Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse facts for kids
|
Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse and School
|
|
Front view in 2017
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1245 Birmingham Road, Birmingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | 1763 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000688 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1971 |
The Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse is a very old and important building. It is located at 1245 Birmingham Road in Birmingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. This building is a Quaker meeting house. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs.
The meetinghouse you see today was built in 1763. It played a big role in American history. The building and its nearby cemetery were right in the middle of a major battle. This was the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Today, people still gather here for worship services every week. The meetinghouse and a unique eight-sided schoolhouse next to it are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as important historical sites. They were added to the list on July 27, 1971.
Contents
History of the Meetinghouse
The first Quaker meeting in Birmingham Township happened around 1690. In 1718, a meetinghouse was built from red cedar logs. Later, in the 1750s, a burial ground was created. It was surrounded by a strong stone wall.
The 1763 Building
The current building was made of stone in 1763. It was about 38 feet by 41 feet in size. This stone building replaced the older log one.
Role in the Battle of Brandywine
During the Battle of Brandywine, British soldiers tried to surprise the American forces. General George Washington led the American army. His soldiers quickly moved north to face the British near the meetinghouse.
The meetinghouse became a hospital during the battle. First, it helped wounded American soldiers. After the battle, it was used to care for British officers. The stone wall around the cemetery was also used. American soldiers bravely defended their position from behind it. After the fighting, both British and American soldiers who died were buried together. They share a common grave in the cemetery.
Later Changes and the School
The meetinghouse was made bigger in 1819. An interesting eight-sided (octagonal) school building was also finished in August 1819. It cost $712.57 to build. The school was used on and off until 1905. It is still part of the historic site today.
In 1968, a Quaker architect named Mather Lippincott designed a new education building. This building is located north of the meetinghouse. The old octagonal school building is now used as The Peace Center at Birmingham. It helps teach people about peace.
Gallery
-
The octagonal school next to the meetinghouse.
-
A historical marker from 1915.
-
The stone wall used as a defensive position during the battle.
-
A 1922 plaque showing the line of defense.
-
A memorial stone for the common grave on the Brandywine battlefield.
