Friends Meeting House, Adelaide facts for kids
The Adelaide Friends Meeting House is a special building in North Adelaide, South Australia. It's where the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers, gather. This unique building is made mostly of wood, making it the only church building of its kind in the city. It stands right next to the large St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide.
Besides being a place for Quakers to meet on Sundays and hold weddings, the meeting house has also been used for many other important gatherings. People have met there to discuss peace, education, and other social causes. In its early days, it even served as a temporary home for other church groups, like the Presbyterians and the Church of England, before their own buildings were ready.
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Building a Special Place
The land for the Friends Meeting House was a gift from a Quaker member named J. Barton Hack. He was also in charge of building the meeting house. The building itself was a pre-made structure, meaning it was built in parts elsewhere and then put together on site. It was supplied by a company in London around 1840. Another famous building in Adelaide, the rectory of Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide, was also a similar "Manning's portable cottage".
A Quiet Resting Place
Even though burials were generally not allowed in the city of Adelaide, about seventeen people were laid to rest in the small yard of the meeting house. This included a child of J. B. Hack and family members of Joseph Barritt. However, after 1858, no more burials took place there. The Quakers then started using a special area reserved for them at the West Terrace Cemetery.
Older Than the Cathedral
The Friends Meeting House is much older than the grand St Peter's Cathedral next door. The land for the cathedral was bought in 1862, and its foundation stone was laid in 1869. When the land for the cathedral was sold, there was an agreement that a pathway, or right of way, would always be kept open for people to reach the meeting house.
A Protected Landmark
Because of its unique history and construction, the Friends Meeting House is considered a very important building. On May 28, 1981, it was officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means it is protected and recognized as a significant part of South Australia's history and architecture.
More Information
- Goldney, F. H. The Quaker Meeting House, North Adelaide, Pioneers Association of South Australia, 1968
