What if a building could change the way you see the sky? That’s precisely what the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting achieves. It stands as a testament to modern Quaker values. Its story is one of unity light and architectural innovation.
The Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting has a unique origin. In 1924 two Quaker meetings came together. These were the Abington Orthodox and Philadelphia Quarterly Hicksite meetings. They formed the Chestnut Hill United Monthly Meeting. This was a significant step. It reconciled Philadelphia Quakers after the Hicksite and Orthodox schism of 1827. They first met in Robert and Elizabeth Yarnall’s home.
The original meeting house was built in 1931. It stood at 100 E. Mermaid Lane. This one-story building had a ranch-style design. It featured a meeting room classrooms and a kitchen. The design broke from Quaker tradition. It emphasized equality and lacked hierarchy. A fireplace replaced the traditional facing benches. Partitions separating men and women were removed. This innovative design led to increased membership.
But the meeting house had limitations. Its space was limited. It lacked accessibility for older members. After careful consideration they decided to build a new meeting house. The original building was sold to United Cerebral Palsy.
The modern Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House is at 20 E. Mermaid Lane. Architect James Bradberry collaborated with light artist James Turrell. Together they created a modern embodiment of Quaker values. The new meeting house incorporates a permanent light installation. This is Turrell’s 76th Skyspace entitled Greet the Light. It’s the second Turrell skyspace in a Quaker meetinghouse. The design was inspired by the Live Oak Friends Meeting House in Houston, Texas.
Members raised about two-thirds of the building’s cost. They also received a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Ground was broken in May 2012. The new meeting house was built between August 2012 and August 2013. Arson caused construction delays. Despite this the building opened in September 2013.
The two-story L-shaped building sits on a 1.8-acre site. Green architecture and sustainable practices were emphasized. The building was built in a former quarry. It was expected to meet LEED platinum standards.
The main entrance features floor-to-ceiling windows. A gathering room has a fireplace and a library. A social room connects to a kitchen and an outdoor terrace. The second floor has classrooms and a mini-kitchen. There is also a handicapped-usable bathroom and shower. A wide porch wraps around the building.
The skyspace is in the 36-foot-high vaulted ceiling. It is in the 1600-square-foot meeting room. The room has plain white walls and 24-foot-high windows. The floor is made of reclaimed long leaf yellow pine.
Greet the Light opened to the public on October 20 2013. Viewings last about 50 minutes at dawn or dusk. When the roof opens light enters through the skylight. This light combines with LED lighting around the ceiling.
Visitors can lie down in the meeting room. They await the sunrise or sunset. The roof quietly slides away. This reveals a rectangular opening to the sky. Turrell created a sensing space. This space opens to and draws light from another source. LED lights in the ceiling change colors. They create an illusion. Our perception of the world shifts.
The Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting isn’t just a building. It’s a place of worship. It’s a community center. It also hosts events. It’s a space where light simplicity and equality converge. The Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting is still an active center for worship. It participates in the Yearly Meetings of Friends. The meeting provides short-term housing for families in transition. It engages with community organizations.
So take a moment to reflect on the light that surrounds you. Consider the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting as more than just architecture. Think of it as a space where community light and spirituality meet.