Church of the Advent (Pawtucket, R.I.)

In 1877 a group of German immigrants desired a Christian education for their children and set up a church school through the Society of Friends in Pawtucket, Rhode Island . With the aid of a member of a Litany Society, Mr. Thomas J. Battey, The Lincoln Street Bible School opened on December 2, 1877 at No. 24 Lincoln St. The school prospered under the direction of two librarians, eight teachers and Brown University student, Fred J. Walton . Walton acted as superintendent to the school.

In May 1880 a patron, Mrs. Harriet Read Armstrong suggested that the church school became affiliated with St. Paul's Episcopal Church and its Rector, Emory H. Porter took charge. The transfer took place on Advent and the church school's name became the Episcopal Mission of the Advent . In 1884 the Mission was allowed to meet in the vacant Taylor’s Store located at Pawtucket Ave. and Main St. until the store space was rented. The Mission then met at the Pidge Avenue School for a brief time until John L. Ross leased his land for free on the condition that the congregants secured funding to build a permanent chapel. The chapel was built on the corner of Pawtucket and Trenton St. and held its first service in December of 1884.

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