The Old School Baptist Meeting House

The Old School Baptist Meeting House is perhaps the most well known building in the Village of Warwick. It was designed by English architect, William Foght and built in 1810 by woodworker, Azariah Ketchum.

The term “Old School” refers to the congregation’s belief in teaching their children about their faith at home rather than at Sunday school and also for their reliance on a literal reading of the bible to guide their lives.

View of The Meeting House from Fuller Mountain.

Sunday services lasted two hours or more; there was only silent reflection, praying, speaking and some singing; no musical instruments were used in the Meeting House at that time.

Repairs to the steeple after being struck by lightning in 1925.

The Meeting House was sold to the Warwick Historical Society in 1951 for $1 with the stipulation that they care for it in perpetuity.

Meeting House FAQ

The Steeple

The measurements of The Meeting House are 65 feet long and 45 feet wide. It has a 94 foot high steeple that is topped by a 9 foot weather vane.
The Windows

The Meeting House has eleven windows. Some with as many as NINETY-NINE panes.
The Pulpit

The most prominent feature in The Meeting House is the “wine glass” pulpit with a backerboard above to improve the projection of the speaker’s voice. The height of the pulpit was to emphasize the word of God being spoken from atop being the Light.
The Dove

Above the pulpit is a golden dove with an olive branch in its beak with the inscription: “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us - Praise Ye the Lord.” This emblem of peace was carved by Deacon John Morris Foght who also designed the windows.
The Pews

Members of the congregation always sat in the same family pew which they paid for.
The Heirlooms

The pocket watch, cufflinks and glasses of Elder James Benedict, who was the first preacher of the congregation, are in a display case at the back of The Meeting House.
The First Location

The original Meeting House was a small, one room log house located near what is now the intersection of Forester Avenue and Galloway Road. There are two plaques commemorating this and noting the nearby burial site of original pastor, Elder James Benedict.

Roof Restoration

Witness a momentous achievement for the Warwick Historical Society! In 2024, thanks to a generous grant from Senator Skoufis, restoration to the roof of the Meeting House was able to happen. The project was undertaken by Eden Restoration and they were kind enough to capture the drone footage for posterity.

In September 1996 the movie “In & Out” starring Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck & Debbie Reynolds filmed scenes in around Warwick. The hilarious wedding scene was shot in the beautifully decorated Meeting House and a reception scene in the backyard of Joe and Kathy Tousignant, owners at that time of a picturesque farmhouse just off Wisner Road.