Providence, RI – This Spring the Community Church of Providence celebrates two hundred years of ministry and community service. Founded in 1805 as Second Baptist Church of Providence, the current multi-denominational congregation now represents 21 different Christian backgrounds.

"The mission to serve the people around us is still guiding our evolution," says Reverend Dr. Evan Howard, pastor of the Community Church of Providence.

In its current location on the East Side of Providence, the church remains home to what was in 1917, the largest landscape window ever made. Created in the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the huge stained glass window depicts water cascading through mountains and is based on a verse in the Psalms: "I will lift
up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." It was erected as a memorial to the late Frederick W. Hartwell.

To celebrate its rich history, the Community Church of Providence is planning a series of events:

Sunday, April 3^rd : Dr. Roy Medley, the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches, USA will speak as a guest preacher.

Saturday, April 30^th: The church will host a Bicentennial Banquet at the Johnson & Wales Inn in Seekonk, MA. It will feature the debut of a video documentary of the church and a message from a pastor from the 1960s, the Reverend Andrew Davison. The banquet is open to members of the public. The cost is $25.00 per person and starts at 6pm. Call 751-9328 for reservations.

Sunday, May 1^st: Founder’s Day Service celebration

Wednesday, May 18^th: Arun Ghandi, grandson of renowned Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and Founder and President of the M.K. Ghandi Insitute for Nonviolence will speak.

"We honor the Ghandi mission to promote peace and non-violence and welcome Arun Ghandi into our community to help further the voice of his grandfather who lives in history as one of the most influential leaders of all time," says Dr. Howard.

The people of Community Church are heirs of a tradition whose roots go back to Roger Williams, who first brought a passion for "soul liberty" to American religious life. 

"Two hundred years have seen many changes in the Church," says Dr. Howard. "At one time, music was prohibited in the Church service because it was seen as an instrument of Satan."

Today, in addition to ministering to spiritual needs in Providence, the Community Church of Providence has sponsored a mission group to the Dominican Republic for the past 11 years, is home to a community nursery school, and boasts a woman’s society which has knitted over 3000 hats for children in Romania.

As an East Side landmark, the church offers yearly Civil War tours that include the history of one of the church’s more prominent members, Elisha Hunt Rhodes, a Colonel in the Union Army. Rhodes was instrumental in constructing the current building which was designed in the early 20^th century Gothic Revival style. Inside the front door is embedded a portion of slate rock from where Roger Williams landed in 1636. 

The Community Church of Providence welcomes you to join them in worship. Services start at 10:30 AM each Sunday.

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