Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/666

 544 THE HISTORY OP BARRINGTON. Smith, Luther Martin, Otis G. Harris, and William H. Cook were elected vestrymen. Sept. 1 8, J 85 8, the ground was broken for the erection of a brick church, upon a lot bought of Mr. James Maxfield, and on the 25th of the same month, the Rev. George W. Hatha- way was chosen rector, Mr. Hathaway, however, declined the call. On Dec. 16, 1858, the Rev^. Francis J.Warner, a graduate of Union College, N. Y., was invited to fill that office, which offer he accepted. On the same date Mr. Henry Staples was chosen Senior Warden, and Mr. William J. Bowen, Junior Warden. The church edifice having been completed Jan. 5, 1859, the first service was held in it January 9, and on January 12, the consecration rites were performed by the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. Clark, D. D., LL. D., assisted by the Rev. Eaton W. Maxcy, Jr., of S. Mark's, Warren ; the Rev. Wil- liam Stow, of S. Michael's, Bristol ; the Rev. William H. Mills, of the Church of the Messiah, Providence ; the Rev. Henry Waterman, of S. Stephen's, Providence ; the Rev. Edward Cowley, of Christ Church, Lonsdale ; the Rev. B. P. Talbot, of S, James's, Woonsocket ; the Rev. Benjamin B. Babbitt, formerly of the Church of the Messiah, Provi- dence ; the Rev. Daniel LeBaron Goodwin, city missionary of Providence, and the Rev. Frances J. Warner, rector of the parish. It is recorded that although the weather was intensely cold, many strangers were present, and forty-five partook of the Holy Communion. The cost of the church, exclusive of the grounds, sheds, fences, and fixtures, was about $4,000, of which one-third was given in Providence, about one-fifth by friends in Bar- rington, and the remainder was collected in Warren, New- port, Bristol, North Providence, and Dorchester. The first baptisms were those of Mrs. Ellen Augusta Martin, Mrs. Ann Eliza Higgins, Miss Sarah Bowen Smith, and Miss Laura Maria Gifford on Easter Day, 1859.