Although the official registration of our church in the state of Rhode Island cites 1913 as the year of establishment, there were several families in Rhode Island before the turn of the century. Faithful immigrants, originally from communities in Mardin, Midyat, Diyarbakir and Mosul who had moved to Lebanon and Syria found their way to Rhode Island. This very small parish managed to buy a house which they used as a meeting place and chapel.
St. Ephraim's Church shared some of the priests who resided in New York; later, when the church was given a charter, the first priest to head the parish was Fr. Peter Barsoum, who served as pastor for four years, 1926-1930. Fr. Paul Samuel then became pastor of St. Ephraim's for two years. During a visit from Syria in 1927, then Archbishop Severius Ephraim (later Patriarch Ephraim I) consecrated three church buildings in the U.S., West New York NJ, Worcester, Ma. and Central Falls, RI.
St. Ephraim's Church of Central Falls grew stronger each year until tragedy struck in 1939, when the building was destroyed by fire. It took almost 10 years, but the church was rededicated in 1949. In 1952, Fr.Abdulahad Doumato arrived from Syria to lead the parish. In 1961 the church building was once again destroyed by fire. And once again, the faithful parishoners rebuilt the church, as we know it today.
In 1999, Fr. Doumato retired from his position as pastor 47 years after comming to Central Falls. The church was then served by Fr. Gabriel David for several years before he returned to Syria. In 2005, Very Rev. Fr. Raban Maroutha A. Hanna was assigned the temprary position of pastor. Now , after 3 years of dedicated service Fr. Maroutha will be replaced by Fr. Mattias Shaltan.
