]

Architecture

Original church building on Benefit St., now RISD Memorial Hall

The Congregation outgrew its original Thomas Tefft-designed building on Benefit Street in the College Hill Historic District, and moved to its current location in the 1890s. The old building is now a part of the Rhode Island School of Design.[2] For the new building, architect Thomas Hastings and minister Edward C. Moore wanted to use the Renaissance style. The dome and vaulting of the current structure is of tiles by Rafael Guastavino. The apse decoration is by Herman T. Schladermundt of New York. The stained glass windows were designed by Jacob Holzer with work by the Duffner and Kimberly Company.[3]

Organ

The current Aeolian-Skinner organ was installed in 1965, containing four divisions, 58 ranks and a total of 3,456 pipes. It was restored in 2009.[4]

Senior ministers

Church activities

The church supported the founding of the first Cape Verdean Protestant church in America, now called Sheldon Street Church.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ John S. Chaney. "A Brief History of Central Church". Retrieved on 25 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Ness, R. (12 November 2013). "Thomas Alexander Tefft: Architect Extraordinaire". Brown University Library. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Jordy, William H. et al. "Central Congregational Church". Society of Architectural Historians: Archipedia. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Central Congregational Church, Providence, RI". Spencer Organ Company. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Soares, Sylvia Anne (24 April 2013). "Kerosene Lamp Church, the mission of Manuel Ricardo Martin and Central Congregational Church". Retrieved 16 March 2015.

External links