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COLORED UNION CHURCH.

In 1824, several individuals of the people of color, among whom was Newport Gardiner, who subsequently died at Liberia, formed themselves into a religious society, under a written constitution, by the name of the "Colored Union Church and Society, in Newport, Rhode Island." There is also among them a society for promoting the education of colored children and youth, called the "School Friend Association," which sustains an instructress the greater part of the year. They own and occupy a very neat and commodious house of worship. Since the purchase of the house in 1835, it has been raised, and a basement story added, which is occupied as a school-room, &c.

The people of color, in Newport, are a well-bred class, such as you seldom meet with elsewhere.

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.

Soon after the extensive works at Fort Adams were commenced, by the United States, in 1825, Newport was occasionally visited by a Roman Catholic Priest, to look after the spiritual interests of that class of our population, belonging to the Catholic Church, many of whom had been induced to take up their residence in Newport, by finding employment at the Fort.

The Rev. Robert D. Woodley, a native of Virginia, was the first Catholic Priest that organized a congregation in Newport, for the accommodation of which, he purchased of E. Trevett, Esq., in 1828, the school-house, in Barney-street, where divine service was maintained for several years.

Mr. Woodley resigned his charge in 1831, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Corry, who officiated in that congregation, until August, 1837.

In the spring of 1833, Mr. Corry opened a subscription, for the erection of a church, which was commenced the latter part of that same year, and completed in 1836. The house is

spacious, and well-finished, and occupies a commanding site at the head of Barney-street. The estimated cost of lot, building, &c., was about $4000; all of which was contributed, and paid by the Catholics, at Fort Adams.

On the 24th of August, 1837, the church was dedicated under the title of St. Joseph, by the Right Rev. Bishop Fenwick, of Boston, Massachusetts. On the following day, the Rev. Mr. Corry, under whose superintendence the church had been erected and completed, resigned his charge of the mission, and was succeeded by the Rev. Constantine Lee.

The Rev. Mr. Corry, in a letter to the Rev. A. Ross, speak ing of the people of Newport, says: "It is but just for me to add, that I have never seen a town in the United States, among whose inhabitants there is less intolerance and religious bigotry. I have for six years been more or less among them, and during that period none have denied me the common civilities of life, because I was a Catholic priest, but always treated me with the greatest respect." And in proof of the practical existence of religious toleration in Newport, he says: "Our church stood for upward of two years with its windows unprotected by blinds, and during that time not one pane of glass was broken."

The high encomium passed on the people of Newport, by the Rev. Mr. Corry, shews the Catholic spirit which exists there, and which is the fruits of the principle of religious toleration established by Clarke and Coddington, which God grant may ever continue to influence the people. The Catholic population of Newport, numbers about five hundred. A very costly edifice of stone is now in the course of completion, which will prove highly ornamental to the town.

SECOND EPISCOPAL PARISH.

Early in 1833, the Second Episcopal parish was formed in this place, by members of Trinity church. After the due or ganization of the parish, and an application of the Episcopal Missionary Convocation of Rhode Island, the Rev. John West commenced his labors as the minister of the parish. On the 17th of March, 1833, public worship commenced in the State House,

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from which the congregation soon removed, to the house of the First Congregational Society, at that time unoccupied. A subscription was immediately opened for building a new church, which as soon as $600 was subscribed, was commenced. In June of the following year, the new church was completed and consecrated. The cost of the building, including organ and furniture, together with the lot, was about $17,000. Of this sum about $11,000 was realized from the sale of pews, and the remainder by a noble act of generosity, contributed and paid by individual members of the corporation.

The Parish has now a fund of nearly $5000 in pews, and of the hundred and twelve pews in the church, at least one hundred of them are sold or rented. At the present date, this parish has been but five years in existence, and the contemplation of its history affords many pleasing evidences that the Divine Head of the Church has poured upon it the continual dew of his blessing. Accessions have been constantly made to the church, and on an average, the additions to the communion have been about thirty a year.

