Fort Church

Fort Church comprises concrete military structures positioned along the Rhode Island coast as part of a larger defensive network. The remains of Battery Gray and Battery Reilly, which once housed heavy guns, are now partially buried within the surrounding terrain.

The fort was built in 1942 during World War II as part of a rapid expansion of coastal defenses along the Eastern seaboard. Its construction reflected urgent wartime concerns about submarine and air threats to American waters.

The name honors Colonel Benjamin Church, a 17th-century military figure whose tactics shaped early American defense strategy. Walking through the site today, you can sense how this legacy connects the landscape to the broader story of US military innovation.

The site spans multiple separate parcels, including land at a golf course and areas near marshland at the southern tip of the peninsula. Visitors should expect uneven ground and overgrown vegetation, as the structures have been reclaimed by nature over decades.

The fort was uniquely divided into three separate military reservations, an unusual arrangement that reflected available land and strategic needs. This fragmented layout meant that gun batteries and command structures were separated across the landscape rather than consolidated in one location.

Location: Little Compton

Inception: 1942

GPS coordinates: 41.47944,-71.18333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:20