abstracted from
Italo-Americans of Rhode Island
An Historical and Biographical Survey of the Origin, Rise and
Progress of Rhode Islanders of Italian Birth or Descent
by Ubaldo U. M. Pesaturo, second edition
Visitor Printing Co., Providence, R.I.: Copyright, 1940
pp. 21 - 22.
"FIRST ITALIAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first Italian Baptist Church in the North End section, was
founded as early as 1897 by Giacomo Prata, Andrea Triangolo, Catello
Triangolo, Giovanni Triangolo, Domenico De Meo, Almerindo Volpe,
Elviro Volpe, Nicandro Campopiano.
The first edifice was built in 1902 on Marietta street. The present
edifice was built in 1925 on Charles street.
During these forty-three years of existence, the First Italian
Baptist Church has had nine pastors. The first pastor was Rev.
Vincenzo Di Domenica. He was followed by Rev. Raffaele Galasso, Rev.
Giovanni Allegri, Rev. Guiseppe Buggeli, Rev. Angelo Peruzzi, Rev.
Giovanni Di Tiberio, Rev. Francesco Cali, Rev. Francesco Sannella,
who came to Providence in 1924, resigned on May 31, 1939.
Rev. Sannella after a fruitful pastorate of fifteen years, resigned
on January 15, 1939, and was made pastor-emeritus by the
congregation. In addition to his church activities, for some time he
was editor of the English section of L'Aurora, national weekly
newspaper of the Italian Baptist Church in America.
Rev. Sannella's career has been a long and honorable one. Unselfish
devotion to his church has brought rich rewards in growth and
progress, and the congregation of the First Italian Baptist Church
acknowledges its debt to its retired beloved pastor.
In September, 1939, Rev. Sannella was succeeded by Rev. Arturo
Ventura, who comes from Waterbury, Conn., in which city he has ably
filled the pulpit of the Italian Baptist Church for twenty-two years.
He is beloved by his congregation, and highly esteemed by those
outside his church who are familiar with the work he is doing for his
countrymen.
The church has now a membership of more than 170 Italians, and a
Sunday School of 120 children of Italian parentage.
Miss Angela De Palma is church secretary; Domenico Di Meo, treasurer;
Miss Esther Di Meo, financial secretary; Catello Triangolo is
superintendent of the Sunday School; Allie Volpe, assistant
superintendent of the Sunday School; Agostino Capaldi is moderator.
Deacons: Catello Triangolo, Dr. Francesco Sannella, Pasquale Di Meo,
Gaetano Germani, Deaconesses: Mrs. Anita Triangolo, Mrs. Maria De
Cesare, Mrs. Vincenza Pratt, Miss Valia Volpe."