There is always a beginning.....

                                                                                                                                      photo: Phil Anthony

 

History of Seaville Meeting:  All Accepted and Welcome at Seaville Religious Society of Friends

by Peaches Lukens


Published in the Ocean City Sentinel, July 17, 2008


    Founded in 1693 by settlers who were escaping both England's and New England's persecution of Quakers, John Townsend left Rhode Island in fear of his life as Qukers were being executed all around him.  Arriving in South Jersey, he was befriended by the Indians of the area who maintained peaceful relationships with the growing Quaker popluation for years.  It is rumored that George Fox himself, the founder of Quakerism, visited the area in 1688.

 

    Seaville Friends is the oldest Quaker Meeting House in New Jersey.

Though records are sketchy, the Meeting House is believed to have been originally located in the Beesley's Point area and another was located in Somers Point.  Friends came together in both places as they sailed back and forth across the bay to be together.

 

    The Meeting House in Beesley's Point was built by local ship builders out of wood which is unusual for a Meeting House, traditionally built of brick or stone.  





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(Not from Peaches Lukens)


     Tradition says that the meeting house was moved from Beesley’s Point to the present location sometime in the 1700’s.  However, minutes from that time do not substantiate this but do mention the building of a meeting house “in the upper quadrant of Cape May” in the 1760’s,  

 

   

    Until the construction of Friendship Hall in 1980, the meeting yard sported a two seater out house and a hand pump. (The out house was donated to Cold Springs Village when no longer needed.)

 

    Friendship Hall was built to provide indoor bathrooms, a kitchen, and a meeting room for activities and religious education.  The building was designed by Carl Haines, an archeological architect and long time attender, to fit in with the original meeting house and an old doorway was reopened to give access between the two buildings.    


    There are two burial grounds on the property and under the care of the meeting.     


    The “Gandy graveyard” along Route 9 and adjacent to the meeting house became part of the property when the state changed the course of Route 9.  It is believed this was one of the many family grave plots which can still be found in Cape May County.  It is not open for new burials.


    The original graveyard to the south of the meeting house has headstones dating back to the 1800’s and is still being used.  

   


    A stone labyrinth was added to the property in 2020.