Kingston Congregational Church (Mss. Gr. 169)

The records are arranged into Subject Series and measure .75 linear feet. It appears many materials were gathered during the 250th Anniversary of the church (1945). Those interested in the Church’s past will find much information contained within the "History" folders in this collection. A 1945 letter from Mrs. Susan Bacon Keith to Carl Woodward regarding the history of the church building is also in the History folder. These folders include information on former pastors, the Pettaquamscutt Purchase and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. The history of Kingston Congregational Church was celebrated in a 250th Pageant and the original 1945 narrative, menu and program survive. Newspaper clippings of this event, as well as others from 1934-1957, are included in the folder on publicity. Many clippings are from the student newspaper, The Beacon, and the Providence Sunday Journal. (Dates include 1934, 1936, 1945, 1957).

The financial, educational, pastoral and missionary stance of the church from 1944 to 1968 is discernible in the of Annual Reports. (Available years include 1944-46, 1950-52, 1954 and 1956-68). The Constitution and By-Laws provide information on the name, purpose, policy, property and committees of the Kingston Congregational Church. The folder on Committee Officers and Reports includes information from the Loyalty Committee of 1944 and the Building Committee of 1960. Directories provide names and contact information on some of the former church officials and members (from 1956-57, 1961). Proposed annual budgets from 1945-47, 1958, 1960 and 1967 are also in these records.

Among the newsletters are copies of The Spire, Kingston Congregational Church’s monthly newsletter from 1954-1963 (incomplete?). Programs of church services from 1921-1968 can be found. Not all the services from each year are represented. Some special programs such as one commemorating the Service of Recognition for Reverend John D. Beck, 1954 are extant. The folder of sermons, vespers and hymns includes Thanksgiving vespers and hymns as well as sermons given by Rev. Stephen Yale (1965) and Rev. Kenneth B. Wentzel (1968).

The records are in good condition and are available for research.