Unitarian Church - Meadville, PA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 41° 38.249 W 080° 09.005
17T E 570786 N 4609876
This is one of the historic churches, dating from 1836, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated Pennsylvania Historic Site. It is a classic example of Greek Revival architecture.
Waymark Code: WM5GGF
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 01/04/2009
Views: 19
From the church web site:
The Unitarian Church of Meadville was established in 1825 and was formally organized in 1829 as the independent Congregational Church. A subscription list of thirty-two names attached to a statement of Fundamental Principles included representatives of the Huidekoper, Cullum, and Shippen families. These three families had important roles in the church's early history: Harm Jan Huidekoper established the chuch; Margaret Shippen and Harm Jan Huidekoper provided the congregation with land; and George W. Cullum designed the building which is now its home. (Note: George W. Cullum also revised plans when a portion of Fort Sumter was rebuilt.)
The building is a bold and imposing example of the Greek Revival style, which was widely popular in the early nineteenth century for churches, buildings, and homes. The present condition of the church is remarkably true to its original aspect of 1836, as no major alterations have occurred through the years.
The name of Meadville became widely known in liberal religious circles through the existence here of an important religious institution, the Meadville Theological School, founded in 1844 in great part through the efforts of Harm Jan Huidekoper and his sons. Meadville thus was the temporary home of hundreds of young men who became Unitarian ministers and supplied pulpits all across the nation. The school remained here for 82 years, but in 1926 was moved to Chicago as an entity of the Federated Theological Faculty of the University of Chicago, where it preserves the town's memory in its name: the Meadville-Lombard School.
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1836
Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque
If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Unitarian Universalist
If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday
Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 10:30 AM
Street address of Church:
346 Chestnut St.
Meadville, PA United States
16335
Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed
Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed
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