Saint Paul Church (Cranston, Rhode Island)

Saint Paul Church, located in Cranston, Rhode Island, is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.

St. Paul Church
Location30 Warwick Avenue (1 St. Paul Place)
Cranston, Rhode Island
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
Architecture
Architect(s)Ambrose J. Murphy principal architect
Samuel Morino supervising architect
Administration
DioceseProvidence
ProvinceHartford
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin
Pastor(s)Rev. Thomas Woodhouse

History

Founded in 1907 in the Edgewood section of Cranston, Saint Paul's has continued to grow for nearly 100 years and has developed into a vibrant and diverse faith community. The founding pastor, Father Michael McCabe, resolved that a permanent Church would not be built until a suitable school had been erected for the education of the children of the parish. The building of the school preceded the completion of the church by several years.

Architecture

Saint Paul church was designed in the neo-gothic style, begun in 1929 and completed in 1933 by the firm of ecclesiastical architect Ambrose J. Murphy, with Samuel M. Morino as chief architect.[1] The grand design of the church was "hoped to be the equal of any church in the diocese of Providence."[1]

The church's "crowning glory"[2] are its stained-glass windows portraying scenes from the Bible and the lives of the Saints. The glass was designed by the firm of Earl Edward Sanborn of Boston, Massachusetts. In 2019, several of these historic stained glass windows were damaged by vandals throwing rocks.[2]

Apart from a convenient worship schedule and lively music ministry, Saint Paul Church offers a variety of opportunities for young and old alike, in service and education. The Faith Formation program is devoted to the religious formation of the parish children and teens, from Grades 1 to 10. A special Liturgy of the Word for pre-school aged children is also celebrated on Sundays. Several community service opportunities and outreach programs aid the mission of Saint Paul Church to effect change in the community and to build up the Body of Christ. Spiritual formation opportunities also abound, with several opportunities each year for adult retreats or nights of recollection. Seasonal devotions, such as the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration also round out Saint Paul's spiritual life.

Saint Paul Church is currently served by Father Thomas J. Woodhouse, Pastor, Paul Shea, Deacon Assistant and Mrs. Julie Bradley as Director of Faith Formation.[3]

See also

References
  1. "About Us-Church History". Cranston, Rhode Island. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020.
  2. O'Coin, Tim, O'Brien, Molly (21 November 2019). "Thrown rocks damage stained glass at Cranston church". Providence, Rhode Island: WPRI News. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  3. http://www.saintpaulcranston.org/About%20Us%20-%20Parish%20Staff.htm Parish Staff

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