The South River Friends Meetinghouse, or Quaker Meeting House, is a historic Friends meeting house located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It was completed in 1798. It is a rubble stone structure, approximately 30 by 51 feet (9.1 by 15.5 m), with walls 16 inches thick, and 12 feet high. The building was abandoned in the 1840s, with the Quakers of the region moving to Ohio due to economic hardship, and their moral opposition to slavery. The ruins of the building were utilized during the beginning of the Battle of Lynchburg, with Union troops camping near the ruins.[3]
South River Friends Meetinghouse | |
_Meeting_House_2.jpg) South River Friends Meetinghouse, Lynchburg VA, April 2024 | |
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| Location | 5810 Fort Ave., Lynchburg, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°22′23″N 79°11′32″W / 37.37306°N 79.19222°W |
| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1791 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002113[1] |
| VLR No. | 118-0015 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 1975 |
| Designated VLR | May 20, 1975[2] |
In 1899, Presbyterians purchased the ruins and 10 acres from the Society of Friends. They rebuilt the ruins for use as their church and held their first service in 1901, naming the new church Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church in honor of its Quaker heritage. The building was restored to its historic appearance in 1990.[4]
Adjacent to the structure is a historic burial ground. Buried there is John Lynch, the founder of the city whose final resting place is marked by a modern plaque.[5]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[6]
References
edit- ^ "South River Friends Meetinghouse". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 14 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "South River Friends Meetinghouse". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 14 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Keith (18 June 2024). "160th Anniversary of the Battle of Lynchburg". Lynchburg Museum. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "South River Meeting House - Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church - Lynchburg, Virginia". www.qmpc.org. Archived from the original on 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (April 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: South River Friends Meetinghouse" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
- ^ "South River Friends Meetinghouse". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 14 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
External links
edit- South River Quaker Meeting House, 5810 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, VA: 2 photos, 1 data page, and 1 photo caption page, at Historic American Buildings Survey
- Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church
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