Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/665

CHAPTER XXXIV S. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH THE town of Barrington, from the time of its incorpora- tion, in 1770, until 1858, contained but one religious Society, namely, the Congregational. It is reasonable to suppose that a Society which, during so many years, held the exclusive privilege of moulding the creed and worship of the townspeople, must have exerted a controlling influence over those religiously disposed, and that all efforts to introduce forms and theories of a different complexion would meet with difficulties almost insurmount- able. A few Episcopalians, however, residing chiefly in the south- ern portions of the town, seemed resolved to encounter those difficulties, and to establish a church, Apostolic in its min- istry, Scriptual in its mode of worship, and sound in the faith. Among those thus inclined were, Henry Staples, Allen Brown, Sterry Martin, Josiah N. Martin, Watson Ingraham, James A. Smith, George W. Mowry, Rufus Higgins, and others. Accordingly they met together, May 6, 1858, in the Barring- ton Railroad Station, to consider the expediency of forming an Episcopal Parish. Many were favorable to this movement, and the services of the Church were first performed at the Forest Chapel, east of the present railroad station, May 16, 1858, by the Rev. Eaton W. Maxcy, Jr., rector of S. Mark's, Warren. On the 25th of August the Church was organized, the con- stitution adopted, and Messrs. Nathaniel C. Smith, James A.