NORTH SMITHFIELD – On a sunny and 60 degree Saturday afternoon on the tiny triangle of a town green in the shadow of Slatersville Congregational Church, children filled their baskets with Easter eggs. The picturesque white Greek Revival style edifice with a soaring tower has been for centuries the site of Easter celebrations.
“We like it because we have been going to this church for a while,” said local Brenna Kell, who brought her three children to the free event, of this year’s egg hunt. “It’s nice that it’s a nice day, and for the first Easter this is outside.”
The turnout included around a couple dozen children and adults.
Since the state shutdown of 2020, when the membership of the church was at 20 people, the numbers have grown to 120, which Slatersville Congregational Moderator Rick Stelle attributes to outreach.
He and his wife Mary Stelle, who serves as chairperson of christian education, and Kleo Becker, also of that department, arrived early, placing colored egg containers around the famous green where once the Slaters and others gathered.
The Loiselle family from Cranston came out for the event. Slatersville Congregational is the mother Jennifer Loiselle’s hometown church, she said.
“Everybody gets together,” said Loiselle. “It’s nice to do something outside of the church with the kids together.”
In fact, the egg hunt was “lovely,” said her spouse, Andrew Loiselle. “It’s fun for the kids to do, and fortunate to have good weather to do it.”
Jana Gasbarro of North Smithfield, who brought her three youngsters, said the event was “very fun.”
“The kids had a good time at the nice and relaxing egg hunt,” she said.
Two year old Violet Colon was brought to the egg hunt by her grandmother Karen Yetter of Burrillville and great aunt Kacey Richards of Glocester.
“I loved the weather, loved that they grouped the kids together by age, and loved that she got to hang out with the kids,” said the grandmother about her toddler.
“It’s such a beautiful day to be outside,” added Richards.
Stelle pointed out the church dates back to the 1830s, and that a hundred years later, the steeple was knock downed by the hurricane of 1938. Later, a new steeple was erected.
Apparently church membership is equally resilient.
“I’m proud” said Stelle of the church, and the way its fold is increasing.
