Parkersville Friends Meetinghouse
Also known as: Kennett Preparative Meeting of Friends
Why it's listed
Built in 1830 in Parkersville, Chester County, the meetinghouse was constructed by the Orthodox Friends from the Kennett Meeting after the Hicksite Orthodox schism of 1827. With few exceptions, the Hicksites kept the existing meetinghouses, so the Orthodox group needed a new place to worship. The original building had a full-length front porch and was little changed through the nineteenth century. A fire in 1917 partially destroyed it, and the meeting rebuilt it the following year without restoring the porch. Benches, window sills and doors were saved from the fire. The last monthly meeting held there took place on March 7, 1905, after the Quaker groups reunited. Today one meeting a year is held in the building by the Kennett Preparative Meeting. The building is valued as a reminder of the Society of Friends' influence on the community.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its connection to the Hicksite schism in the Society of Friends, which led the Orthodox group to construct a new meeting place. It also represents the influence of the Society of Friends on the life of the community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001610, listed March 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Parkersville off PA 926, Pennsbury Township, Parkersville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | March 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001610 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rebuilt after a 1917 fire without the original front porch; currently used by the Kennett Preparative Meeting, which holds one meeting annually in the building. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.88634, -75.64524 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001610.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7138432
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.