Newport Community Church grew from a home Bible study taught by the present pastor over ten years ago. A small group of local families and friends desired from church a clear dedication to expository Bible teaching, prayer, and sincere fellowship. Newport Community Church was formed to exalt the teaching of God’s Word first (Psalm 138:2). The logo of our church is drawn from Psalm 119:114 and serves to remind congregants that God Himself shields Christians while His Word provides a present and future hope. The pineapples, associated with the history and culture of Newport, are used to represent the divine welcome and fellowship found by all who repent and believe in God’s Son, Jesus.

The first service took place on June 4, 2000 at the former Swinburne School in downtown Newport. After two years of slow but steady growth, Newport Community Church moved to the Armed Services YMCA where we remained for three years. When exclusive use of the that building was transferred to the Naval Station, the church moved to Kay Chapel, a renovated 150 year-old Episcopal Chapel in downtown Newport. On September 7, 2010 the church acquired her own property at 100 Touro Street in Newport.

Historically, the congregation of Newport Community Church has been comprised largely of military or government-related employees, home-schooling families, and congregants from Tiverton and Bristol; and from Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts, in addition to those from Aquidneck Island. Formal membership at our Church identifies the representative core of our fellowship and may be best illustrated by congregants whose hearts read, “Property of Jesus Christ for use at Newport Community Church.” Members are relied upon to put flesh and blood on God’s vision for our church through service as Ministry Heads and by voting for the financial and practical matters authorized by the church By-Laws and the church board.

Our church government is Presbyterian in form and unanimity among the elders is required for the church to proceed forward on every major decision. The elders are accountable to the three member board upon which they serve. Barr Flynn and Ralph Lewis, the original pastor and elder of the church, continue to serve with the help of their respective wives Ruth and Liz. Brian Gilpin serves as the third Board member and Cristie Fraits is the administrative secretary of the church. Obtaining 501(c) 3 status was awarded in 2007, providing greater opportunities for the church to expand her ministry. Ten percent of the monthly offerings received is divided among twenty missions foreign and domestic, originally selected by our members and approved by our Board.

Theologically, the church leadership espouses a reformed position on salvation and a post-millennial eschatology. With the recent acquisition of church property, Newport Community Church seeks to increase community outreach while continuing to retain many appealing features of a family-size church.