Radnor Friends Meetinghouse
Why it's listed
The Radnor Friends Meeting House stands in Ithan, Delaware County, and was built of stone in two sections, in 1717-18 and 1722. The older western section has a steeper roof and doors in its southern and western walls, while the eastern section has doors front and back. Its interior includes a square-edged panelled partition that was restored to its original place at the line of the common wall. The Quaker meeting was organized in 1684, first meeting in John Jerman's home, and the Jerman family transferred the land to the Society of Friends in 1735. The building is probably the oldest in Radnor Township and was its community centre through the eighteenth and much of the nineteenth century. In 1778 it served as a hospital and officers' headquarters for the Continental Army. It closed in 1882, reopened in 1937, and remains in use for Quaker worship. The adjacent cemetery is intact.
Significance in brief: The meeting was organized in 1684 and the building is probably the oldest in Radnor Township, the center of township activity through the eighteenth and much of the nineteenth century. In 1778 it served as a hospital and officers' headquarters for the Continental Army. It was closed in 1882, reactivated in 1937, and is still used for Quaker meeting.
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 78002393, listed August 31, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sproul and Conestoga Rds., Ithan |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | August 31, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002393 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Reactivated in 1937 and used for Quaker meeting. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.03011, -75.36424 (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 78002393.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7281479
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.