Leacock Presbyterian Church
Intercourse, Lancaster County, PA
Built in 1754, with later additions
Above: Old Leacock Presbyterian Church, near the town of Intercourse, PA.
Location of the Orginal Road:
Above: The original road which is now Route 340 was here, south of the church. The road was eventually moved to north of the church. The building’s finest cut stone faces this former road, which now runs along the rear of the property.
The Stone: Limestone and Dolomite
The Front: Beautifully laid courses
The Rear: Random rubble
Above: The south facade is coursed stone of two types. The top courses of finely laminated slaty limestone is typical of the Conestoga Formation. This side originally faced the road.
The north facade has large areas of random rubble. Originally this was the rear of the building, and was not seen from the road.
The Church on a Geologic Map:
Above: Geologic Map of Pennsylvania, by Berg, Edmonds, Geyer, etc., 1980. (Church icon added)
Lancaster County’s fertile central valleys rest on bedrock of limestone and dolomite (formed from limestone). Early settlers sought out these lime-rich soils for their farms. This limestone geology produced extraordinary agricultural abundance. The county’s gray limestone buildings are icons of our farmland prosperity. Limestone was a creator of Lancaster County.
Above: “Leacock Presyterian Church / First Services held in log church 1724. Recognized by Synod 1741.”
Above: This north side originally was the rear of the building, until the highway was moved to this side. This rear side has random rubble fieldstone. The other three sides have coursed stone.
Exterior walls were eventually covered with stucco.
The stucco was removed in 1981.
Above: Exterior covered with stucco. Image source: LancasterHistory
Above: Exterior covered with stucco. Image source: LancasterHistory
Exterior Stucco Timeline:
1. Exterior stone walls were originally bare.
2. These walls were later coated with whitewash.
3. The walls were eventually stuccoed to obstruct moisture.
4. The stucco was removed in 1981.
Most windows and doors were originally arched. These arches were later filled in and the openings were squared.
Description in Our Present Past (1985)
By the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County:
“Leacock Presbyterian Church, Old Philadelphia Pike, south side, east of Leacock Road; part 1754 / 1848 / 1866; one story stone meetinghouse with stone entryway having Gothic arched opening and bullseye windows in gable peaks; original fenestration has been altered; one of the oldest surviving Presbyterian congregations in Lancaster County.” Our Present Past, page 195, Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.