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 way back in 1735. This historic building has been known by a few names, like the Second Congregational Church and the Central Baptist Church. Today, it is recognized as a special landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
What is the Clarke Street Meeting House?
The Clarke Street Meeting House was first built as a place for people to gather and worship. It served as a church for a group called the Second Congregational Church. This church followed a type of Christian faith known as Calvinism. The building is located at 13–17 Clarke Street in Newport.
Who was Ezra Stiles?
From 1755 to 1786, a famous person named Ezra Stiles was the minister for the church. He even lived right across the street from the meeting house. Later, he became the president of Yale College, a very well-known university.
How did the American Revolutionary War affect the building?
During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers took over the meeting house. From 1776 to 1779, they used it as a place for soldiers to sleep and as a hospital. This caused a lot of damage to the building. After the war, the church members asked John Adams, who would later become president, for help. They wanted to fix the church, but he couldn't find help in Europe. Even so, the building was repaired in 1785.
What happened to the church over time?
The original church group eventually left the building. They joined with another church to form the United Congregational Church. In 1835, they sold the Clarke Street Meeting House.
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 a big storm called the 1938 hurricane.
In 1950, St. Joseph's Church of Newport bought the meeting house. They also made more changes to the building. The Clarke Street Meeting House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Around the 1980s, the building was changed again, this time into apartments called condominiums.
Who were some important people connected to the church?
Many notable people were part of the church community at the Clarke Street Meeting House.
- William Vernon: A well-known merchant.
- Henry Marchant: A judge for the U.S. District Court.
- William Ellery: One of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Images for kids
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An old picture from around 1879 showing the steeple before it was destroyed in the 1938 hurricane.
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The building after the 1938 hurricane.
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A look at the inside of the meeting house.
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The 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