The church from its commencement, has enjoyed great domestic tranquillity and peace. No unhappy difference of opinions has arisen among them, resulting in unfriendly dissensions and divisions, or anything found on the pages of her history, to tarnish the glory and beauty of the Zion of God. The congregation is large, and their attendance on the public and social services of the church, worthy of imitation.

This church has engaged in the cause of missions with a liberality and zeal, becoming the dignity of the Christian character, and the magnitude and importance of the great missionary enterprise. Their annual contributions for home missionary purposes in Rhode Island, amount to not less than $150, and for foreign missions and other benevolent purposes, their contributions equal, if not exceed that sum.

The present Rector of the church, is the Rev. Mr. Watson, a man universally respected by his parish, and whose labors have been eminently successful in advancing the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world.

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES IN PORTSMOUTH.

In the year 1834, a missionary was sent by the Rhode Island Convocation, to Portsmouth, R. I. A parish was organized, under the name of St. Paul's Church, and within one year, a respectable house of worship was erected, and with the aid of about $1200 in contributions, from Episcopalians in other places, was entirely paid for. At the same time, a fund was secured in pews for the support of the minister, amounting to more than one thousand dollars. The labors of a zealous, devoted missionary in that place, have been blessed to the gathering of a respectable congregation, and an addition of about forty members to the communion of the church.

The Rhode Island Convocation has contributed towards the support of the minister of the parish, up to the present time, nearly $2,000.

The church of St. Mary's has been subsequently organized in Portsmouth, and a neat and tasteful church of stone erected by the munificence of Miss Sarah Gibbs, the daughter of the late George Gibbs, Esq., an eminent merchant of Newport.

In Middletown, the Third Episcopal Church has been organized, and a neat structure has been erected, called the "Church of the Holy Cross." Rev. Mr. Williams is the present Rector.

THE UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

An Association of gentleman friendly to Unitarian views of doctrine, was formed in this town, October, 1835. Their earliest meetings for Divine service, were held in the State House; in the course of the following month, they purchased of the Fourth Baptist Society in this place, the church in Mill street. This church had originally belonged to the First Congregational Church and Society, over which the celebrated Dr. Hopkins presided for many years as pastor.

A charter was granted to this Association by the General Assembly of the State, at their January session, in 1836, incor

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porating them as "The Unitarian Congregational Church," in Newport. Soon after this, the society commenced rebuilding and remodelling the old house in Mill-street, worshipping in the mean time at Masonic Lodge, in Church-street. The work was completed in the Spring of 1836, and for elegance, neatness, and taste in its internal arrangements, is perhaps unequalled in Rhode Island, excepting Trinity church. The new house (for only the frame of the old building had been retained, together with the corner-stone, bearing the inscription, "For Christ and Peace,") was dedicated on the 27th of July that same year. The Rev. Charles T. Brooks of Salem, Mass., was called as the first pastor, in Jan., 1837, and ordained June 14th of the same year. The organization of a church was begun in the summer of 1837. The Communion of the Lord's Supper was first administered on Sunday, October 3d, and continues to be administered monthly.

The Rev. Mr. Brooks married a daughter of the late Benj. Hazard, Esq., of Newport, and continues the able and efficient pastor of this church, respected and beloved for his amiable traits of character, which preeminently distinguish him in the varied walks of life.

CHURCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION.

There are three churches of this denomination on the Island, -two in Middletown, and one in Portsmouth. The first church in Middletown was organized Oct. 14th, 1828. Their first pastor was the Rev. Harvey Sullings, who served the church with acceptance for nearly five years from its constitution.

They own a very neat and commodious house of worship, about three miles from Newport, erected soon after the organi zation of the Church.

The house of the Second Society stands on the east road, about three miles from Newport.

The church in Portsmouth was constituted Oct. 16th, 1834. Its first pastor was the Rev. Salmon Tobey. His ministry commenced with this people in April, 1834, and continued for two years, during which time six members were added to the church.