Consider the hushed reverence that has echoed through these walls for over three centuries. This is the Flushing Quaker Meeting House. It stands as a testament to faith and freedom.
The Old Quaker Meeting House is the oldest house of worship in New York State. It is the second oldest Quaker meeting house in the nation. The Meeting House was built in 1694. John Bowne and other early Quakers constructed it.
Imagine stepping inside. The dark warm floorboards creak softly underfoot. Simple benches line the room. Hand-hewn timber beams support the ceiling. It is easy to leave the present behind. You enter a sacred space. Centuries of devotion have seasoned it.
This building’s architecture is unique. Its frame consists of forty-foot oak timbers. Each timber was hewn from a single tree. The steeply pitched roof recalls medieval Dutch structures. This design reminds us of New York’s origins as New Amsterdam.
Visitors included George Washington, John Woolman, and William Penn. The Flushing Quaker Meeting House saw the beginnings of the abolitionist movement. It also housed the first school in Flushing.
The Flushing Remonstrance is an important event linked to the Meeting House. This document is an early demand for religious freedom in America.
During the Revolutionary War, the British Army seized the Meeting House. They used it as a barracks, prison, and hospital. After the war, in 1783, the Quakers returned. They restored the building to its original use.
A lovely graveyard surrounds the Meeting House. Indigenous trees and flowers grow there. John Bowne and his family are buried here. The Leggett, Hicks, and Wright families also rest here. These families were prominent in Long Island history.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy helped preserve this building. They supplied grants for a new cedar-shingle roof. They helped stabilize the roof structure. They also helped restore the entrance porch. A fire alarm and sprinkler system protect the wooden structure.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission calls the Meeting House a prime example of medieval survival. It stands as a reminder of New York City’s earliest years. It reminds us of the important contributions made by the Society of Friends.
Here, amidst the bustle of Flushing, the Meeting House offers a peaceful reminder. There is more to life than wealth and fame. For over 300 years, members have fought against intolerance, slavery, injustice, and violence. Today the Flushing Meeting continues to work for a peaceful just world. The Flushing Quaker Meeting House is a National Historic Landmark. It is a New York City Landmark. It stands as a symbol of faith, freedom, and community.