The world is a busy, noisy place. Quakerism provides an opportunity to find stillness and peace, sometimes enlightenment, among friends who share the same values. We have no leader or preacher, and no-one will tell you what to do or think. We are all equal.
At our meetings we sit together in shared stillness and often find ourselves rising above the confusions and perplexities of our lives into a clearer and calmer spiritual state. Many friends seek and find God, or ‘the Light’, in the silence; others find perspective, guidance and a way forward. Friends may speak (or, as we say, minister) from time to time if they feel compelled to do so but it is possible that an entire hour can go by in shared stillness and reflection.
For more of what to expect when you attend a Quaker meeting click here.
Our meetings are usually face-to-face and last for an hour on a Sunday, but there are also half-hour weekday meetings, and online meetings.
If the idea of sitting largely, or entirely, in silence for an hour sounds rather daunting you can meet some of us online at one of our regular exploratory sessions in which a friend chooses a passage from Quaker writings and we discuss it, followed by a short period of quiet to consider it further.
You can read more about Quaker worship in South West London in this booklet, see a schedule of what’s on and find out where to gather with us here.