Why I come to Quakers

Fiona (Wandsworth)

Fiona: Quaker, speech and language therapist, knitter

I went to a Quaker school in the North England, and I remember when I first visited the school, this feeling of inclusion and friendliness. Whilst there I came to appreciate the way school valued individuals for what they could bring to the school community and not just their academic achievements.

It was going to a school reunion that resulted in me coming back to Quaker meeting. At the reunion I made an agreement with another old scholar that I would attend meeting before the end of the year. And so, I returned to Quaker meeting.  At that first meeting I was reminded of the warmth, inclusivity and community that I experienced at school. Meeting provides a quiet space in busy, noisy world to pause, reflect, take stock, and gather strength. The hour of sitting quietly together simply sets me up for the following week.

Alice: Quaker, strategist, cellist, poet

Alice: Quaker, strategist, cellist, poet
 
Although it took courage to attend, I was instantly struck by the equality and openness of my first Quaker meeting. 

I continue to find the act of simply sitting in the presence of other people deeply moving. Nothing is required other than who I already am. That for me is grace in action. 
 
Now, I like feeling part of a network of people who integrate action in the world with contemplation in community. I welcome the silence. I welcome the raw honesty and wisdom of what people share, when they feel led to share. I find my honesty is welcomed too. 

Chay: Quaker, hacker

I come to Quaker meeting for the purpose of spiritual worship. The way Quakers practice this suits me well, being communal, open, and inherently supportive, and the explicitly non-dogmatic nature of Quakerism makes it very special to me. 

Attending meeting maintains a sacred space in a busy and distracting life, which I have found beneficial and compelling.

Mona, Esher

Mona: Quaker, potter, mediator

I love the way we sit gathered together for worship. To me it's like an oasis of peace. I find it very restorative.
I value that any of us can be moved to speak or minister, that we are all equal. There are no priests or vicars. No-one tells us what to think or how to feel. On the contrary we are invited to think and decide for ourselves. I also value that Quakers welcome people of any faith or no faith.
 
I am a pacifist, and I'm drawn to the Quaker's history of active peacemaking.

Emma

Emma: Quaker, Climate Scientist, Mother 
 
Every day at work I bear witness to how our planet’s climate is changing. That would be emotionally tough even without the practical pressures of a hectic life of deadlines and business travel and conflicting priorities - all while also trying to be a good enough mother to my two teenagers. My Quaker faith grounds me. In a meeting for worship I connect spiritually and deeply with other Friends and can hear the still, small voice that says: ‘Be still and know that I am’. 

Catherine

I am a cautious person, who is prone to introspection and would like to gain some knowledge of Chistianity, not yet acquired.

I try to attend the meeting, because it reaches and refreshes me. The silence is strenthening and the readings are wise. I can leave my cares aside. In reflection and deliberation we can create our safety net and grow to an understanding of what God means. Then by being in the stillness and calm the worldy hubbub is forgotten. Even when it is a struggle to commit to a faith, the Sunday mornings have a guiding light. Unsure of my opinions, I can receive and explore. I like the solace and dignity of this ministry. The refuge and sanctity are a balm.

 

Antonia

Antonia: Quaker, social entrepreneur, writer
 
My Quaker faith equips me with a practical toolkit for managing my life no business school could equal. It is the Quaker way of thinking and the imperceptible discipline it exerts, which helps me negotiate my path through every area of my life - at work, at home, my relationships and out there in the world. Turning up on spec to a Quaker Meeting in Edinburgh one freezing winter lunchtime back in 2010, was undoubtedly one of the most important actions I took during that rollercoaster decade. 
 
It wasn’t the Meeting House central heating that made me feel I had just been plugged into the national grid, as the snow whipped against the windows.

Kathryn, Richmond

Kathryn:  Quaker, gardener, history enthusiast 

It took me a while to summon up the courage to step across the threshold of my local meeting house, Richmond. That was 10 years ago. I was immediately drawn to the experience of meeting for worship, the shared commitment to silence, and the insights and sense of peace and connection that may emerge from it. 

I understand Quaker values to be not a set of rules, but an interlocking set of possibilities and challenges to how we live. I’m particularly drawn to the value of simplicity and its connection with truth. For me, the search for simplicity is not just about getting rid of stuff, but about clarity and openness. 

Nick, Wandsworth

Nick: Quaker, management consultant, guitarist

I came to Wandsworth meeting from a church where I was an active participant and leader in sung worship – so the prospect of sitting in near-silence for an hour might have seemed rather daunting. However I soon began to realise that music could often get in the way of a real and deep connection with what I still think of as God or the Holy Spirit. 

Being part of a friendly community of people who are all trying in their own ways to make that connection and to let it guide their daily lives and the various challenges we face personally and collectively is deeply rewarding and definitely why I keep coming back.

Fred, Kingston

Fred:  Quaker, family immersed, still searching

My first encounter with Quakers was 36 years ago when I walked up to the door and met a short smiling man who said, “you’re very welcome here” and really meant it.   John walked alongside me during my early years of learning.  Others still accompany me in my persistent search for the friendship of God. 

I come to meeting because so many of the people I love best will be there.