The stories of French and Indian War veterans, Revolutionary War soldiers, and ordinary New Britain residents buried at a 270-year-old cemetery will get a public telling on Thursday, Aug. 27, when the Doylestown Historical Society hosts "Voices from Beneath Our Feet" at Grace Church of Doylestown.
The free outdoor program runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the church, 22 East Butler Ave. in New Britain. Attendees should bring a chair and plan to sit outside the old cemetery walls as presenters share the histories of those interred there. Admission is free. Registration is required through the Doylestown Historical Society's events page.
The cemetery holds the remains of soldiers from the Colonial Wars, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and both World Wars. According to the Doylestown Observer, 33 Revolutionary War veterans are buried on the grounds. The oldest readable grave marker dates to 1748.
The church itself carries deep local roots. According to Grace Church's history, Welsh Baptists who arrived from Wales in 1700 founded the congregation, and the New Britain Baptist Church was officially chartered in 1754 as the ninth Baptist Church in the Philadelphia Baptist Association. The colonial-style sanctuary still standing today was built in 1815. In August 2024, New Britain Baptist Church voted unanimously to gift its entire property to Grace Church of Doylestown.
"Lots of us have lived here a long time and are still discovering new things about our history," Ron Strouse of Doylestown Celebrates told the Doylestown Observer on June 22, discussing the broader USA 250 programming series that includes the Aug. 27 event. "This is an unusual opportunity to specifically spread awareness of our role during the Revolution."
The event is part of "Doylestown Celebrates USA 250!", the Historical Society's yearlong series marking the nation's 250th anniversary. Other programming includes town crier reenactments, guided walking tours of early Doylestown, costumed storytelling at parks and local businesses, and a documentary film expected to premiere at the County Theater in November.
Upcoming community events:
- Sunday, Aug. 16: Presentation on Revolutionary War activity in Bucks and Montgomery counties (Doylestown Historical Society)
- Thursday, Aug. 27: "Voices from Beneath Our Feet," 6–8:30 p.m., Grace Church of Doylestown, 22 East Butler Ave., New Britain. Free; registration required at doylestownhistorical.org.
