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 and important church building in Newtown, Pennsylvania. It's also known as the Old Presbyterian Church of Newtown. This church is part of a special area called a historic district. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 1987 because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Look at Newtown Presbyterian Church History
This church building is the second of four Presbyterian churches built in Newtown. The very first church was put up in 1734. A minister named William Tennent used to preach there once a month.
The Church Building's Design and Changes
The first pastor to officially lead the church in Newtown started in 1752. The church building you see today was first built in 1769. It was later updated in 1842. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of stone. Its design follows the Greek Revival style, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. Around 1880, a porch and two entryways were added to the church.
The Church During the American Revolution
In December 1776, this church was one of the biggest buildings in Newtown. Because of its size, General George Washington used it for his Continental Army during the American Revolution. It served as a hospital for injured soldiers. It was also used as a jail and a place to hold prisoners of war.
After the Battle of Trenton, hundreds of Hessian soldiers were held here. Hessians were German soldiers who fought for the British. After being held at the church, they began a long march to Philadelphia. There, they were exchanged for American soldiers who had been captured.
The Session House: A Meeting Place
Next to the church, on its south side, there's a smaller building called the Session House. It was built around the year 1800. This building is made of stone and has one and a half stories.
The Session House was used as a meeting place for the church's leaders, known as the session. It's one of only two such buildings still standing in the county. Many early session members were farmers. They usually only came to town on Sundays. The Session House gave them a quiet place to take care of church business.
The Historic Church Cemetery
Behind the church building is its cemetery. A stone wall partly surrounds it. This cemetery holds the graves of many important people. Eight British flags mark the graves of men who fought in the French and Indian Wars. Twenty-eight flags mark 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.
