Newtown Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Newtown Presbyterian Church
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Newtown Presbyterian Church. October 2012
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sycamore Street, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 2.2 acres (0.89 ha) |
| Built | 1769, 1842 |
| Architect | Hutchinson, Mathias |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001212 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1987 |
The Newtown Presbyterian Church is a very old church building in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It's also known as the Old Presbyterian Church of Newtown. This special place is not just a church; it's also a historic district. This means the church and the land around it are important because of their history.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 1987. This list helps protect important historical sites across the United States.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The Newtown Presbyterian Church you see today is actually the second church building built here. The very first church was put up in 1734. A minister named William Tennent used to preach there once a month.
Building the Church
The first full-time pastor for Newtown started his work in 1752. The current church building was finished in 1769. Later, in 1842, it was updated and changed. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of stone. Its design is in the Greek Revival style, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. Around 1880, a porch and two entryways were added.
A Hospital During the Revolution
In December 1776, during the American Revolution, this church was one of the biggest buildings in Newtown. General George Washington and his Continental Army used it for a very important purpose. They turned it into a hospital for injured soldiers. It was also used as a jail and a place to hold prisoners of war.
After the famous Battle of Trenton, hundreds of Hessian soldiers were kept here. Hessians were German soldiers who fought for the British. These prisoners were later marched to Philadelphia. There, they were traded for American soldiers who had been captured.
The Session House
Next to the main church building, there's a smaller building called the Session House. It was built around 1800. This building is made of stone and has one and a half stories. It was used as a meeting place for the church's leaders, called the "session." Most of these early leaders were farmers. They usually only came to town on Sundays. The Session House gave them a quiet place to handle church business. It's one of only two such buildings still standing in the county.
The Church Cemetery
Behind the church building is a cemetery, partly surrounded by a stone wall. This cemetery is a resting place for many people from Newtown's past. You can find eight British flags marking the graves of men who fought in the French and Indian Wars. There are also twenty-eight flags marking the graves of church members who served under General Washington during the American Revolution.
Gallery
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Newtown Presbyterian Church.
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Session House.
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Cemetery.
