Description: "Nineteenth-century New England was a hostile place for Catholics. In Massachusetts a mob torched a convent; in Maine a priest was tarred and feathered; and Rhode Island elected an anti-Catholic Know Nothing governor. "No Irish Need Apply" signs were common. Newport was different. It was a religiously diverse and tolerant city that welcomed Catholic French troops during the American Revolution. Later, as it became the favored summer retreat for America's Protestant social elite, Irish Catholics arrived to work in construction jobs, the tourist economy, and the grand Gilded Age cottages. By the end of the century, Newport's Catholic community was flourishing. Moneyed Catholics acquired their own mansions, an Irish Catholic was mayor, and prominent Protestants were helping Catholic neighbors establish new schools and churches. In this deeply researched study, John F. Quinn delves into this rich Catholic history to discover why nineteenth-century Newport was particularly religiously tolerant and accepting"--
Review Quotes:
"Excellent. . . . [An] outstanding study of the city's Catholic history from colonial times through the Gilded Age."--James T. Fisher, New England Quarterly
"John Quinn's treatment of Catholicism in Newport, Rhode Island is the best kind of local history."--Kevin E. Schmiesing, Catholic Social Science Review
"The Rise of Newport's Catholics traces the evolution of Catholicism in Newport and provides the fascinating back stories of some of the local landmarks the Church faithfully built as their numbers increased. . . It is a must-read."--M. Catherine Callahan, Newport Life
"Quinn brilliantly weaves together state and national history to present an engaging narrative covering the late 18th century to the early 20th century, highlighting the unique religiously tolerant Newport community. [This] deeply researched book is a must-read book for students of the state's history."--Erik J. Chaput and Russell J. DeSimone, The Online Review of Rhode Island History "In this very readable and well-researched book, Quinn has successfully told the story of Newport's Catholics within the greater social and economic circumstances of the periods in question. . . . It will attract a readership that extends well beyond New England."--Peter Ludlow, Church History"The Rise of Newport's Catholics [is] an inspirational reminder that individuals and communities are not mere products of the times and large societal movements; rather, choice, effort, and particular experience enable people to create a unique communal destiny. Quinn ultimately provides not merely one aspect of Newport's story but a definitive account of at least two centuries of its overall history."--J. R. Edwards, CHOICE
"Many books explore the reasons for conflict between Catholics and Protestants in America; Quinn's detailed history of the Catholic community in Newport is distinctive in that it explores the reasons for friendly relations between the two."--Timothy J. Meagher, author of Inventing Irish America: Generation, Class, and Ethnic Identity in a New England City, 1880-1928 "Quinn's history of the Catholic community in Newport, Rhode Island, makes a substantial contribution to American Catholic studies, New England history, Newport history, and the history of the Irish in America."--Evelyn Savidge Sterne, author of Ballots and Bibles: Ethnic Politics and the Catholic Church in Providence