SWANSEA, MASS. (WHDH) – The National Trust for Historic Preservation has unveiled its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, which this year honors the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and the self-evident truth that all people are created equal. Among the locations was the Swansea Friends Meeting House.
Recognized as the oldest surviving Quaker meeting house in Massachusetts, the Swansea Friends Meeting House was built as a refuge by a congregation fleeing religious persecution and seeking a safe place to worship freely.
The 1701 building has been closed to the public for years and requires significant rehabilitation. Once restored and activated, the Meeting House will serve as a community center including interpretation honoring the Quaker congregation’s contributions to our nation’s pursuit of religious liberty, the abolition of slavery, and women’s rights…