The West Exeter Baptist Church originated in 1858 as a branch of the West Greenwich Baptist Church and remained as such until 1878. Originally called the “Four Corners Meeting House,” it later was called the West Exeter Baptist Church. The meetinghouse was located at 2019 Ten Rod Road in Exeter, RI and was dedicated in 1860. The first settled clergyman was John Tillinghast (1870-1878). As a rural church, it always had a small membership, and by the 1930s and 1940s, it ceased to function and the meetinghouse went unused. When a lumber dealer sought to acquire the building for a store in the late 1950s, some local people got the Rhode Island State Convention to become involved in saving the meetinghouse. The church was declared “extinct” on August 2, 1957 by a decree of the Superior Court of Rhode Island, and its property was turned over to the Rhode Island State Convention. Services resumed in January 1958, but the congregation remained small. In the last decades the membership dwindled to about 20 people who were increasingly elderly. The congregation finally disbanded in December 2011.
This collection contains the records of the West Exeter Baptist Church dating from 1958-2011. The materials relate primarily to the administration of the church and include the Clerk's records, meeting minutes, treasurer's records and attendance records. The weekly Sunday bulletins printed for each service give detailed information on the religious services enjoyed by the congregants. This is part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection.
Arranged alphabetically.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
West Exeter Baptist Church records, Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection, Ms.2012.018, Brown University Library.
Gift of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center in 2012.
This collection forms part of the Rhode Island Baptist Heritage Center collection. See also: