St Peters Lutheran Church (Newport, Rhode Island)

 church, lutheran church/kirk

On August 16th, 1892, a group of Swedish speaking Lutherans began to worship in Barker’s Hall on Thames Street which is near the site of the Sea Fare American Cafe today. In 1895, a church was built on Corne Street in the historic district. This building is now a private home.

In 1957, construction was begun on a new building at “One Mile Corner” on Broadway. Since 1892, the congregation has had four names, and “St. Peter’s” was adopted in 1960 at the dedication of the new building in the new location. Peter was a disciple of Jesus who knew the sea, and Newport is known as “The City by the Sea.” During the excavation a large rock was unearthed, and as “Peter” means rock in biblical imagery, the rock was saved and moved to an area we now call “Reformation Grove.”

The present worship center was built in 1974. Through the years, the former worship edifice has been converted to education rooms and offices, and a large hall and kitchen constructed in the lower level of the new building. In 1992 the congregation’s centennial, the narthex windows and door – with a scene of Peter and his brother, Andrew fishing on the Sea of Galilee – were dedicated. In 1995, the narthex was enlarged to it’s present size, and a children’s library was added to the educational wing in 1997.


www.stpetersri.org/