The Meeting House
By Pat Grabey
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Protestant dissenters created a new kind of Christian church — the meeting house. Not wanting to draw attention to themselves because of possible persecution and in reaction to the more elaborate Anglican and Catholic churches, the now-called Protestant Plain Style emerged.
A simple rectangular building was constructed which emphasized a preaching space. This was a reaction against the old liturgy and was based on the belief of the priesthood of all believers. It was an attempt to bring back the purity of the earlier Christian services. They also wished to establish a direct connection to the individual worshipper. These plain buildings could be found throughout Europe until the late 18th century when they began to be less severe in architectural style and reflected an admiration for a more classic look.
In the early 1700s our Presbyterian ancestors, because of bad harvests and religious discrimination, set sail for the colonies of North America. Whether indentured servant or prosperous landlord, they all brought with them their belief that the center of their religion was based on the Word of God.
Philadelphia was the main port of entry for these settlers who then moved into Pennsylvania and down the spine of the Appalachians. Later they settled in the Carolinas. Still following the Protestant Plain Style they constructed simple buildings of logs to house their early congregations.
First erected on the eastern shore of Long Island in 1640, the log meeting house could be quickly constructed. Before, the early preaching was done in an open field with a raised pulpit sometimes located in a tree. The presence of a meeting house encouraged the growth of an organized congregation and possibly even a settlement.
Within, the pulpit was placed in the center of the long side of the rectangle with benches surrounding it. If possible, windows were added. There were no crosses or other symbols of adornment. The reason was that the cardinal element of the Presbyterian service was the sermon. The preacher’s title was “Minister of the Word.”
Over the years, the meeting house became more permanent, larger and less severe. The outside might even take on the classic Greek look with added columns and a portico. Inside, the pulpit was moved to the small end. The reason for this is unknown. Below the raised pulpit could be found the clerk’s desk. Again, the worshippers were seated around three sides of the minister. Galleries could be found in the larger churches. This arrangement continued to follow the premise that being able to hear the minister established the closeness of the individual to the Word of God.
First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle had its first meeting house at Meeting House Springs, on or near the site of the cemetery. This was an early, simple, log meeting house. The congregation is still housed in a large classic meeting house built in the late 18th century. The interior has been greatly altered from its original appearance.
Local examples of early meeting house architecture may be found in the restored churches of Silver Spring and Paxton Presbyterian in Paxtang. On April 25, 2009, the 275th Anniversary Committee hosted a bus trip to visit several of these pre-1745 Presbyterian “spring” meeting houses in Cumberland County (for example, Big Spring, Middle Spring).