Chester Friends Meeting House

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Beginning as an Indulged Meeting under Center Meeting in 1824, Chester Friends first met on the Thomas McMillan farm. In 1828 land was donated and a log Meeting House was built and a burial ground established. Many of the McMillan family are buried here.

A typical brick Meeting House was built in 1844. Then, due to the evangelical fervor and increased membership of the late 1800s, the 70-year old Meeting House was replaced by a new one in 1914. Many Meetings in the early 20th century built “churches” of the English country style with stained glass windows.

Members of this Meeting have been active in Underground Railroad and many other social issues. A commemorative well in the burial ground memorializes fugitive slaves who died here on their way north. When the memorial was constructed, bricks were gathered from the ruins of several local old houses which were known to have been stations of the Underground Railroad.