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Pawtucket Gospel Hall, an open brethren assembly in [[Rhode Island]] has its roots in a Gospel series held in nearby Central Falls in the late 1800s. An assembly in Central Falls was formed soon after that. In 1890, the U.S. Religious Census indicated one PB-II (OB) assembly in Providence Co., with 32 meeting in a rented hall with capacity of 100.which met in rented quarters in the Goodfellows' Hall on Dexter St. in Central Falls in 1904.
The Pawtucket Gospel Hall was opened April 9, 1916 at 412 Lonsdale Ave. [https://omeka.religiousecologies.org/files/original/1c48c991d592586c89fd622f4f0c21b2a3c9c11b.jpg 1926 USCoRB] indicated that there were 181 in fellowship (63 men, 118 women) including 12 S.S. teachers, presiding over 120 children (for a total of 301 in 1926). The Hall had a value of $15,000.
John Farrell was able to arrange for his entrance into the country, along with a job among Portuguese-speaking people, and housing. The Pawtucket assembly offered their building for times when they were not using it. So, the Cerqueira family began their work of ministering to the Portuguese and establishing a Portuguese-speaking assembly. Pawtucket Gospel Hall turned over the property to the Portuguese Christians in mid-1981 where it continues today. In its prime, the Portuguese assembly had more than 80 in fellowship, with over a hundred regularly attending, particularly from Brazilian heritage. As the meeting has aged, there are currently just over a dozen together.
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