Our History

1827 - Lippitt and Phenix Sabbath School Society established a sunday school in the neighborhood of Phenix, now part of West Warwick

1842 - Lippitt and Phenix Baptist Church is organized with Jonathan Brayton as pastor.  The services initially were held in the Elder Tatem Meeting House owned by the Methodist Church until they were able to build their own house of worship later in the year. The 36' by 48' building was erected on land donated by the Londsdale Manufacturing Company located on the South side of the highway leading into Phenix - this is now called Highland street. The church had a bell tower, an orchestra area, an organ, a vestry and 56 pews which were rented by the members in order to pay the pastor. It cost $1700 to build.

1850 - The name of the church is officially changed to Phenix Baptist Church by an act of the RI General Assembly.

1855 - A parsonage is built on Fairview Avenue for Rev. Benjamin Hedden, the pastor at this time.

1859 - The church decides they need a bigger building and received another gift of land from William Spencer, a local business man very active in the community. This is the land on which the church is currenlty located. The 1st church was sold to a Catholic priest for $1700. The vestry was completed in 1860, so meetings were held there until the church was completed 9 years later in 1869 at the cost of $23,579.73.

1885 - The pipe organ is installed.

1892 - The pew rental system is abolished

1905 - Electricity is added to the vestry and the Women's Mission Circle is formed

1908 - Electricity is added to the main auditorium.

1928 - The church is renovated and redecorated.  The organ is moved up onto right hand side of a platform.

1942 - The church's 100th anniversary is celebrated

1969 - Plans begin for a new church building.

1978 - The 3rd meetinghouse is completed.  This is the current building in which we serve and worship. Many things were salvaged from from the previous building and incorporated into this building -  the pews, the bell, which is located across from the front doors, a stained glass window that had been donated by the daughter of Mary Weaver Johnson, one of the charter members, the pipe organ, and the pulpit.