Concord Friends Meetinghouse
Also known as: See Also:Concord Friends Meetinghouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1728 at the crossroads of Concord and Thornton Roads in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, this two and one-half story brick meetinghouse was rebuilt and enlarged in 1788 after a fire destroyed its interior. The walls are laid in Flemish bond on a stone watertable, and the simple interior once had wooden benches and panels that could divide the room. The building served as the monthly meeting house for the local Quaker community, whose leading families appear throughout its records. According to accounts of the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, it sheltered wounded American soldiers retreating from the battle lines. The Friends also ran a school here from as early as 1717, and the meeting-supported school continued until 1836, when local government took over secular education. The building is regarded as a well-preserved example of 18th-century meetinghouse architecture, and it remained central to the life of Concord Township for more than two centuries.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the meetinghouse is a good example of 18th-century meetinghouse architecture, with Flemish bond brickwork and simple proportions largely unchanged. It also cites its role as the place of worship for local Quaker leaders, its use as a sanctuary for wounded soldiers after the Battle of Brandywine, and its long service as a school and community center.
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 77001164, listed June 17, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Old Concord Rd., Concordville |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | June 17, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001164 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Concordville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.88544, -75.51997 (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 77001164.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5158796
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.