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In 1849, the Riverpoint Congregational Church was constructed on the banks of the Pawtucket River in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The robust mill village was thriving from the manufacturing of textiles. Fruit of the Loom was located in the Royal Mills just down the street along with other brand names. Houses were built up and down Providence Street, the street which the church faces. They lodged the employees of the mill complex. The congregation of the Riverpoint Congregational Church did not anticipate the decline of the mill-based economy.
Both founded in 1849, Riverpoint Congregational Church and The Congregationalist are 155 years old.
Now, like most mill villages in new England, West Warwick is faced with abandoned mill buildings, a declining economy and Providence Street now houses those from other faiths. In the middle of this changing community sits the Riverpoint Congregational Church. Change is difficult for churches. A majority of churches do not prepare for change, and, consequently, react only after change has occurred. We play catch up decade after decade.
The history of years is recorded through the sixteen ornate stained glass windows of the sanctuary. The triumphant entry, the resurrection, the prodigal son, the great shepherd, are told through these works of art. Names of doctors, lawyers, and merchants are engraved on each one.
Today the church still meets every Sunday. The original pipe organ rings throughout the two-hundred seat capacity sanctuary which sees ten or fifteen on Sunday morning. The church bell sounds down Providence Street fifteen minutes before the hour. The congregation must use the neighboring funeral parlor parking lot for parking since the church has no parking.
A faithful congregation of one hundred members, Riverpoint must maintain two buildings (church and parsonage) and pay the ongoing expenses. With a declining congregation and stricter fire codes due to the Station Nightclub fire, meeting expenses has been a struggle for our church.
Riverpoint Congregational Church owns and operates Riverpoint Kindergarten and Nursery School.
The church owns and operates the Riverpoint Kindergarten and Nursery School, which has been in business for fifty years. The school contributes to 27 percent of our budget. Sixty children each day cross Providence Street and are taught the lessons to prepare them for first grade. The school is highly regarded in the community.
As with many churches, Riverpoint has limited income with rising costs. We see our endowments depleting each year. Our church suppers were suspended due to fire regulations.
In the meantime, a block down Providence Street, an adult video store moved into the same strip mall as Bethesda Chapel, an independent community church. Unable to convince the Town Council to ban the video store, Bethesda moved out of its store front because the video store was right next to it. They temporarily used the local Advent Christian Church with the understanding that it would be temporary due to space restrictions. They carried their church in their automobiles and set up each Sunday, then tore it down after the service only to begin the process all over again the next week.
I heard about their situation and contacted their pastor, Ray Robbio. I told him I had an idea but it would be change for us. Ray and I discussed in length the possibility of Bethesda renting our facility. I was up front with him and admitted that I had not introduced this idea to the Church Council and it was my idea only at the moment. I told him I was not optimistic about the reception of this proposal, but I would present it to our Church Council. He understood.
Rev. Lawrence Bernier (left) of Riverpoint Congregational Church and Rev. Ray Robbio, Bethesda Chapel, share the Riverpoint facility with their congregations.
At the next Church Council I proposed the idea of Bethesda renting from us. As I expected, there were a lot of questions. “Who are these people? What do they believe? What is their theology? Why don’t they stay at Riverpoint Advent Church?” After discussion, the Council decided to ask the congregation if this idea should be pursued.
We scheduled an official church meeting. Additional questions were asked. The final consensus was that the idea should be pursued with the Council meeting with Bethesda.
The night our two churches met, the atmosphere was tense. Six people from their congregation came and sat with us. As the evening wore on and the Spirit of the Lord worked among us, the tense atmosphere turned into laughing and agreement. A preliminary agreement was established to use our facilities for three months. Then it would be reviewed to determine whether we or they wished to go forward. At this writing it has been five months and I see no reason why the joint use will not continue.
What a wonderful witness to our community this has been. We see how two different churches can work together in harmony. We have found that even with different theologies, we have much in common. The positive learning experience for the congregation has also helped our financial situation.
Change is inevitable and never a welcome visitor; however, when change embraces doing the will of the Lord, it is blessed with positive experiences.
Rev. Lawrence Bernier has spent 30 years in the bi-vocational ministry, holding a full-time job while serving a church.
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