Rev. Dr. Dennis E. Norris retires

Rev. Dr. Dennis E. Norris served as senior pastor of Congdon Street Baptist Church in Providence, R.I. from1966-73. On July 1, 2005 Rev. Norris, executive minister of the Cleveland Baptist Association, retired after 15 years of leadership in that region.

Our organist Linnear H. Horne was on the search committee that was lead by God to find Rev. Norris in 1966. At Rev. Norris’ retirement party, Mrs. Horne reflected on the accomplishments and blessings of Rev. Norris during the time he serviced at Congdon Street Baptist Church.

Linnear H Horne,
Search Committee Chairperson 1966
Congdon Street Baptist Church
Providence, RI

July 10,2005

The Rev. Dennis E Norris was called to pastor the Congdon Street Baptist Church, known as the Friendly Church on the Hill, in Providence in 1996. Being a pastor’s first church was not a simple thing- some older members were a bit apprehensive of this new young pastor with a very pretty new wife. This apprehension soon passed and an enlightening successful pastorate followed.

Under Rev. Norris a New Building Restoration Program was initiated, the American Baptist School curriculum was implemented and an annual church report system was established. In 1968 under his leadership we supported black student concerns at Brown University. I will read excerpts from Congdon Collections:

Brown University and Pembroke Walkout (1968)
On December 5,1968, sixty-five students from Brown University and Pembroke College marched double-file from the Faunce House to the Congdon Street Baptist Church. According to a statement read by Glenn Dixon, president of the Afro-American Society, the students were protesting the university’s refusal “to realize that if it does not make a
definite commitment to change its attitudes toward black people, it will be seen for what
it is— a racist institution that plans to stay that way”

New York Times (December 7, 1968)
The student walk-out drew national attention. The peaceful walk-out, eloquent statement
of principles, church-based sanctuary stood in marked contrast to many other protests at
colleges during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It brought lasting change to Brown.

During his stay in Rhode Island Rev Norris was the first non-catholic to preach at a Catholic Mass. We came to love his wife , who we were emphatically told to address as Mrs. Norris(by him of course). She worked with the children’s choir of which my youngest son was a member, and when I asked him last week what he remembered of her “She was fiery and right there with the kids, she played good and had a beautiful voice”. My other sons send their regards.

The Norris family has kept in touch with Congdon through the years and those of us who are still working in that part of God’s Vineyard enjoy hearing of Rev Norris’ achievements and those of his children. Mrs. Norris has been back to Congdon as preacher for Women’s Day- need I say more???

We wish for them a healthy, enjoyable and God blessed retirement.