2001 -- H 6029

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LC00956
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H  O  U  S  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

HONORING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WATCH HILL CHAPEL

WHEREAS, It is with high esteem that we celebrate and honor the 125^th anniversary of the Watch Hill Chapel; and

WHEREAS, The Watch Hill Chapel has provided such a valuable contribution to the community and in fact has become an integral part of people's lives; and

WHEREAS, The Watch Hill Chapel society was organized September 1, 1875 with the purpose of building and maintaining a nondenominational chapel, as a means of Christian worship; and

WHEREAS, Following the adoption of initial bylaws, The Act of Incorporation was passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly, February 8, 1876. A board of trustees, originally seven in number, was elected at the first annual meeting of the society in August 1876; and

WHEREAS, At the time of the founding of the Chapel, Watch Hill, originally a farming and fishing community, was a thriving summer resort, with a number of large summer hotels, to which fashionable families vacationed from the major cities of the East Coast and the Mid-West; and

WHEREAS, In the years prior to the founding of the Chapel, informal worship services had been held in the hotels. The officiating clergy were invited from among the hotel guests irrespective of denominational affiliations; thus began the Chapel's tradition of nondenominational services. But as early as 1872 efforts were made to raise the funds necessary to build and furnish a permanent summer Chapel. It was, however, only in 1876 that the fledging society was in a position to engage George Keller of Hartford to design a structure which in the words of the subscription circular was "attractive and neat, but economical in structure"; and

WHEREAS, The resulting Chapel was a shingle-style English Gothic Revival building, the exterior of which was embellished with tracery and a spire. The interior, of natural unstained wood, had the appearance of the upturned hull of a ship. Windows, with interior shutters, were of clear glass on all four sides of the building. There was a single center aisle, and seating for 350 people was on straight chairs. Flanking the channel were two unique mottoes, which well expressed the spirit of the Chapel. In spite of the later changes to the building these mottoes remain. They are inscribed in gold lettering, on a cerulean blue background and read: The Church is many as the waves, but one as the Sea" and "In Essentials, Unity; In nonessentials, Liberty; in all things, charity," above the channel is the inscription: " One Lord, One Faith"; and

WHEREAS, A further enlargement was required in 1902, increasing the seating to the present capacity of 700. The addition could be accomplished only by the acquisition of additional land at the rear of the original lot. To provide the needed space, Howard Collins and Edward S. Brewer each deeded rights over adjoining property to the chapel society. At the same time, two aisles were added; fixed pews were introduced; and an organ was installed. On the exterior a second gabled portico was added; and

WHEREAS, Finally, in 1928, the exterior of the chapel assumed its present form. A white colonial columned porch replaced the earlier gabled porches; the roof line was changed; and the spire was replaced by a louvered cupola, topped by a weather vane in the shape of an arrow; and

WHEREAS, These, as well as other structural changes over the years were funded by contributions from the community; and

WHEREAS, Today, there are two regular Sunday services, during a season which begins in late June and ends in mid-September. Mass is celebrated at 8:30 a.m. under the direction of the Parish of Saint Clare, Misquamicut, RI. The nondenominational protestant service is held at 10:30 a.m. and as in the early days, is conducted by a variety of prominent clergy who are invited to preach and who come from many parts of the country and abroad. All 10:30 services begin with the singing of the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," The Doxology is sung at the Offertory, followed by the anthem, "America." A communion service is held at 10:30 a.m. on one Sunday in the middle of the season. At the closing service of the season a special "Closing Prayer" is said, and the congregation sings the hymn, "Til We Meet"; and

WHEREAS, Even in the honoring of it's 125^th year the chapel remains instrumental to the life of Watch Hill and the surrounding communities. It is indeed a treasure to the community; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby honors and joyfully celebrates the 125^th anniversary of the Watch Hill Chapel; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the trustees of the Watch Hill Chapel.