Square- and polygonal-plan buildings with wide auditoriums were typically found in Baptist and Methodist churches in the early years of the twentieth century. They seemed to abound in the Midwest and South, but they’re relatively rare in Providence, probably because most Baptist congregations already had churches and Methodism had fewer adherents than other denominations. This building arose because of the merger of other smaller churches at the end of the nineteenth century. The design, by Arthur Eaton Hill, is somewhat thin and timid Gothic, especially compared to the robustness of St Michael’s beefy buttressing, but it exerts a presence on its corner site. Perhaps best of all is the nicely detailed octagonal cupola atop the building, a lively if unexpected crescendo.
– 2003 Guide to Providence Architecture
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