Middletown, RI 1845-2004

          The Church of the Holy Cross had its beginnings
     specifically with two people, Miss Sarah Gibbs and John Henry
     Gilliat and possibly indirectly with a third person, Miss
     Cynthia Taggart, also with the unnamed people who welcomed the
     opportunity to attend religious services near their homes.      
        In the early 1840's, Miss Gibbs became interested in bringing
     religious services and instruction to her neighbors. In November
     1843, at the invitation of Rev. Francis Vinton, rector of
     Trinity Church, the  Rev. Hobart Williams arrived in South
     Portsmouth to organize a mission.  Miss Gibbs invited Rev.
     Williams to make his home at Oakland. Services were held at
     Oakland, a nearby school house, at homes of  neighbors and in a
     school house on Middle Road in Portsmouth. In the  spring of
     1844 the attendance at the morning services became too large for
     the small school house and was transferred to Oliphant School on
     West Main Road in Middletown. On the first Sunday after Easter, 
     April 14, 1844, Morning Prayer was publicly offered in that
     place  for the first time. Services were continued until the
     fall of the same  year. The growing religious interest in the
     neighborhood now seemed to  justify the building of a free
     chapel to provide a place where services  could be held in the
     middle of the island.
        In April 1845 Mr. John H. Gilliat purchased from Thomas 
     George  Rogers, a brother-in-law of Cynthia Taggart, 1/2 acre 
     of land on the  South corner of Oliphant Lane and West Road 
     for $75. Mr. Richard  Upjohn, an Englishman, was employed as 
     the architect. Mr. Upjohn had designed Trinity Church in 
     New York and St. Stephen's Church and Grace  Church in 
     Providence. The Church was built with the gift from Mr. Gilliat
     of $2,145. Others gave $283.50 for the site and some special 
     interior  furnishings.


        Rhode Island Bishop Henshaw made the following statment in 
     his June 1846 Convention address.

           On Tuesday, October 14, 1845, in Middletown, I
        consecrated to the worship of the Almighty God, 
        according to the rites and ceremonies of the 
        Protestant Episcopal Church, a cheap but beautiful 
        edifice, designed by Mr. Richard Upjohn, by the name 
        of "The Church of the Holy Cross".
           It is rustic in its exterior, and thus admirably 
        adapted to its  isolated position in the country: but 
        so chaste in its interior finish,  and so perfect in 
        its proportion, that it is more imposing in its  
        religious impression and far better adapted to its 
        sacred use than  many buildings of far greater cost 
        and pretensions. The sentence of  consecration was 
        read by the the Rev. Hobart Williams, Missionary of  
        the station, and he was assisted in the services by 
        several of the Clergy,  ten of whom were present at 
        the solemnities. This Chapel has been erected  by the 
        Christian beneficence of a few pious individuals, as 
        a place of  worship. May God reward them for this work 
        of love, and incline others to  imitate their laudable
        example. The Church was crowded to overflowing,  and he
        administered Holy Communion to a large number. In the 
        afternoon, in the same Church, he baptized an infant 
        (Dorcas Barker) and confirmed  two persons, as the 
        first fruits unto God at this station. On this  occasion 
        as in the morning, he preached. The offical duties of 
        that day  were brought to a close by the confirmation of 
        a pious individual, who  has been for many years the 
        uncomplaining victim of suffering  and disease.

     Cythia Taggart died In 1849 and was buried in the Holy Cross
     churchyard.

     THE TRUSTEES

         In April 1845 John H. Gilliat received title to 1/2
     acre of land on which the Church of the Holy Cross was to be
     built. On January 10th,  1849, Mr. Gilliat deeded the land with
     the Church theron to Hobart  Williams. On July 11th, 1849 Mr.
     Williams deeded to Sarah P. Cleveland  of Boston, Massachusetts,
     Widow, her bars and assigns the land with the  church, in Trust.
       The deed sets forth the "uses, purposes and trusts" the
     principal purpose being "that said church should be and remain a
     free House of  Worship and Prayer for all people according to
     the Book of Common Prayer  used in the Episcopal Church in the
     United States of America.
        On April 7, 1878, Sarah P. Cleveland conveyed the trust 
     estate of  the Church of the Holy Cross to three trustees: 
     Robot S. Chase, John B. Gould and Albert L. Chase. Since that 
     time the trust has been held by three trustees at a time. 
     There have now been 16 suceeding trustees.
        In 1880 Mr.and Mrs. Robert S. Chase deeded 1/2
     acre of land to the trustees of Holy Cross. This completed the
     present church-yard.

     This History of Holy Cross Church was taken from an article
     written by  Nancy C. Chase in memory of her parents. James R.
     and Julia C. Chase.