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Built in 1894, the Wood River Junction Congregational Church served the tiny community of Wood River Junction until 1935, perched on the edge of the shortline Wood River Branch Railroad, which ran from 1872 until 1947. The Church's first permanent pastor, Reverend Theophilus Root, began his tenure in July, 1900 and served until his death in 1933. Prior to his arrival in Wood River Junction, he appears to have been fatefully involved with Katherine Lee Bates, the composer of the anthem America the Beautiful. Their traumatic breakup was nearly fatal to them both. As Reverend Root wrote:

"After so long a period of enforced rest it is a satisfaction to be at work again. In this small rural parish, (Wood River Junction R.I.), I have been steadily gaining in strength and expect in time to be stronger than ever".

Violist Joseph Ceo, the founder of Musica Dolce in Westerly, RI, and his wife, Joan (a harpist), moved to this converted church in 1974, where they taught and performed for more than 30 years. After Joan's death in 2015, the church was purchased by its current owners, architect/artist Tracey Dillon and cellist Theodore Mook, who began, from time to time, to host private house concerts featuring student performers and professional musicians. Now, SwitchArts continues to introduce an ever wider palette of repertoire featuring internationally recognized artists and composers, student performers, and university faculty performers, mixing classical chamber music with jazz, rock, early and new music in a house blend, unique to this venue.

Please note that attendance at these private SwitchArts concerts is by invitation and reservation only. For more information about attending these very special concerts, please send an email to theo@switcharts.org. To see a list of our upcoming concert events, see our Event Listing page. To visit a page with programs and notes about our programs, please visit our Substack page, Notes from SwitchArts.