Union Village Documentary Premiere

Park Event · Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park · Sep 7, 2026 · 1:30 PM–3:00 PM

During the American Revolution, Rhode Island Quakers' principle of non-violence was put to the test. The Religious Society of Friends was urged to take sides, but they mostly abstained from the war altogether.

In 1777, a prominent Providence Quaker, Moses Brown, wrote to fellow Friends throughout RI about exemptions from service for pacifists. Brown believed that such an exemption came with a heightened sense of responsibility. In a quiet village of Woonsocket Crossroads, Friends of the Smithfield Monthly Meeting, who had gathered in prayer for over 70 years, recieved this message and contemplated how to best navigate the war. Some adhered strictly to their pacifist belief, remaining neutral and never picking up weapons. Others, including some men buried in the local Friends Cemetery, signed on to fulfill their patriotic military duty.

For RI 250, the time to tell their stories - and the history of the Union Village community - is now. Bringing this story to film ensures that the legacy of Union Village Quakers lives on, and that their experience of war touches new generations.

Union Village was directed by filmmaker Christian de Rezendes and written by historian Allison Horrocks, Christian de Rezendes and Richard Keene. This collaboration brings the Friends' significant history to life and highlights the wartime experiences of an often under-explored area of the state.

Debut

Union Village will debut at 1:30 p.m., on Monday, September 7, 2026 (Labor Day) at the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket. This will be followed by a panel discussion with the makers of the film. Reservations are required for this program. Please register at Labor Day Debut Screening of Union Village Tickets | Rhode Island Historical Society

Source: National Park Service (public domain).