William Penn’s Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on William Penn’s Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity Alexander Milne Calder’s bronze statue of William Penn atop Philadelphia City Hall surveys the founder’s beloved Holy Experiment fashioned out of the ideals of his Quaker faith. In a seventeenth-century world conditioned by violence, religious persecution, and arbitrary authority, Penn established an unusual colony dedicated to the principles of religious toleration, participatory...
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Artifacts from Immaculate Conception Church

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on Artifacts from Immaculate Conception Church Northeastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite (or hard coal) region traces its rich religious diversity to the late nineteenth century, when many newly-arrived ethnic groups established their own neighborhoods and communities, giving rise to a large number of Catholic, Greek, Byzantine, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. The first wave of immigrants, the Welsh, was largely Protestant, but later groups,...
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Executive Director’s Letter

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on Executive Director’s Letter Pennsylvania is widely recognized as one of the most visited states in the nation. Tourists flock here to see authentic places and national historical landmarks such as the Gettysburg Battlefield, Washington Crossing Historic Park, Fallingwater, and Independence Hall. But they also come to explore our historic cities and towns, pristine landscapes, and the diverse cultural traditions of...
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Discovering Religious Diversity Along the Pennsylvania Trails of History

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on Discovering Religious Diversity Along the Pennsylvania Trails of History William Penn (1644-1718) knew well the sting of discrimination and the misery of persecution for his religious beliefs. He suffered the consequences of breaking with the Church of England, leading to estrangement from his father, Admiral Sir William Penn (1621-1670). When imprisoned for attending meetings of the Society of Friends – commonly called Quakers and Friends – the younger...
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