Are you concerned about truth?
Do you believe in equality?
Are you open to new ideas?
Do you long for peace?
Then you might feel at home in a Quaker Meeting. Why not come and join us one Sunday morning?
Who are Quakers?
Quakers are members of the Religious Society of Friends. We meet regularly to worship God and to enjoy the fellowship of others. We are men, women, children and young people from all walks of life who share an outlook which respects other people even when we don't agree with them.
We were founded in the 17th century, and still hold many of the beliefs of our founders - for instance that waging war is against the spirit if Jesus. You will find Quakers actively working for peace, justice and reconciliation at the local, national and international level.
What do Quakers Believe?
We believe that within every human being there is a spark of something which we call God, the divine or the Spirit. We sometimes use the phrase the inward light to describe this spiritual awareness. In our mainly silent meetings for Worship we try to be open to this Spirit and to listen for the message which may come to us through our own or others' experiences.
We believe that all people can find the holy at all times and in all places without the need for ordained ministers. Our beliefs are rooted in the Christian tradition, but we think that the Bible is not the only source of God's truth and we are open to the insights of other faiths.
We have no formal creed, in Britain at least. We share:
Silent Meeting for Worship
A business method based on quiet contemplation to ascertain "the spirit of the meeting" rather than confrontation.
How do Quakers Live?
Quakers think that religion is about the way you live your life. We try to live simply, not exploiting either our fellow human beings or any of God's creation. In our daily lives we respect the integrity of others and try to be honest ourselves. Of course we are human and don't always succeed.
Since our early days we have believed in the equality ad dignity of all human beings. Because of these beliefs Quakers are known for their concern for education, social work and prison welfare, and for relief work with refugees and in times of war.
Related Links
History (external site link)
Next Steps
"Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life.
We would be pleased if you would join us at any of our local meetings, or if you would like more information please contact us.
