Friends meeting houses in Pennsylvania

Many historic Friends meeting houses in Pennsylvania were constructed in colonial times and are listed individually by the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and others are contributing buildings in historic districts. Several Friends meetings, the equivalent of church congregations in other denominations, were founded in Pennsylvania by the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers in the early 1680s. Thirty-two extant meeting houses, the equivalent of church buildings, were constructed before 1800. Over 100 meeting houses built before 1900 were documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in a survey that led to their publication of Silent Witness, Quaker Meeting Houses In The Delaware Valley, 1695 To The Present in 2002.[1][2]

In 1827, the Great Separation divided Pennsylvania Quakers into two branches, Orthodox and Hicksite. Many individual meetings also separated, but one branch generally kept possession of the meetinghouse. The two branches reunited in the 1950s. Other branches, such as the Free Quakers, are generally represented in Pennsylvania by a single historic meeting house.

Meeting houses

Name Photo Founded Constructed Branch Location Reference
Merion Friends Meeting House 1683 1695-1714 Hicksite 615 Mongomery Ave., Merion Station
40°00′35″N 75°15′16″W / 40.0097°N 75.2544°W / 40.0097; -75.2544 (Merion)		 NHL[3]
Old Haverford 1682, 1684 1701 Hicksite 235 E. Eagles Road, Havertown
39°59′27″N 75°18′17″W / 39.9907°N 75.3047°W / 39.9907; -75.3047 (Old Haverford)		 FMHS[1]
Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse More images 1703, 1710 1708, 1780 Hicksite Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting
40°06′09″N 75°16′45″W / 40.1025°N 75.2792°W / 40.1025; -75.2792 (Plymouth)		 NRHP[4]
Bristol Friends Meeting House 1707, 1711 1713-19 Hicksite Market & Woods St., Bristol
40°05′47″N 74°51′26″W / 40.0963°N 74.8572°W / 40.0963; -74.8572 (Bristol)		 FMHS
NRHP HD[5]
Concord Friends Meetinghouse 1684 1728. 1788 Hicksite Old Concord Rd, Concordville
39°53′05″N 75°31′09″W / 39.8848°N 75.5192°W / 39.8848; -75.5192 (Old Concord)		 NRHP, FMHS
Radnor Friends Meetinghouse
More images		 1684, 1698 1717-18 Hicksite Sproul Rd. (Rt 320), Ithan
40°01′48″N 75°21′51″W / 40.0300°N 75.3643°W / 40.0300; -75.3643 (Radnor)
Falls Friends Meeting House (former) 1683 1728 NA replaced 1789, now an apartment building Tyburn Rd. at New Falls Rd., Fallsington
40°11′06″N 74°49′12″W / 40.1850°N 74.8200°W / 40.1850; -74.8200 (Falls Meeting Houses)		 FMHS
Old Kennett Meetinghouse 1707, 1711 1731 c. Hicksite US 1, Kennett Square
39°52′16″N 75°38′53″W / 39.8711°N 75.6481°W / 39.8711; -75.6481 (Old Kennett)		 FMHS
New Garden Friends Meeting House 1712, 1715 1743 Hicksite Newark Rd., Toughkenamon
39°48′54″N 75°45′09″W / 39.8150°N 75.7526°W / 39.8150; -75.7526 (New Garden)		 FMHS
