A BRIEF HISTORY:

The first Catholic parish in Newport was established in 1828 and was “dedicated to St. Joseph”, when the Diocese of Boston purchased the Eleazer Trevett schoolhouse (built in 1809), near the corner of Barney and Mt. Vernon Streets. A new church was built in the same location in 1838 but was poorly constructed and was also lacking space for the growing Catholic congregation. A Spring Street sight was purchased in 1848, and a new, much larger church was built and dedicated in 1852, which is St. Mary’s Church, on the corner of Spring Street and Memorial Avenue.

In the early 1850’s, the “old” St. Joseph's had lost its identity, was dissolved and then encompassed by the new St. Mary's, until a “new” St. Joseph’s parish was later nurtured, starting in 1855. Over the course of numerous decades, St. Joseph’s occupied and in some cases, purchased several buildings throughout Newport (for a rectory, several schools, and a convent).

In 1885, then Bishop Hendricken designated St. Joseph's as a separate parish, to be reactivated under the guidance of its first pastor. From 1898 to 1902 several real estate purchases were made where the current church and rectory now stand, at the corner of Broadway and Mann Avenue. In mid-1904, plans and specifications for the new church were accepted and construction started soon after.  After several obstacles, leading to various stops and restarts, the cornerstone was finally laid in August of 1911. On September 8, 1912, a new St. Joseph's edifice was opened and dedicated by Bishop Harkins.