meeting house
Community worship building
A meeting house is a building for gatherings, especially religious worship.
The term is most associated with Quakers, whose plain, unadorned meeting houses reflect their rejection of elaborate church architecture.
In colonial New England, the meeting house served both civic and religious functions—a place for town meetings as well as Sunday services.
The old meeting house still stands on the village green.
Interior connecting pathway
- benchesMulti-person seats or sidelines
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- balconyRaised exterior platform
- plainBasic and unremarkable
unadorned · whitewashed · wooden · clapboard · gable · steeple · bell tower · vestry
Of occupied territories
- QuakerSociety of Friends member
- PuritanEnglish Protestant simplifier
- New EnglandNortheast U.S. region
- landmarkNotable point of reference
heritage · preservation · restoration · register · pilgrims · settlement · architecture · shingle
Society of Friends member
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- pewsFixed sanctuary seating
- sermonClergy's worship address
- ministerReligious leader or serve
parishioners · clergy · worship · prayer · hymnal · liturgy · sanctuary · chapel
Constructing from components
- conveningFormally gathering together
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- attendeesPeople at an event
participants · seating · benches · hall · foyer · vestibule · threshold · doorway
Local government headquarters
- assemblyConstructing from components
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- voteFormal choice expression
ordinance · selectmen · zoning · public hearing · community forum · township · borough · citizens
hall
Interior connecting pathway
- benchesMulti-person seats or sidelines
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- balconyRaised exterior platform
plain · unadorned · whitewashed · wooden · clapboard · gable · steeple · bell tower · vestry · anteroom
colonial
Of occupied territories
- QuakerSociety of Friends member
- PuritanEnglish Protestant simplifier
- New EnglandNortheast U.S. region
landmark · heritage · preservation · restoration · register · pilgrims · settlement · architecture · shingle · clapboard
Quaker
Society of Friends member
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- pewsFixed sanctuary seating
- sermonClergy's worship address
minister · parishioners · clergy · worship · prayer · hymnal · liturgy · sanctuary · chapel · pastor
assembly
Constructing from components
- conveningFormally gathering together
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
attendees · participants · seating · benches · hall · foyer · vestibule · threshold · doorway · entrance
town hall
Local government headquarters
- assemblyConstructing from components
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
vote · ordinance · selectmen · zoning · public hearing · community forum · township · borough · citizens · residents
- wharestorehouse, cookhouse
- New ZealandAuckland, Wellington, Air New Zealand, Kiwis, Christchurch
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
- villagevillage, village green, village church, village square, villager
- Maori heritageAotearoa, Maori, mana, pa, tapu
- Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony, Pilgrims, Mayflower, Mayflower Compact, 1620
meeting housecathedral
Bishop's principal church
basilica · St. Peter's Basilica · mega-church · Notre-Dame · abbey
meeting househermitage
Secluded religious dwelling
private chapel · isolation cell · isolation chamber · cloister
meeting housenightclub
Evening entertainment venue
casino · marketplace · tavern · brothel · gambling den