First Baptist Church, Providence

The First Baptist Church was founded by Roger Williams in 1638. The present church building was erected in 1774-1775 and held its first meetings in May 1775. Construction began on the building in the summer of 1774, and it was the biggest building project in New England at the time. Due to the closure of the Massachusetts ports by the British as punishment for the Boston Tea Party, out-of-work ship builders and carpenters came to Providence to work on the Meeting House. The main portion of the Meeting House was dedicated in mid-May 1775, and the steeple erected in just three days in the first week of June.

Notable additions to the Meeting House have included a Waterford crystal chandelier given by Hope Brown Ives, a large pipe organ given by her brother Nicholas Brown, Jr., the younger, the creation of rooms for Sunday school, fellowship hall, and offices on the lower level, and an addition to the east end of the Meeting House to accommodate an indoor baptistery. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

In addition to weekly worship services, the Meeting House has hosted concerts, talks, and lectures by world-renowned artists, performers, academics, and elected officials. Brown University continues to hold Commencement services at The Meeting House to this day.