Clarke Street Meeting House facts for kids
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Clarke Street Meeting House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Newport, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1735 |
| Architect | Palmer, Cotton |
| Part of | Newport Historic District (ID68000001) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000020 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1971 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 24, 1968 |
The Clarke Street Meeting House is a very old and important building in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built in 1735 and has been known by a few names, like the Second Congregational Church and the Central Baptist Church. Today, it is recognized as a historic place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of the Meeting House
Early Years and Ezra Stiles
The Clarke Street Meeting House was built in 1735. It first served as a place of worship for the Second Congregational Church. This church followed a type of Christian faith called Calvinism. From 1755 to 1786, a famous person named Ezra Stiles was the pastor, or minister, of this church. He lived in the Ezra Stiles House right across the street. Later, Ezra Stiles became the president of Yale College, a very well-known university.
The Revolutionary War Period
During the American Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1775 to 1783, British soldiers took over the meeting house. From 1776 to 1779, they used the building as a place for soldiers to live (a barracks) and as a hospital. This caused a lot of damage to the building. After the war, members of the Second Church asked John Adams for help. John Adams was a very important American leader who later became the second President of the United States. He was in Europe at the time. They hoped he could find churches there to help pay for repairs. However, Adams explained that he could not help because people in Europe had different ideas about asking for money. Even with these difficulties, the building was fixed up a lot in 1785.
Changes Over Time
The original church group eventually left the building. They joined with Newport's First Congregational Church to form the United Congregational Church. In 1835, the building was sold to this new combined church. Later, in 1847, a group called the Central Baptist Society bought the building. They made many changes to it. The church used to have a tall steeple, but it was blown down in the powerful 1938 hurricane.
In 1950, another church, St. Joseph's Church of Newport, bought the meeting house. They also made more updates to the building. The Clarke Street Meeting House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. Around the 1980s, the building was changed again, this time into apartments called condominiums.
Important People
Some notable people who were part of the church community at the Clarke Street Meeting House include:
- William Vernon: A successful merchant, which is someone who buys and sells goods.
- Henry Marchant: A judge for the U.S. District Court.
- William Ellery: A very important person who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Gallery
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An old picture from around 1879 showing the steeple, which was destroyed in the 1938 hurricane.
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The building after the 1938 hurricane, without its steeple.
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A view of the inside of the meeting house.
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The Clarke Street Meeting House on Clarke Street, next to the Artillery Company of Newport.
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See also
- United Congregational Church (disambiguation)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island
