The South River Friends Meetinghouse is a 1798 rubble stone structure located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The building measures approximately 30 by 51 feet with walls 16 inches thick and 12 feet high. It was abandoned in the 1840s when Quakers moved from the region to Ohio due to economic hardship and moral opposition to slavery.
During the beginning of the Battle of Lynchburg, Union troops camped near the ruins of the building. In 1899, Presbyterians purchased the ruins and 10 acres from the Society of Friends. They rebuilt the structure as a church and held their first service in 1901, naming the building Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The building was restored to its historic appearance in 1990. It sits adjacent to a historic burial ground where John Lynch, the founder of Lynchburg, is buried. His final resting place is marked by a modern plaque. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Kyle McLonely
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