Plans to close the Cathedral of St John the Divine
were announced in a recent Providence Journal article. The
last service to be held in this historic church is scheduled for April 22nd,
2012.
The cathedral, at 271 North Main Street on Providence's East Side, had its beginning way back in 1722 as King's Church. The church, in fact, was closed once before, the article states - when the congregation refused to pray for King George III during the American War for Independence!
The cathedral, at 271 North Main Street on Providence's East Side, had its beginning way back in 1722 as King's Church. The church, in fact, was closed once before, the article states - when the congregation refused to pray for King George III during the American War for Independence!
The 1810 building features the familiar square clock tower and belfry with spiky pinnacles above it, left. The Providence Preservation Society's site includes more architectural details.
The Journal article cites the church's outreach to the community (serving up a weekly meal for the homeless), as well as the diversity of its parish (including
40% of Liberian ancestry). The cathedral
is also the ecclesiastical seat of RI's Episcopal bishop. In summary, this
church is not only an historical landmark, and the Bishop's church, but also a community of faith that seems to be meeting needs and keeping up with changes in its community.
Yet, the article reports, there is just not enough revenue to maintain the old building. Let's hope the iconic tower remains on the horizon and, more importantly, that the congregation can find another home in which to worship if they truly have to vacate this beautiful old building.
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