Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

A Brief History of Swarthmore Friends Meeting

The Society of Friends started in England in the middle of the 17th century under the leadership of George Fox. Large numbers of Friends settled in New Jersey and Pennsylvania under the leadership of William Penn during the 1680's.

Meetings for worship were held at Swarthmore College from its establishment, and the Meetinghouse was erected in 1879. Swarthmore Monthly Meeting was organized in 1893 and Whittier House was built to hold the First Day School and other activities of the Meeting. The Meeting and the College share the use of the Meetinghouse. For more on the history of Swarthmore Friends be sure to visit Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

We are a Quaker community coming from a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds. We worship together for an hour every First Day (Sunday) morning. Our worship experience nurtures the bonds within our membership, helps speak to the needs of seekers, and supports our testimonies on peace, justice, the environment, and other social concerns. We are glad that you have joined us online and hope you will visit our Meeting.

Meeting for Worship is held each First Day (Sunday) at 10:00 o'clock. The Adult Forum is held during most of the year at 11:00 a.m. following the Meeting for Worship. First Day School also meets at 10:00 o’clock. The Meeting Office is located in Whittier House and is open Tuesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The telephone number is 610-328-8699.