The most beautiful historic building in Newtown, Bucks County, PA, is the Old Presbyterian Church…read moreon Sycamore Street. Built in 1769 and remodeled extensively in 1782 in Greek Revivalist style, it was the first Protestant church in town, predating the Quaker Meetinghouse by 81 years. The 2.5 story house of worship was plain in keeping with the modest state of this colonial village, but its rubble fieldstone and Ashlan stonework walls remain noble and solidly spiritual. The current congregation moved to larger quarters in the early 1930s, but the old home for the souls who came before remained, and during summer months services returned here where the thick stone walls and ancient hardwoods overhead still cooled the faithful. Unlike the Quakers who tended to be pacifists and declined to fight in the American Revolution based on their religious principles, the Presbys fought mostly for the cause of Independence. Washington's headquarters was down the street at the intersection of Swamp Road and Sycamore. After the first Battle of Trenton across the Delaware River in Jersey, the church as one of the largest buildings in Newtown, was commandeered for use as a jail, hospital and POW camp. The captured Hessian troops were subsequently marched to Philadelphia for a prisoner exchange. In the rear of the church remains the original cemetery and its protective brick wall. Eight graves are from the French & Indian Wars, and in 28 rest our local brave revolutionists. The roots of this church and the community it serves are so very deep. Amazingly, the old church stands today in all its aging dignity. Walk around looking in the windows, praying in the cemetery, meditating under the broad branches of trees that have witnessed it all. If you're lucky, you can go inside to sit in the ancient pews and contemplate the generations of farmer and small craftsmen families who lived their lives nearby, and helped birth our new nation. Respect this treasure and treat her gently. The Old Presbyterian Church in Newtown was registered as a National Historic Site in 1987, and remains the soul of this community.

The Newtown Reform Church has it entrance right at the corner of the Newtown Bypass and Buck Road,…read moremaking for some entertaining moments when the drivers behind you realize you are turning into a driveway that they cannot even see. Still, once on the property, and the church is seen in the distance across the open field, you realize that this is probably a good place for a church, but certainly not for anything that attracts more autos into the site. There is no other way in or out, so just be careful. I have only been to this location a few times for special events of the Chinese Christian Church of Princeton that rents the facility from the local congregation on a regular basis. The most recent was the celebration of The Year of the Dog, which began recently. The space works well for these hundred or so families, and it is obvious why they would love to purchase the grounds and structures for their perpetual use. Word has it that the church has declining membership and was in fact for sale at one time, but that it is now in partnership with a residential developer to build homes around the steeple and use the hall as a community center!? Sounds like a very bad idea. I enjoyed the feasts and festivities produced by the leasees there, both summer and winter. How nice would it be if they had a permanent home here in the heart of Bucks County. Surely, William Penn would approve.

I found Crossing to be the least welcoming of all of the churches in Newtown. Due to the church's…read morelocation being convenient to me and friends having attended or been members in the past (none of them do/are now. I should have considered that as a sign not to visit), I became a regular attender, despite much of church staff being hesitant to even shake my hand throughout my time there. What I learned is that, if you did not grow up in this church or do not already have a friend group in it before you began to attend, you are viewed as an outsider and that is the way it is going to remain. I received an abundance of curious e-mails from Crossing that were clearly data harvesting attempts (even without/before being a full member of the church), and repeated, aggressive e-mails for me to come out to the church and perform manual labor on the church house early in the morning, even though I had been sick with COVID symptoms. I also balked when I saw how invasive the church membership contract/covenant is. When a church requires you to forfeit your right to legal counsel as a condition for joining them, that's more than enough of a sign not to come any bit closer. Finally: the lead pastor stopped communicating with me because I visited another church. If that is not evidence of clique behavior, what is? That's contrary to the message of the gospel.

Horrible! If you like cliques you will love this church. One of the most unloving churches I have…read moreever been to. Although our family was heavily involved in ministry and volunteering for this church, we were never treated like part of the in crowd. In fact when our family experienced something devastating they were nowhere to be found. When my father died, they were nowhere to be found. I would say this was one of the worst churches I've ever been to, but unfortunately most every church we spent several years in in the Northeast is like this. Cold hearted, arrogant, superficial and rarely faithful in teaching God's word accurately.

