Conanicut Friends Meeting is an “indulged” Meeting, under the care of Providence Friends Meeting. During the summer, Conanicut Worship Group meets in the 1787 unmodernized Old Quaker Meetinghouse at the corner of North Main Road and Weeden Lane in Jamestown, Rhode Island. However, this structure is unheated and during the winter (November – April) we meet at Norman Bird Sanctuary.
Mabel’s Studio
Norman Bird Sanctuary
583 3rd Beach Rd
Middletown, RI 02842
- The Studio is heated, handicapped accessible, and has bathrooms available.
- Parking: Cars may be parked at their central lot, and the visitor’s center staff will direct you to the Studio.
Meeting for Worship at 9:30 AM:
The Old Meetinghouse, at the corner of North Rd. & Weeden Lane Jamestown, RI.
- Due to the historic nature of this structure, this location has two steps to enter, no restrooms, and there is no First Day school at this time.
- Parking: The adjacent Hodgkiss Farm has allowed us to park in the field DIRECTLY OPPOSITE Weeden lane, in the field to the LEFT of the dirt road. Please, take care when crossing North Rd.
Some History of the Meetinghouse:
The original Meetinghouse was erected in 1710 on Eldred Ave. It was moved to the present site in 1733 and the current 20′ x 20′ structure was built after the Revolutionary War. It is adjacent to the historic Windmill and is maintained by the efforts of the members of the Meeting and the Jamestown Historical Society, which holds title to the building and land.
The old Meetinghouse was brought back into use in the 20th century by an interested group of Philadelphia Quakers who summered in the area. With the decline in membership in the Religious Society of Friends it had been abandoned, as was the old Quaker burial ground near the site of the original and much larger Meetinghouse off what is now called Cedar Lane. Because the modern use of the Meetinghouse was seasonal, the Friends worshipped as an “Indulged” Meeting, having no business meeting or committees, and were under the care of the Providence Friends Meeting.