The congregation was founded in 1743 during the "First Great Awakening" as a separatist spin-off from a Congregationalist group on the east side of the Providence River, and built their first sanctuary on this site.

The current structure – the second Meeting House on this location – was built in 1809 to plans by Barnard Eddy and John Newman, the latter of whom supervised construction.

The church bears a striking similarity in style to the Massachusetts State House in Boston, designed by Charles Bulfinch.

Due to weather damage to the gold leaf, the congregation voted in 1987 to replace the roof with more durable copper sheeting as part of a larger renovation project.

[4][2] A member of the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination, Beneficent chose to become an "Open and Affirming" congregation in 2001.