Although not a member of the St. Andrew's congregation because of my Jewish faith, I have visited…read moreboth the old and new St. Andrew Catholic Church in Newtown, Pa. on many occasions. It is part of the Philadelphia Diocese, and operates an school by the same name on Wrights Road. The old brownstone single tower neo-Gothic structure, completed in 1880, has a wonderful ambiance, but it held only 200 people and became too small for the growing population of central Bucks County. A new modern open church was completed in the 1990's, just up Swamp Road. Its airiness and vaulted ceilings contributes to a sense that prayers fly upward and are amplified by the multitude of sincere entreaties below. It is a very warm church. Sadly, it seems that the main reason for visits over the years has been to attend funerals and the Blue Mass for our police officers and first responders. Father (Monsignor) Picard is a strong and compassionate leader of this faith community. He connects well with all, and offers a sincere ear and deep reflective response to all who seek his advise and aid. I found myself there yesterday after a neighbor I have known for many years passed away suddenly. The pews were full with his mourning family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Psalms were read. Songs were song, and eucharist was offered. Tears flowed. Embraces were extended and heart felt. The service ended and solemnly as it had begun, with Father Picard standing at the door offering one last, "Peace Be With You," to all who had come to celebrate and commiserate the life and death of a wonderful man too soon taken.

Woodside is a vibrant, active, friendly, spirit-filled place. They offer many terrific programs for…read morekids and teenagers. Plus, they have a heart for reaching out to the less fortunate and participate in lots of outreach and mission projects.

I attended a wedding here so take it for what it's worth. It's pretty nice on the outside although…read morethe inside is quite modest. The pastor who performed the wedding was really good and the whole church had a cozy feel to it.

This church has been my family's greatest find. Tom the assistant pastor gives such educational…read moresermons that are truly inspiring and the lead pastor Bob truly loves this church and is always willing to listen. The congregation is friendly and you can really feel at home here in such a short time. If your looking for study groups they offer several to choose from. Child care is also available during the Sunday services as well as a great kids program on Wednesday nights.

Although Newtown was founded by Quaker William Penn in 1684, the Newtown Friends Meeting House was…read morenot constructed until 1817. Why did it take so long, when Newtown was a hub of population and commerce throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries; and was the county seat of Bucks County for 88 years beginning in 1727? Given the nature of Quakerism, the very importance of the township was the reason that the majority Quaker population in those days choose to find peace, contemplation and brotherhood a bit farther afield. According to local historians, the presence of the courthouse, about a day's horseback ride from most other villages in the county, often required litigants and weekly market sellers to stay overnight in town. The presence of so many non-residents led to the establishment of businesses complementary to their desires. Thus, there were many taverns and whorehouses to pleasure the traveler. Even a modest sin city was more than the pure souls could accept, and they decided to seek their communion with God a few miles out of town away from these earthly distractions. So, shortly after Doylestown was selected the new center of government and justice (1813), the Newtown Quakers began planning the path to making Newtown a meeting center. One of the leaders of the Quaker community in Newtown was the artist Edward Hicks (The Peaceable Kingdom). He arrived in 1811, and became the driving force in town for the balance of his life. The actual meetinghouse was built in 1815. It remains today, a two story whitewashed stucco structure, with out buildings and beautiful peaceful garden. While not a Quaker myself, I have had the good fortune to spend a lot of time in the meetinghouse due to the generosity of the Meeting, that willingly allows others to use the facility for community purposes. Thus, The Peace Center has held its Peace Camp there for many summers, and a local Jewish congregation met in their sanctuary Friday nights/Saturday mornings for several years. Before that, the Underground Railroad was believed to have had a stop in the vicinity organized by the group, and they were known to have collected money to send south to assist in the manumission of slaves. This noble house today sits in a park-like setting at the southern end of Court Street, the former main thoroughfare of town. It is still open for the business of prayer, witnessing and quiet contemplation. Although renovated in the past few years, its unique spiritual qualities survive for those who can feel its presence.