2014 -- H 8309

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LC005913

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF ST. MARY'S

CHURCH IN WEST WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Ackerman, Nunes, Morgan, and McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It has been known by several names in its long history, but St. Mary's

Church has been a mainstay in the tiny village of Crompton, in the Town of West Warwick for

the past 170 years; and

     WHEREAS, By 1844, the Irish settlers of Crompton had grown tired of the ten mile trek

to Providence for Catholic Mass.  Mary Doran, the wife of a printer in the Crompton Print Works

purchased an acre of land and donated it to Father Fitton for the purposes of building a church.

The cornerstone for the church was laid on October 15, 1844 and a small church was built upon

it.  The Irish of the Pawtuxet Valley finally had a church of their own; and

     WHEREAS, The church started out as a mission church served by priests from the

Cathedral in Providence.  The church became a separate parish and was renamed St. Mary's under

its first Pastor the Rev. Daniel Kelly in 1850.  Less than a year later, the Reverend James P.

Gibson came to St. Mary's.  Under Father Gibson, the transepts and sanctuary were added in

1856; giving the church its distinctive cross shape.  The church's bell tower was added in

1859.  Reverend Gibson served until his death in 1892, and is buried adjacent to the church; and 

     WHEREAS, After Father Gibson's death, the church was once again a mission church for

traveling Catholic priests from Providence.  On August 6, 1926, the church was devastated by

fire.  The church was re-opened on Easter Sunday, 1927.  In 1946, the church was returned to

parish status and Rev. Barton Daggett was appointed pastor; and

     WHEREAS, The church continued to grow spiritually, although the building itself had

suffered the ravages of time.  In 1978, the church's 133rd year, the parish undertook the task of

planning and funding an extensive renovation.  Work on the project began in April of 1980.  The

structure was lifted and moved while a new foundation was built.  After returning the building to

its original location, interior renovations revealed evidence of previous fires.  After the

renovation, the building was rededicated on January 25, 1981, by Bishop Louis Gelineau.  In

1994, St. Mary's held its 150th Anniversary Celebration; and

     WHEREAS, Today's parishioners are acutely aware of the history of their church.  St.

Mary's and the adjacent St. Mary's Cemetery are now entered on the National Register of Historic

Places.  From high atop the hill, the church looks over the village of Crompton and the other

villages that would eventually become the Town of West Warwick; and

     WHEREAS, Most of the original parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are buried

behind the church.  Many of their gravestones indicate their Irish birth places.  Among their

graves are the graves of Mary Doran and Father Gibson.  There are also the graves of those who

have served our country, and the graves of thousands of other parishioners that have found their

way to this little building on Church Street; now, therefore be it   

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby joins the parishioners of St. Mary's in celebrating the 170th

Anniversary of their church. May she continue to serve as the Mother Church of the Pawtuxet

Valley and may she continue to grow with her 18th generation of parishioners from this day forth;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Rev. Paul Reynolds,

and Rev. Douglas Spina, and Richard S. Hughes.

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