About St. Agnes · Providence, Rhode Island
St. Agnes was a Roman Catholic parish in Providence, Rhode Island, located at 100 Chatham Street in the Diocese of Providence. The parish was canonically established on July 20, 1904, and its buildings were designed by the Providence ecclesiastical firm Murphy, Hindle & Wright, specialists in Catholic church architecture. For more than a century the parish served the neighborhoods around Branch Avenue and Chatham Street, but by the early 2020s its sacramental and community life had dwindled dramatically. All Masses and services at St. Agnes ceased on June 30, 2024, and the parish was formally merged into neighboring St. Ann Parish under Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., which now maintains its sacramental records.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Saint Agnes
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Agnes historically offered a tight-knit Roman Catholic worship community on Chatham Street in Providence, with a weekly Mass schedule (Saturday Vigil and Sunday mornings), weekday Masses on Monday and Tuesday, and a neighborhood parish school. While the parish has ceased regular worship and been merged into nearby St. Ann Parish (2 Russo Street), its sacramental records are preserved there. Visitors and former parishioners seeking baptism, marriage, or Sacramental records from St. Agnes are directed to St. Ann Parish.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. Agnes Parish was canonically established on July 20, 1904, in the Diocese of Providence, making it one of the many turn-of-the-century Catholic foundations serving Providence's growing working-class neighborhoods near Branch Avenue and Chatham Street. Surviving architectural drawings from 1905 document the parish's early buildings — the rectory on Branch Avenue and a combined school and temporary church on Ashton Street — designed by the Providence ecclesiastical firm Murphy, Hindle & Wright, with later plans for the permanent church on Chatham Street. Through the twentieth century the parish and its school served generations of neighborhood families.
- Parish erected July 20, 1904 (Diocese of Providence).
- 1905 architectural plans by Murphy, Hindle & Wright for rectory, school, and temporary church.
- By 2023 the parish recorded zero baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and marriages for the year.
- All Masses and services ceased on June 30, 2024.
- Merged into St. Ann Parish under Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
Architecture & Buildings
The St. Agnes parish complex was designed by Murphy, Hindle & Wright, the Providence firm that specialized in Catholic church architecture in the early twentieth century. The firm was led by Ambrose J. Murphy and Franklin R. Hindle, who were responsible for many of the Catholic churches, schools, and rectories built across the Diocese of Providence in that era. The Rhode Island Historical Society holds the firm's records, which include 1905 specifications and drawings for the St. Agnes Rectory on Branch Avenue and the St. Agnes School and temporary church on Ashton Street, plus later plans for the permanent church on Chatham Street.
- Architects: Murphy, Hindle & Wright of Providence, RI.
- Rectory: Branch Avenue (1905 plans).
- School and temporary church: Ashton Street (1905 plans).
- Permanent church: 100 Chatham Street.
Merger into St. Ann Parish
Following the June 30, 2024 cessation of all Masses and services at St. Agnes, and at the petition of its financial council and trustees, Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., approved the merger of St. Agnes Parish into neighboring St. Ann Parish at 2 Russo Street, Providence. St. Ann now receives and maintains all sacramental records of St. Agnes in accordance with Canon 535. Father Nolasco Tamayo, pastor of St. Ann and administrator of St. Agnes, oversaw the transition, citing the lack of parishioners, an aging population, and insufficient resources to maintain the buildings and staff.
- Decree issued by Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
- Sacramental records transferred to St. Ann Parish (2 Russo Street, Providence) per Canon 535.
- Father Nolasco Tamayo led the merger as Administrator of St. Agnes and Pastor of St. Ann.
Contact and Records
The parish's published contact information was a single phone line and a website at saintagnesprovidence.org. With the cessation of regular operations and the merger into St. Ann Parish, sacramental record requests, baptisms, marriages, and other inquiries are now handled by St. Ann Parish, which has assumed responsibility under Canon 535 for the records of St. Agnes.
- Parish phone: (401) 861-7265
- Parish fax: (401) 454-6389
- Website: saintagnesprovidence.org
- Facebook: Saint Agnes Catholic Church, Providence RI
- Sacramental records: St. Ann Parish, 2 Russo Street, Providence.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Normand J. Godin1995–2016
Administrator of St. Agnes Parish from 1995, appointed Pastor in July 2002. Previously assistant pastor of St. Ann Parish (1991–95). Born in Providence; ordained a Carmelite priest in 1973; incardinated into the Diocese of Providence in 1996. Also served as pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish, Pawtucket (2014–16). Died November 17, 2016, while pastor of St. Agnes.
- Rev. Frank S. Salmanic. 2017/2018 – June 30, 2024
Succeeded Father Godin as pastor of St. Agnes; retired for reasons of health effective June 30, 2024, and was named Pastor Emeritus. A Theological College (Class of 1981) alumnus.
- Rev. Nolasco TamayoJuly 1, 2024 – 2025
Appointed Administrator of St. Agnes Parish on July 1, 2024, while continuing as Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Providence. Oversaw the cessation of Masses and services at St. Agnes on June 30, 2024, and led the formal merger of St. Agnes into St. Ann Parish.