Valley Girl Views: Priestly Chapel in Northumberland Pa

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Priestly Chapel in Northumberland Pa

380 Front Street, Northumberland 17857

https://www.facebook.com/priestleychapelassociates/

The Joseph Priestley Memorial Chapel was built as a country church in 1834 by descendants of Joseph Priestley.

"Although Unitarian worship stresses rationality over mystery, early Unitarian churches and chapels were built in a Gothic Revival style. Constructed of brick in Flemish bond and with a crisply stepped gable, this chapel is one of the oldest church buildings in the county. Of special note is the cabinet pipe organ by John Wind of Lancaster (1815), restored in 1982."

View of the chapel from the parking area. If you turn around, right behind me in this photo is the log cabin that was built in 1790.

The stained glass lancet windows on each side of the pulpit were donated by Priestley's descendants in 1912.

Today church services are no longer held in the chapel, but the space can be rented wedding ceremonies, memorial services, and community events. For more information call 570-490-0246 . It would be the perfect meeting space for a small group

Photo from the February 2024 Program in the Chapel

Built as a Unitarian Church, the congregation included descendants of Joseph Priestley's grandson, Joseph Raynor Priestley.

A small building next to the chapel, visible through the window here, is a handicapped-accessible restroom that was added to the grounds of the chapel to accommodate visitors with disabilities. The restroom matches the appearance of the chapel and blends in seamlessly with the historic landscape.

Currently, the chapel is open to the public the first Sunday of each month for a program of words and music.

There are 13 pews, and very little space in the back, so it is ideal for very small events. Bathrooms are located in a separate building, not in the original structure.

The importance of Joseph Priestley as a theologian and critical thinker is evident in the writings of Thomas Jefferson with whom he often corresponded. An article from The Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia reveals that “Thomas Jefferson was familiar with Priestley’s work long before the latter’s arrival in America. In a survey of recommended reading compiled around 1773, Jefferson included three titles from Priestley: An History of the Corruptions of Christianity, An History of Early Opinions Concerning Jesus Christ, and Essay on the First Principles of Government.”