Sadsbury Friends Meeting House 1723, 1725 1747 Hicksite Simmontown Rd, Gap
39°58′15″N 75°59′27″W / 39.9709°N 75.9908°W / 39.9709; -75.9908 (Sadsbury)		 FMHS
Plumsted Friends Meeting House 1730 1752, 1876 4914 Point Pleasant Pike, Danboro
40°22′02″N 75°06′52″W / 40.3671°N 75.1145°W / 40.3671; -75.1145 (Plumsted)		 FMHS
Exeter Friends Meeting House 1715, 1725 1759 Orthodox Meeting House Rd., Stonersville
40°18′48″N 75°47′04″W / 40.3132°N 75.7845°W / 40.3132; -75.7845 (Exeter)		 FMHS
Maidencreek Friends Meeting House 1732, 1735 1759 Hicksite West Shore Dr., Kindts Corner (building moved 1929)
40°27′44″N 75°55′51″W / 40.4622°N 75.9308°W / 40.4622; -75.9308 (Maidencreek)		 FMHS
Makefield Friends Meeting House 1750, 1790 1760, 1764 Hicksite 877 Dolington Rd, Lower Makefield
40°15′57″N 74°53′12″W / 40.2658°N 74.8868°W / 40.2658; -74.8868 (Makefield)		 NRHP, FMHS
Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse 1726 1763 Hicksite Birmingham Rd. near Rt. 926, West Chester
39°54′21″N 75°35′39″W / 39.9057°N 75.5943°W / 39.9057; -75.5943 (Birmingham)		 NRHP
Uwchlan Meetinghouse 1712, 1714 1763 c. Orthodox Village Ave. North, Lionville
40°03′16″N 75°39′36″W / 40.0545°N 75.6599°W / 40.0545; -75.6599 (Uwchlan)		 FMHS
Bradford Friends Meetinghouse 1716, 1726 1765 Orthodox 1364 West Strasburg Road, Marshallton
39°56′59″N 75°40′48″W / 39.9496°N 75.6800°W / 39.9496; -75.6800 (Bradford)		 NRHP
York Friends Meeting House 1754, 1767 1766, 1783 Hicksite Philadelphia St., York
39°57′47″N 76°43′54″W / 39.9630°N 76.7317°W / 39.9630; -76.7317 (York)		 FMHS
Buckingham Friends Meeting House 1701, 1705 1768 Hicksite 5684 York Rd. (Rt 202), Lahaska
40°20′41″N 75°02′19″W / 40.3447°N 75.0387°W / 40.3447; -75.0387 (Buckingham)		 NHL[6]
Chichester Friends Meetinghouse 1682, 1701 1769 Hicksite Meeting House Rd., Boothwyn
39°50′11″N 75°25′53″W / 39.8365°N 75.4313°W / 39.8365; -75.4313 (Chichester)		 NRHP
Frankford Friends Meeting House 1684 1775-76 Hicksite Orthodox counterpart on Orthodox St. Unity and Waln Sts., Philadelphia
40°00′40″N 75°05′03″W / 40.0111°N 75.0843°W / 40.0111; -75.0843 (Frankford)		 FMHS
Caln Meeting House 1716 1782 Shared In 1907 the Orthodox Meeting moved to Coatesville Rt. 340, Thorndale
40°00′26″N 75°45′53″W / 40.0073°N 75.7646°W / 40.0073; -75.7646 (Caln)		 FMHS
Free Quaker Meetinghouse 1780 1783-84 Free Quaker 5th and Arch, Philadelphia
39°57′09″N 75°08′55″W / 39.9524°N 75.1487°W / 39.9524; -75.1487 (Free Quaker)		 NRHP
Abington Friends Meeting House 1683 1786 Hicksite 520 Meeting House Rd., Jenkintown
40°05′38″N 75°07′06″W / 40.0939°N 75.1182°W / 40.0939; -75.1182 (Abington)		 FMHS
Wrightstown Friends Meeting Complex 1686 1787 Hicksite Rt. 413, 4 miles north of Newtown
40°15′57″N 74°58′54″W / 40.2657°N 74.9818°W / 40.2657; -74.9818 (Wrightstown)		 NRHP, FMHS
Falls Friends Meeting House 1683 1789 Orthodox.
