Historical Religious Retreat

The religious retreat, located on Ninth Street, was started in 1882 by John Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz was a furniture maker who wanted to build a place where anyone could come to worship. The retreat was started to serve as a summer resort for children and adults of all ages and for people all around the world.

The pavilion (or auditorium) was originally built in 1882, to hold religious services. The first auditorium was built in 1884 and was enlarged in 1892 with a seating capacity of 600. At the park people would use the dirt floored auditorium for camp meetings and religious purposes, but now it's often used by older or retired couples, and no longer focuses as much on religion. The pavilion has always been colored white and green. In 1995 this pavilion was placed on the Bucks County Conservancy List of Historic Buildings.

People from places such as Philadelphia, loved coming to the country to get away from the city. For six months a year, people from locations throughout the world stayed in Perkasie Park, and went three times a week to services at the pavilion.

This is the pavilion (circa 1909) located in the Perkasie Park. It was used to hold religious services and for camp meetings.		This is a picture of the open air pavilion at the camp meeting being held at the religious retreat (circa 1912).

During the 1930's hundreds of pastors and laymen would enroll in the school of Christian Education during the 1930's. During the 1940's the park was also used as a retreat for teenagers.

Many cottages were built in Perkasie Park over the years and many religious services were held in the center pavilion in this seasonal park. Camp meetings and huge crowds are gone today but services are held on a weekly basis. Today the park has become more of a vacation spot to get away on the weekends.

Today the Perkasie Park is operated in affiliation with the United Methodist Church.