from
History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations
Albert J. Wright, Printer
No. 79 Mille Street, corner of Federal, Boston.
Hong, Wade & Co., Philadelphia
1878.
pp. 253 - 283. (part 131)
"Power Street Church, now called Hope Street Church, was established in the
latter part of the year 1832. A number of enterprising members united in
an effort which resulted in the erection of the Power Street Church. The
corner-stone of the edifice was laid in July, 1833, and the house was
completed and dedicated Jan. 1, 1834. The present membership is two
hundred and thirty-five.
Mathewson Street Church. During the year 1848, this church was organized
as the Third Methodist Church in Providence. Sunday, Oct. 1, 1848, this
congregation assembled for the first time, in the old Hoppin Hall, No. 33
Westminster Street. May 28, 1851, the new church was dedicated, and the
Rev. D. Patten was chosen pastor.
Broadway Methodist Church. In the month of April, 1850, a Sunday school
was organized, with William K. Thurber as superintendent, in an old
meeting-house on the corner of the Dean and Federal streets. Services were
held regularly each Sabbath evening, by the pastors of Chestnut, Power, and
Mathewson Street churches, until it seemed necessary to have a regular
pastor. The first board meeting was held April 28, 1851. In 1855, the
society hired the Wesleyan Methodist Church, corner of Fountain and
Franklin streets, and changed the name of the society from Federal Street
Mission to the Fourth Methodist Episcopal Church. The first services in
this church were held Sunday, April 22, 1855. In July, of the same year,
the society purchased the property, and in 1859 another lot was purchased
on Broadway, and the house removed. A new front was added, and other
improvements, so that the house presented all the appearance of a new
church. Since their removal to Broadway they have prospered, and the
society is now in a flourishing condition, the number of members being
about two hundred."
continued in part 132.