Our beginning
Founded in 1956 as a mission to the University of Rhode Island, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church provides pastoral support and fellowship to URI’s students, faculty, and staff.
We are an open and accepting community - enthusiastic in love and prayer, warm in sharing Gods’ gifts with one another, and devoted to helping those in spiritual or material need around us.
Our past and future are deeply intertwined with the students, faculty, and staff at the University of Rhode Island.
Why not stop by?
Our buildings
We have two main buildings consisting of the church and the rectory. The original section of the church, Canterbury House, was consecrated in 1956 with the chapel of St. Augustine on the upper level and Chapel Hall consisting of a kitchenette and conference room in the lower level.
"St. A's is a community filled with spirit, love, and conviction."
Our gardens
Most notable among our vast gardens is this labyrinth that was given to St. Augustine’s by an anonymous donor in early 2017 and constructed in the spring and summer of that year.
It was designed by Grandin Landscape & Supply Company of Wakefield, RI. Jane Vachon, a landscape designer, and Hiroki Shimizu, a St. Augustine's parishioner, designed the planting scheme. The traditional design is executed with large irregular thick stone pavers to form the pathways with flower borders consisting of Astilbe, Heuchera, Ajuga, Alchemilla, Wild Ginger, Lamium, and Primrose. This creates a shifting color scheme of rose, deep russet purple, pale yellow, light blue, and gray-green against a green moss ground. Surrounded by a low box border, it has medieval and rustic characteristic appropriate for its setting in St. Augustine's natural, slightly undisciplined church garden that sits beside a perennial stream.
Located in a secluded spot on the east side of the church, the labyrinth is bordered by large, smooth stone outcrops. The parish memorial garden is across the stream and is accessed by a small wooden bridge.
Parking is available in front of the church except during Sunday service at 9:30 a.m. The labyrinth and gardens are located behind the church and are available during daylight hours.
Learn what labyrinths are all about here and come visit!