St. Michael's Church (Pawtucket, RI)

The group of people who became the first congregation of St. Michael’s church first met in 1718 at the house of William Walker, at the intersection of Hope and High streets in Bristol, R.I. This group split from the local Congregational church at a time when the Rev. James MacSparren was the focus of controversy, and in 1720, the group petitioned the Bishop of London and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel for a rector.

The first Rector, James Orem, arrived in 1721 to find a church building almost complete, built on property at the intersection of Hope and Church streets, which was donated by Col. Henry Mackintosh . One year later, Orem accepted a chaplaincy with the Royal Navy, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Usher . During Usher’s tenure, the Vestry was established as the governing body of the church and money was raised to purchase a church bell.

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