Uwchlan Meetinghouse
Why it's listed
Uwchlan Meeting House, a 2½ story fieldstone meetinghouse with a gable roof and end chimneys, was erected in 1756 near Lionville in Chester County. Its name derives from the early Welsh settlers and is said to mean 'upper land,' reflecting its position relative to the Great Chester Valley. The Welsh Friends of the village first met at the home of John Cadwalloder in 1712 before the building was raised. The meetinghouse was used by both Hicksite and Orthodox Friends after the group separated in 1828, with the Orthodox occupying the northeast side until 1894 and the Hicksites the west side until 1900. In 1778 the American army used the structure as a hospital during the winter at Valley Forge, staffed by Surgeon Dr. Bodo Otto. In the early twentieth century it also served as a public hall and school. Its significance rests on these religious, medical and community associations in the county's history.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the building to the early Welsh Friends settlement of the area, whose meeting first gathered in a private home in 1712. It also cites the division between Hicksite and Orthodox Friends in 1828, when both groups used the building, and its use as a hospital for the American army during the winter at Valley Forge in 1778. The form describes it as significant in Chester County and Pennsylvania history.
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 73001606, listed September 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N. Village Ave. (Rte. 113), Lionville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001606 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1756 |
| Areas of significance | Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lionville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.05447, -75.65995 (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 73001606.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7903811
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.