The Light Within… The Meeting House
Light holds a strong significance in Quakerism, symbolizing divine presence, truth, and inner guidance. Often referred to as the “Inner Light” or “the Light Within” among others, it represents the belief that there is that of God in everyone - a direct and personal connection to the Divine without intermediation. In both a literal and theological sense, light is central to Friends’ understanding of faith, community, and ongoing spiritual journey.
Gas light fixtures were first developed in the late 18th Century and had a revolutionary impact on both commercial and residential life. Philadelphia’s first public gas lights were installed in 1836 by the newly formed Philadelphia Gas Works, which was the first municipally owned gas utility company in the United States.
Pictured here are historic light fixtures from ASMH’s archives. In the center is a late 19th Century Gas Ceiling Fixture.
According to ASMH’s archival records, in 1844 a committee of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (now Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia) decided that lighting the meetinghouse would “…be most satisfactorily accomplished by the introduction of gas,” a big change from the traditional oil lamps and candles that had been previously used. Gas lighting was used at ASMH until 1932.
In the late 1960s, Arch Street Meeting House was outfitted with large globe pendant lights - a mid-century and modernist design choice that was popular at the time.
In Winter 2025, the globe lights were replaced by new, low-profile, energy-efficient light fixtures that highlight the West Room’s architectural simplicity and elevate the visitor experience.
Images courtesy of Studio IQL.
The old lights found a new home in the offices of Studio IQL. Studio IQL is a core part of ASMHPT’s Design Team for the meetinghouse’s ongoing capital projects and restorations.
Images courtesy of Studio IQL.
DIG DEEPER!
As an homage to the globe lights that were in the West Room until February 2025, a new light fixture was added to the meetinghouse lobby. The fixture includes a smaller replica globe light and is encased in a metal frame with a silhouette referencing ASMH itself.