Friends Meeting House

In 1861, amidst the rumbles of the impending Civil War, the Friends Meeting House rose on the corner of Rutherford Place and East 15th Street. This simple, yet elegant, brick structure served as a sanctuary for the Hicksite Quakers of Manhattan. The Friends Meeting House, completed in 1864, overlooked Stuyvesant Square, a park built on land once belonging to Peter Stuyvesant, the very governor who had banned Quaker worship centuries earlier. The Hicksites, followers of Elias Hicks, had quietly separated from the Orthodox Quakers in 1828, holding true to traditional Quaker values of inner light and personal connection with the divine. The Friends Meeting House became a haven for this group, its unadorned architecture reflecting their simple lifestyle. The building itself was constructed by Charles T. Bunting, a member of the congregation. He is also believed to be the architect. The Greek Revival style, though somewhat outdated by then, echoed the Quaker emphasis on unpretentiousness. Even before the Civil War’s official start, the Friends Meeting House was a hub of activity. The Quakers, staunchly opposed to slavery, were active in the abolitionist movement. They likely placed great hope in the newly elected President Abraham Lincoln, whose ancestors were Quakers. The Friends Meeting House also played host to a variety of gatherings, including meetings of the Universal Peace Union. In 1889, an invitation was extended to President Grover Cleveland, though he politely declined due to prior engagements. Within the Friends Meeting House, the interior reflected the same simplicity as the exterior, devoid of elaborate ornamentation. Interestingly, while funerals were common occurrences, weddings were a rarity. One notable exception took place in 1893, the first wedding in the Meeting House in nearly two decades. The ceremony, devoid of music and a presiding minister, was a solemn affair, a testament to Quaker traditions. Throughout the 20th century, the Friends Meeting House continued to be a center for social activism, advocating for civil rights, women’s rights, and peace. It served as the headquarters for the Alternatives to Violence Project, a Quaker-inspired program focused on peaceful conflict resolution, even within prisons. The Friends Meeting House stands today, a testament to the enduring Quaker values of peace, justice, and equality.