Hicksite 1841 meeting house just north		 9300 New Falls Rd., Fallsington, Pennsylvania
40°11′06″N 74°49′11″W / 40.1849°N 74.8196°W / 40.1849; -74.8196 (Falls (1789))		 FMHS
Newtown Square Friends Meeting House 1696, 1706 1791 Hicksite 120 Newtown Rd. (Rt 252), Newtown Square
39°59′30″N 75°24′18″W / 39.9918°N 75.4050°W / 39.9918; -75.4050 (Newtown Square)		 FMHS
Middletown Friends Meeting House 1680, 1683 1793 Hicksite 453 W. Maple Ave., Langhorne
40°10′31″N 74°55′44″W / 40.1752°N 74.9288°W / 40.1752; -74.9288 (Middletown (Langhorne))		 FMHS
Catawissa Friends Meetinghouse 1775, 1793 1794 South St., Catawissa
40°57′04″N 76°27′42″W / 40.9510°N 76.4617°W / 40.9510; -76.4617 (Catawissa)		 FMHS
NRHP
Roaring Creek Friends Meeting 1786, 1796 1795-96 Hicksite Quaker Meeting Rd., Numidia
40°53′53″N 76°23′55″W / 40.8981°N 76.3986°W / 40.8981; -76.3986 (Roaring Creek)		 FMHS
Willistown Friends Meeting House 1753, 1794 1798 Hicksite 7069 Goshen Rd., Whitehorse
39°59′19″N 75°28′51″W / 39.9886°N 75.4809°W / 39.9886; -75.4809 (Willistown)		 FMHS
Part of Okehocking Historic District
Marlboro Friends Meeting House 1799, 1802 1801 901 Marlborough Springs Rd., Marlborough Village
39°53′44″N 75°42′17″W / 39.8956°N 75.7046°W / 39.8956; -75.7046 (Marlboro)		 FMHS
Part of Marlborough Village Historic District
Fallowfield Friends Meeting House 1792, 1796 1801 (1811?) Hicksite Rt. 82 at Buck Run Rd., Ercildoun
39°56′46″N 75°50′18″W / 39.9461°N 75.8384°W / 39.9461; -75.8384 (Fallowfield)		 FMHS
Horsham Friends Meeting 1714, 1717 1803 Hicksite Horsham Rd., Horsham Township
40°11′01″N 75°07′54″W / 40.1836°N 75.1316°W / 40.1836; -75.1316 (Horsham)		 FMHS
Arch Street Friends Meeting House 1681 (Philadelphia Yearly Meeting) 1804, 1811 Orrthodox 304 Arch St., Philadelphia
39°57′07″N 75°08′46″W / 39.9519°N 75.1462°W / 39.9519; -75.1462 (Arch St.)		 NHL
Darby Friends Meeting 1684 1805 Hicksite 1015 Main St., Darby
39°55′16″N 75°15′46″W / 39.9211°N 75.2629°W / 39.9211; -75.2629 (Darby)		 NRHP
Downingtown Friends Meeting House 1784, 1811 1806 Uwchlan M.M. moved here in 1900 800 E. Lancaster Ave, Downingtown
40°00′51″N 75°41′20″W / 40.0141°N 75.6889°W / 40.0141; -75.6889 (Downingtown)		 FMHS
Solebury Friends Meeting House 1806, 1811 1806 2680 Sugan Rd., New Hope
40°22′22″N 74°59′15″W / 40.3728°N 74.9874°W / 40.3728; -74.9874 (Solebury)
Schuylkill Friends Meeting House 1812 1807, 1816 Hicksite 37 N. Whitehorse Rd., Phoenixville
40°07′16″N 75°30′07″W / 40.1210°N 75.5019°W / 40.1210; -75.5019 (Schuylkill)
Byberry Friends Meeting House 1683, 1701 1808 Hicksite 3001 Byberry Rd., Philadelphia
40°06′09″N 74°58′51″W / 40.1025°N 74.9809°W / 40.1025; -74.9809 (Byberry)
West Chester Meeting House 1810, 1813 1810, 1868 Hicksite 425 N. High, West Chester
39°57′51″N 75°36′28″W / 39.9642°N 75.6078°W / 39.9642; -75.6078 (West Chester)
Providence Friends Meeting House 1686, 1698 1814 Hicksite Providence Rd., Media
39°55′06″N 75°22′52″W / 39.9183°N 75.3810°W / 39.9183; -75.3810 (Providence (Media))		 HABS
Upper Dublin 1814 1814 Hicksite Ft. Washington & Limekiln Rd. Upper Dublin
40°09′44″N 75°11′16″W / 40.1622°N 75.1878°W / 40.1622; -75.1878 (Upper Dublin)
Newtown Friends Meeting House 1815, 1817 1817, 1868 Hicksite 219 Court St. Newtown
40°13′33″N 74°56′09″W / 40.2257°N 74.9357°W / 40.2257; -74.9357 (Newtown (Bucks Co.))
