History
The diocese was founded in 1790 by two clergy and five members of the laity, representatives of the four charter churches of the diocese, King's Church in Providence (1722), Trinity Church in Newport (1698), St. Paul's in North Kingstown (1707), and St. Michael's in Bristol (1720). [1] Without sufficient resources to support a bishop of their own, they elected Samuel Seabury, who was bishop of Connecticut, to hold the office of bishop of Rhode Island as well. Under Rhode Island's third bishop, Alexander Viets Griswold, the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island expanded from 200 communicants in four parishes to almost 2,000 in seventeen parishes. This growth continued under the next two bishops, John P. K. Henshaw and Thomas M. Clark, and this trend was supported by the immigration of many English Anglicans. By the end of the 19th century, the diocese had grown to 35 parishes.
In the first part of the 20th century, the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island focused on urban ministry with a focus on social concerns, led by Bishop William N. McVickar. The first deaconess was ordained in 1890, and from 1910 to 1914 the number of women serving in this position and ordained by Bishop James D. Perry had grown from one to seven. Under Perry and his successor, Gaylord G. Bennett, the number of parishes continued to grow.
From 1955 to 1972, the diocese was led by John Seville Higgins, who started campus ministries and a number of other missions. Bishop Frederick H. Belden led the church through the transitions occasioned by the ordination of women to the priesthood, ordaining Jo-Ann J. Drake to the transitional diaconate in 1977 and to the priesthood in 1978, (Patrica A. Smith, ordained deacon by Bishop Belden in 1976, continued her studies for the priesthood and was ordained in 1980) and adoption of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Belden was succeeded by George Hunt, who served as bishop from 1980 to 1994. Hunt led a crusade for accountability by the state government on the issues of corruption, organized crime and gambling. He also insisted that the process for ordination in the diocese not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. In 1996, Geralyn Wolf was consecrated, becoming one of the few women serving as a diocesan bishop.
There are a few parishes with a sizable percentage of African-American parishioners, and some congregations that have become the spiritual homes for people who have fled the civil war in Liberia. There is an active Spanish speaking congregation in Central Falls and another in Cranston. Most congregations make a point of openly welcoming gay and lesbian members.
The Diocese of Providence is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Rhode Island in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872.
Thomas Francis Hendricken was an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 1872 until his death in 1886.
Geralyn Wolf is an American bishop who was the twelfth diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church. Wolf was consecrated as bishop on February 17, 1996.
Russell Joseph McVinney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 1948 until his death in 1971.
The Church of the Holy Cross in Middletown, Rhode Island, is a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island of The Episcopal Church. The church is located at 1439 West Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. It is an early example of Richard Upjohn's work in translating Gothic architecture from stone to affordable designs for small, wooden churches. Built in 1845, Holy Cross Church exemplifies the architecture made accessible by the publication in 1852 of Upjohn's book, Rural Architecture. In its survey of Middletown's architectural resources, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission recommended the Church of the Holy Cross for inclusion in the National Register, along with Upjohn's more luxurious Italianate Hamilton Hoppin House.
William Augustine Hickey was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 1921 until his death in 1933.
Louis Edward Gélineau is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as bishop of the Diocese of Providence from 1972 to 1997.
Robert Edward Mulvee was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.
Matthew A. Harkins was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 1887 until his death in 1921.
Most Rev. Kenneth Anthony Angell was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Burlington in Vermont from 1992 to 2005. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 1974 to 1992.
St. Mary's Church, officially the Church of the Holy Name of Mary, Our Lady of the Isle, is a historic Catholic parish church complex at 14 William Street, the corner of Spring Street and Memorial Boulevard, in Newport, Rhode Island within the Diocese of Providence. It is the church of the oldest Catholic parish in the state. The church is also notable for hosting the wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier and Senator, later President, John F. Kennedy in 1953.
Ambrose J. Murphy (1869–1949) was an American architect whose practice was based in Providence Rhode Island. He was a specialist in ecclesiastical work and, in a career that spanned over 40 years, designed many buildings for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence Rhode Island and Fall River Massachusetts.
Robert Charles Evans is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 2009 to 2022.
William Neilson McVickar was the sixth Bishop of Rhode Island in The Episcopal Church.
Frederick Hesley Belden was the tenth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.
Michael Louis Vono was the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande.
David Bruce Joslin was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York from 1992 to 2000.
John Seville Higgins was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, serving from 1953 to 1954 as coadjutor and from 1955 to 1972 as diocesan.
Richard Garth Henning is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who became bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island in 2023.
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