Six Principle Baptist Church (also known as Stony Lane Baptist Church, Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church and Old Baptist Meeting House) is a historic church in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. As of 2009 it was one of the last surviving historical congregations of the Six Principle Baptist denomination and one of the oldest churches in the United States.

Six Principle Baptist Church
Old Baptist Meeting House, sign states the congregation was established in 1665
Six Principle Baptist Church is located in Rhode Island
Six Principle Baptist Church
Six Principle Baptist Church is located in the United States
Six Principle Baptist Church
Location921 Old Baptist Road,
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°35′34″N 71°29′29″W / 41.59278°N 71.49139°W / 41.59278; -71.49139
Built1703
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.78000022[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 1978

History

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The cemetery and meeting house date to approximately 1703 when the land was deeded for use as meeting house.[2] General Six-Principle Baptists were a denomination that developed out of the First Baptist Church in America in Providence. Rhode Island founder Roger Williams was active in both Providence and nearby North Kingstown (Wickford) during this period. The permanent congregation in North Kingstown was likely founded after 1664 when Reverend Thomas Baker, a member of the Newport congregation, removed to North Kingstown.[3] The meeting house underwent major renovations in a Greek Revival style in 1842 although the original 18th century core of the building is believed to be present underneath the Greek Revival modifications.[4] The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[5] As of 2009 the church still holds weekly Sunday morning services at 10:30AM, and the pastor is John Wheeler.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ NRHP Nomination Form http://www.rihphc.state.ri.us/pdfs_zips_downloads/national_pdfs/north_kingstown/noki_old-baptist-road-85_stony-lane-baptist-church.pdf
  3. ^ Richard Knight, History of the General or Six Principle Baptists in Europe and America: in two parts (Smith and Parmenter, 1827) pg. 265 [1]
  4. ^ http://www.rihphc.state.ri.us/pdfs_zips_downloads/national_pdfs/north_kingstown/noki_old-baptist-road-85_stony-lane-baptist-church.pdf [dead link]
  5. ^ Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church 2009
  6. ^ Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church website, accessed 2009
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