The Greene family and its branches from to . ngabove all others. Its first pastor, 1765-1770, was Rev. Timothy Greene, anephew^ of Hannah Greene-Andrews. This church of small beginnings grew to have a continent-wide had, at one time, the largest membership of any country church in theUnited States, and at stated times has yet a congregation that any citychurch might be proud of. The first church building was outgrown, andsold in 1797. Elnathan Andrews gave a lot across the road from the oldchurch, and donated timber for a new building. This church is as unlikean ordinary
The Greene family and its branches from to . ngabove all others. Its first pastor, 1765-1770, was Rev. Timothy Greene, anephew^ of Hannah Greene-Andrews. This church of small beginnings grew to have a continent-wide had, at one time, the largest membership of any country church in theUnited States, and at stated times has yet a congregation that any citychurch might be proud of. The first church building was outgrown, andsold in 1797. Elnathan Andrews gave a lot across the road from the oldchurch, and donated timber for a new building. This church is as unlikean ordinary church building as can be imagined. There is no ornamenta-tion about it. It is built on the style of a plain two-story dwelling house. By 1821 the church had 460 members! Elnathan Andrews, one of itsfirst members 59 years before, and the donor of its church home, was yetliving. Those were its palmy days. Afterwards branch churches were es- * The Six Principle Baptists claim to particularly represent the teachings of Roger Williams. [o6 ^be (Brccnc family. ROOT CHURCH. R. I. THE MOST FAMOUS COUNTRY CHURCH IN AMERICA tablished at other places that cut its membership down to its present num-ber, about 140 persons. But on the first Sunday in June it is the custom forhistoric old Maple Root Church to open wide its doors to its children farand near. On that day the crowd is so great that only the early comers canget within its walls. The pond where the converts are baptized is a half-mile away. There is alwajs one special tune that is sung on the long marchto the water, and there is one room on the Gorton place that for over 70years was used as a dressing room for those who were immersed. Incidentslike these show that Rhode Island, as well as Connecticut, might have thename, The land of steady habits. Before giving a synopsis of the branching out of these two families, abrief reference to the families with which they so much intermarried may beof interest. The Briggses were
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