Date:  Mon, 18 Jul 1994 12:58:07 -0700

From:  madonna[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]VIOLET.BERKELEY.EDU

Subject: Re: Church house



Years ago, when I lived in Providence, RI, I worked as a volunteer guide

for the Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in America. We were

told that for Baptists, the "church" is the congregation, the group of

believers, and the "meeting house" is the room where they meet. There

was a Baptist "church" long before there was a "meeting house;" the original

congregation consisted of about 7 people, and they met in each other's

houses. It doesn't surprise me that other American Baptists modify

"church" with "house" to express what other sects may be able to cover

with one word. I think Stan Lemons' history of First Baptist Church in

America makes reference to the use of "meeting house" throughout New England.



Sylvia

madonna[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]violet.berkeley.edu