Today’s St. David’s-on-the-Hill, located at 200 Meshanticut Parkway, is as vital a force as it was in the early 20th century. The story of this Episcopal Church, from the time of Hannah Clark in 1914 to that of priest-in-charge Rev. Beth Sherman, is one of outreach and diocesan participation. This lovely church traces its origins to Clark, who started the Meshanticut Park Sunday School in her home on Cranston St. According to an excellent church history written by Rev. N. Gardiner Vivian, she had the blessing of the Right Reverend James DeWolf Perry for this undertaking. The first classes, which began on Sept. 13, 1914, consisted of Mrs. Clark’s five children of the Quimby family. By the end of the first year, Clark, her sister-in-law Mrs. William Jepson and three other teachers were conducting classes for 20 students.

Clark asked Bishop Perry for clerical assistance. He provided for All Saints’ Memorial Church in Providence to supply visiting clergy and lay readers to the Cranston Episcopalians. The group was formally recognized as a mission of All Saints’ in 1916, and soon after they selected St. David for its name. The first services were held in the afternoon in the school room where the Sunday school met in the morning.

The membership grew during the early 20th century despite some difficulties in getting an adequate meeting place. Rev. Vivian’s history tells us that in the winter of 1918 services had to be held at the Meshanticut railroad station. The reason for this was that there was no heat in the school room due to a coal shortage brought about by World War I. In 1920 St. David’s Church erected its first building at 2104 Cranston St. Rev. Vivian has described it as “a simple structure on wood piles, seating about 10, having no heat or other facilities.”

On St. David’s Day, March 1, 1923, Rev. Albert C. Lamed became the church’s first vicar. Father Lamed, who was also the chaplain at the state institution, provided the impetus needed to encourage the congregation to build a basement under the chapel and build a rectory. After three years of service, Father Lamed was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Lee Maryon (1926-29). IN 1929 Father N. Gardner Vivian became the third vicar at St. David’s, serving from 1929 until 1953. rev. Vivian came at a time when, in his own words, “St. David’s was in a sad state….” He added, however, “but we can improve all this.”

The task was not an easy one, as the United States was immersed in the Great Depression. Many were unemployed and the church was beset by almost continuous financial problems. Father Vivian, in addition to his pressing duties at St. David’s, was also chaplain of the state institutions and vicar of Holy Nativity, Thornton, in Cranston’s western section. From 1929 until 1943 St. David’s membership had gone from 75 to 205. By 1949 the church, still a mission, became self-supporting, and the vestry applied to the diocese for status as a parish and was approved in 1950. This made Father Vivian the first rector of the church. At this time, the congregation had grown to the point where the old church, with seating for just 100, was no longer able to accommodate the large numbers attending Sunday worship. Much of the growth paralleled that of the city of Cranston due to the numbers that were leaving Providence to settle in the suburbs. Much of the new growth could be seen in Dean Estates and Garden City.

According to Father Vivian’s history, the congregation was faced with three choices: 1) to enlarge the existing structure; 2) build a new church on Cranston St.; or 3) relocate. Obviously, choice number three brought the congregation to Meshanticut Parkway.

The story of St. David’s-on-the-Hill will be continued.