Quakerism began in England in the 1640s as a radical Christian movement. George Fox, a young shoemaker's apprentice, was a leader of the movement.
Key points about Quakerism:
Core belief: The idea that individuals can directly experience God's presence through an "inner light" without the need for clergy.
Persecution: Early Quakers faced significant persecution for their beliefs.
Impact: Quakers played a key role in the abolitionist movement and women's rights movements due to their emphasis on equality and social justice.
Brief History of Our Community
Oral history states our Meeting House was built in 1807. However, there are a few references prior to this.
Road dockets suggest there was a Meeting House where Friends of Charlestown worshiped on a road "leading from White Horse" in 1802.
In 1805 it was suggested at Radnor Monthly Meeting, "that it would be profitable to have a meeting for worship on the afternoon of First-Days (Sundays), at Charlestown school house."
We choose to use 1807. What's a few years in the grand scheme of things?
Our Meeting is like The Little Engine That Could as residents from this area traveled a great distance to worship at Valley Preparative and Radnor Monthly Meetings. The roads from our rural neighborhoods were likely not well maintained.
The building was originally meant to be a school house but traveling Friends were known to worship here. It took 10 years for the Friends of Charlestown to be indulged as a Meeting. It is not known why, but it took the women of the Monthly Meeting 3 years to unite in allowing Charlestown to be indulged.
Enoch Walker, a Friend whose family gifted land for the Quaker community at Valley Meeting, gifted 2.4 acres to Friends of Charlestown (now Schuylkill) township and the surrounding areas.
We were a vibrant community during the 19th century taking up causes such as equality for women and to abolish slavery. The first American born woman to graduate from a medical school grew up in our community. Our Members took African-Americans in their care from various Underground Railroad stops and guided them across the Schuylkill river. Not one person was known to have been caught while under our care.
In 1849 the Meeting was laid down and Friends were re-attached to Friends at Valley Meeting again. At an unknown date the Meeting is reopened, and then again laid down in 1935. In 1939 Friends of Schuylkill are permitted to reestablish a Meeting which survives to this day. We became a Monthly Meeting on 11 mo. 1954 and in 1971 we moved on to Caln Quarterly Meeting.
For well over a century we were linked to Valley Friends Meeting, either under the care of Valley or worshiping with them in Wayne, PA. During the renovations of our Meeting House in 1999 ~ 2000, we worshiped with them again. We are forever grateful to have been part of the same community.
While our Meeting may have opened – closed – opened – closed and opened, Friends of Schuylkill remained persistent in their sentiment to have a place of worship for their community.
We worship on First Day (Sunday) at 10:00 am.
All are welcome.
Historical Lecture - The 1909 Pilgrimage to Schuylkill Friends Meeting
This is the most valuable document regarding Charlestown / Schuylkill Friends Meeting history because it was the first historical document we have and this is what historians would refer to. The first printing was in three issues of the Friends Intelligencer in 1909.
A Chronological History of Schuylkill Friends Meeting Volume 02
This 22 page chronology was written by a couple from the Schuylkill Friends Meeting. In addition to researching the Meeting, Carol and Bob were members of our Property Committee. They gathered information regarding the National Historic Register and Historic American Buildings Survey. A few people they spoke with while attending a workshop on historic structures, held at 4th and Arch Streets in 2005, were a historian from the National Park Services, an historic buildings architect and 2 Quaker architects. They also attended several HABS work groups. This chronology was presented to our community in 2006.
Note: The endnote links do not work when viewed on our drive. If you prefer using the endnotes, download the file and it should work locally.
Historical Information Regarding Schuylkill Friends Meeting House Volume 02
This document focuses primarily on the property. It may be helpful if you are interested in the property's maintenance and is meant to supplement:
Historical Lecture - The 1909 Pilgrimage to Schuylkill Friends Meeting and
A Chronological History of Schuylkill Friends Meeting Volume 02
Note: The endnote links do not work when viewed on our drive. If you prefer using the endnotes, download the file and it should work locally.
Underground Railroad Stop near Philly: The Schuylkill Friends Meeting where Henry "Box" Brown Spoke
7 minutes - 10 mo. 2024
The Quaker movement originated in England during the mid-17th century, founded by George Fox, who preached a message of direct, personal access to God through the "inner light" and challenged the established church hierarchy, leading to the formation of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers; this movement gained traction during a time of significant social and religious turmoil in England, with many seeking a more authentic spiritual experience.