London Grove Friends Meeting House 1724, 1775 1818 Rt. 926 at Newark Rd, West Marlborough Township
39°52′11″N 75°46′25″W / 39.8696°N 75.7735°W / 39.8696; -75.7735 (London Grove))
Gwynedd Friends Meeting House 1689, 1698 1823 Hicksite
Spring House & Pennllyn Turnpike, Lower Gwyynedd
Little Elk Friends Meeting House 1826 Media Rd, Hickory Hill
39°44′55″N 75°55′49″W / 39.7485°N 75.9304°W / 39.7485; -75.9304 (Little Elk)
Upper Providence Friends Meeting House 1716, 1733 1828 Hicksite 8207 Black Rock Road, Oaks, Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County
40°08′56″N 75°28′33″W / 40.1490°N 75.4758°W / 40.1490; -75.4758 (Upper Providence)		 HABS
Bart Friends Meeting 1820 1825 Hicksite Quaker Church Rd., Christiana
39°55′58″N 76°02′50″W / 39.9328°N 76.0473°W / 39.9328; -76.0473 (Bart)
Chester Friends Meetinghouse 1675, 1698 1829 Hicksite 24th at Chestnut St. Chester
39°52′10″N 75°21′50″W / 39.8694°N 75.3639°W / 39.8694; -75.3639 (Chester)		 NRHP
Parkersville Friends Meetinghouse 1830 1830 Hicksite Parkersville Rd. s of Rt 926 Parkersville
39°53′10″N 75°38′43″W / 39.8861°N 75.6452°W / 39.8861; -75.6452 (Parkersville)		 NRHP
Homeville Friends Meeting House 1839 1839 Newark Rd. Rt 896, Homeville
39°51′39″N 75°59′14″W / 39.8608°N 75.9872°W / 39.8608; -75.9872 (Homeville)
Unionville Friends Meeting House 1845 1845 Now Grange Hall Rt. 82, Unionville
39°53′44″N 75°43′51″W / 39.8956°N 75.7307°W / 39.8956; -75.7307 (Unionville)		 FMHS
Millville Friends Meeting House 1795 1846 Hicksite Main at Maple St., Millville
41°07′23″N 76°31′34″W / 41.1231°N 76.5260°W / 41.1231; -76.5260 (Millville)		 HABS
Longwood Progressive Friends Meeting House 1854 1854 Rt. 1 at Longwood Gardens
39°52′07″N 75°40′17″W / 39.8687°N 75.6713°W / 39.8687; -75.6713 (Longwood)
Goshen Friends Meeting House 1709 1855 814 Chester Rd, Goshenville
39°59′36″N 75°32′37″W / 39.9933°N 75.5435°W / 39.9933; -75.5435 (Goshen)
Race Street Friends Meeting House 1855-57 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia
39°57′21″N 75°09′54″W / 39.9559°N 75.1651°W / 39.9559; -75.1651 (Race St.)		 NRHP
Richlands Friends Meeting House 1710, 1723 1862 Main St and Mill Rd, Quakertown
40°26′12″N 75°21′08″W / 40.4367°N 75.3522°W / 40.4367; -75.3522 (Richlands)
Lampeter Friends Meeting House 1728, 1732 1889 Rt. 340, Bird-in-Hand
40°02′20″N 76°11′06″W / 40.0390°N 76.1850°W / 40.0390; -76.1850 (Lampeter)
Reading Friends Meeting House 1750, 1756 1868 Wilson Eyre 108 N. 6th St., Reading
40°20′15″N 75°55′35″W / 40.3375°N 75.9263°W / 40.3375; -75.9263 (Reading)
Germantown Friends Meeting House 1690 1868-69 Sloan & Hutton 47 W. Coulter, Philadelphia
40°01′57″N 75°10′19″W / 40.0324°N 75.1720°W / 40.0324; -75.1720 (Germantown)
