Old Kennett Meetinghouse, United States historic place
Old Kennett Meetinghouse is a wooden structure built in 1710 in Pennsylvania on land originally given by William Penn, featuring simple design and open interior. The site includes a cemetery with old gravestones and surrounding arboretum covering about four acres total.
The building was founded in 1710 and witnessed the Battle of Brandywine in 1777 when fighting occurred nearby and soldiers were buried in the adjacent cemetery. During the 1800s, the Quaker community divided into factions, with some members forming Progressive Friends and establishing Longwood Meeting House to follow their own path.
The meetinghouse served as a gathering place for early Quaker communities and remains a space where visitors can experience the plain, contemplative values of that faith today. The simple wooden interior and quiet setting reflect the Quaker emphasis on simplicity and silent worship that continues during summer services.
The site is easily accessible south of West Chester near Kennett Square and close to Longwood Gardens for those combining visits. Visitors can explore the plain interior and peaceful cemetery grounds on their own or attend summer services held in June, July, and August.
The cemetery contains graves of soldiers who died during the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, directly connecting this location to a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. This physical link to wartime history makes it a rare place where worship ground and battlefield casualties are permanently intertwined.
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