Providence, R.I. Elmwood Christian Church records, 1834-1955.

Collection

Identifier: RG5545

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the records of Elwood Christian Church, In Providence, Rhode Island, and the two churches that merged to form it: The Broad Street Christian Church and the Elwood Temple Congregational Church. The collection includes vital membership records, church records and meeting minutes, legal documents, a pew plan, programs, and clippings.

Dates

1834-1955

Creator

Elmwood Christian Church (Providence, R.I.) (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

Restrictions on Use

Items in this collection are subject to U.S. Copyright Law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of collection items and to secure any permissions necessary for their reproduction and publication. Requests for permission to publish material must be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

Historical Note

A Christian Connection church was gathered in 1834 in Providence, Rhode Island. By 1841, the church had a building on Pawtuxet street and was known as the Pawtuxet Street Christian Church. Around 1871, the church moved to a new building on Broad Street and was thereafter known as the Broad Street Christian Church.

The Elmwood Congregational Church, built along Elmwood Avenue, was gathered in 1851 in Cranston, Rhode Island, before moving a short distance North to Providence in 1854. The church reformed as the Elmwood Temple Congregational Church in 1895.

In 1912, the Broad Street Christian Church and the Elmwood Congregational Church merged to form the Elmwood Christian Church. The Broad Street church building was sold and the money was used to build a new church building along Elmwood Avenue. The new building was an English Tudor Revival-style building designed by local architect Gorham Henshaw and construction on the building was completed in 1915. At first, the Elmwood Christian Church was solely a part of the Christian denomination, but by 1934, after the 1931 merger of the Christian and Congregational denominations, the church identified itself as “Congregational-Christian.” The church closed between 1954 and 1955. The building has remained a church ever since, first serving as a home to a Presbyterian congregation, then as a home for the Providence Assembly of God, and now as the home for the Impact Center Providence church.

Extent

0.88 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

A Christian Connection church was gathered in 1834 in Providence, Rhode Island, and by 1871 it was known as the Broad Street Christian Church. The Elmwood Congregational Church was first gathered in 1851 and in 1895 it was reformed as the Elmwood Temple Congregational Church in Providence. In 1912, the two churches merged to form the Elmwood Christian Church. The church closed in 1955. This collection includes vital membership records, church records and meeting minutes, legal documents, and programs.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into the three series listed below. Materials within each series have been arranged into chronological order by start date.

Series 1: Broad Street Christian Church records, 1834-1882

Series 2: Elmwood Temple Congregational Church records, 1895-1912

Series 3: Elmwood Christian Church records, 1912-1955

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated to the Congregational Library & Archives by the Rhode Island Conference of the United Church of Christ in April 1984; no accession number.