Valley Friends Meeting House 1698, 1810 1871 1121 Old Eagle School Rd., Wayne
40°04′57″N 75°24′54″W / 40.0826°N 75.4151°W / 40.0826; -75.4151 (Valley)
Media Monthly Meeting House 1878 1875 Orthodox known as Chester Monthly Meeting until 1950? Third St., Media
39°55′17″N 75°23′29″W / 39.9213°N 75.3913°W / 39.9213; -75.3913 (Media)
West Philadelphia Orthodox Friends Meeting House 1878 1878 Orthodox Powelton & 42nd St., Philadelphia
39°57′33″N 75°12′24″W / 39.9592°N 75.2066°W / 39.9592; -75.2066 (West Philadelphia)
Oxford Friends Meeting House 1876 1879 S. 3rd St., Oxford
39°46′48″N 75°58′51″W / 39.7801°N 75.9808°W / 39.7801; -75.9808 (Oxford (Chesco))
Swarthmore Friends Meeting House 1863, 1893 1881 Hicksite 12 Whittier Place, Swarthmore
39°54′26″N 75°21′12″W / 39.9073°N 75.3533°W / 39.9073; -75.3533 (Swarthmore)
Fair Hill Friends Meeting House 1702, 1880 1883 Cambria St. at Germantown Ave., Philadelphia
39°59′46″N 75°08′48″W / 39.9962°N 75.1467°W / 39.9962; -75.1467 (Fair Hill)
Doe Run 1808, 1811 1883 81 Greenlaw Rd, Cochraneville
39°53′21″N 75°52′17″W / 39.8892°N 75.8715°W / 39.8892; -75.8715 (Doe Run)
Middletown Preparative Meeting House 1686, 1701 1702?, 1770s, 1888 435 Middletown Rd, Lima
39°55′28″N 75°26′34″W / 39.9245°N 75.4429°W / 39.9245; -75.4429 (Middletown (Lima))
Horsham Orthodox Friends Meeting House 1890 1890 Orthodox Extant? Saw Mill Lane & Dreshertown Rd., Horsham Township, Pennsylvania
40°10′39″N 75°08′23″W / 40.1775°N 75.1397°W / 40.1775; -75.1397 (Horsham Orthodox)
Gwynnedd Friends Meeting House 1890 Swede & Pine Sts., Norristown
Warrington Friends Meeting House 1769 Carlisle Rd, Wellsville
40°03′12″N 76°55′47″W / 40.0532°N 76.9298°W / 40.0532; -76.9298 (Warrington)

References

  1. 1 2 Friend Meeting House Survey, Historic American Buildings Survey, 2002, notes used for Silent Witness, available at Friends Historic Library at Swarthmore College
  2. ↑ Historic American Buildings Survey (2002). Silent Witness, Quaker Meeting Houses In The Delaware Valley, 1695 To The Present. p. 56.
  3. ↑ Bill Bolger; David G. Orr & Catherine LaVoie (February 3, 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Merion Friends Meeting House" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 9 photos, exterior and interior, from 1987. (32 KB)
  4. ↑ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Helen Reichart Mirras (December 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  5. ↑ Patrick W. O'Bannon, 1986, NRHP Nomination Form - Bristol Historic District
  6. ↑ National Historic Landmark Nomination, Buckingham Friends Meeting House

Further reading

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.