Pendle Hill is a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center located on a 24acres campus in suburban Wallingford, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. It was named for Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England, that the first Quaker preacher described as the site of his calling to ministry.[1] Founded in 1930, Pendle Hill offers programs open to people of all faiths. These programs include residential study programs, online and on-campus short-term courses and retreats, conference services, publications, leadership training, a walk-in bookstore, hybrid daily meeting for worship, dining services, and a bed and breakfast.
The center offers a variety of online and on-campus programming. The residential study program includes a curriculum of worship, work, study, and service where people typically enroll for ten or more weeks of residential study, typically during the "Spring Term" course offered each year. Short-term courses of two to seven days are offered throughout the year on themes including Quaker faith and practice, nonviolent direct action, prophetic witness, and arts and spirituality. Online programs are also available throughout the year, including free lectures, free reading groups, and free daily meeting for worship. All events and programs are available to the public.
The campus includes a 1-mile perimeter walking trail, which is open to the public, as well as a wetland, koi pond, gardens, native meadow, a library and art studio, and historic buildings.
The property, originally purchased in 1929, was only 7 acres of land that had previously been developed as an arboretum, and included "The Barn" and "Main House," both of which were built in the late 1800s. The property expanded over time to what is now 24 acres with 13 buildings. The arboretum still exists and houses a variety of exotic and native trees, including an American Beech that is well over 300 years old.
The walking trails, outdoor seating, and meadow are open to the public. Meals are also served daily using produce from the on-site organic garden. Guests can participate in meals with a reservation.
There are a variety of meeting spaces which can be rented for conferences and retreats, with capacity for over 100 guests. Overnight accommodations are available for guests of rental groups, educational programs, or for individuals (called Sojourners). Dining services are included for overnight guests.
Pendle Hill also serves as a publishing house, and one of its most visible programs is its pamphlet series, which produces six pamphlets a year. Recent topics have included spiritual nurture, Quaker practice, and pacifism. As of June 2023 there have been 481 such pamphlets, and many are classics in Quaker spirituality. The Pendle Hill Bookstore is a useful resource for Friends looking for Quaker resources perhaps not easily found in their local community.
Pendle Hill introduced its podcast, The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope, in October 2022. As of June 2023, it has released two seasons with a 3rd expected to release in July 2023. The podcast features a variety of guests from the spiritual and Quaker world, who are all hosted by Dwight Dunston, a West Philly-based facilitator, hip-hop artist, educator, and activist. Each season features a trailer, intro episode, and 4-5 episodes each. With their guests, The Seed aims to "explore visions of the world growing up through the cracks in our broken systems."