Meeting for Sufferings report

Ian Kirk-Smith reports on Meeting for Sufferings

Quakers at the arboretum  The prospect of a Quaker presence in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is moving closer to reality.  A working party, joined by representatives from Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW), has met several times in the past months to develop ideas. The working party has been in active correspondence with Friends in Area Meetings.

Meeting for Sufferings (MfS) agreed to endorse and support the project. A proposed design was on display at Friends House during MfS on 2 April. Suggested texts for the memorial were also presented.

The Quaker memorial would have short texts representing the following: the Friends Ambulance Unit; the Friends Relief Service; the 1947 award of the Nobel Peace Prize; the Religious Society of Friends with reference to the peace testimony; and a text expressing the nature of Quaker worship.

The immediate purpose of a memorial, it was stated, would be ‘remembrance of the service by the Friends Ambulance Unit and Friends Relief Service during the second world war.’ The importance of the memorial for purposes of ‘outreach’ was stressed. Some 300,000 people visit the National Memorial Arboretum each year.

It was stated: ‘Our aim has been to agree a design whose artistic integrity and vision will draw people to our memorial, while respecting our testimony to simplicity and the right use of earth’s resources.’

The suggested design incorporates a circular seating arrangement, which will serve as a setting for contemplation and worship and which would ‘express our vision of reconciliation in times of conflict’.

One of the four testimonies (peace, truth, simplicity, equality) would be carved onto the front of each seat.

A new charity, the Quaker National Memorial Arboretum Trust, along the lines of the Quaker Tapestry model, has been proposed. The memorial would cost in the region of £60,000.

James Turrell

The distinguished American artist James Turrell has agreed to contribute ideas for the redesign of the Large Meeting House at Friends House in London.

Meeting for Sufferings, 2 April, was told that James Turrell will work on a ‘pro bono’ basis with the architects who have been commissioned to develop concepts and proposals for the space.

The project team will consider what scope there is for an ‘iconic’ feature to be incorporated into the design.

James Turrell, who is a Quaker, is known for his imaginative creation of ‘light tunnels’ and projections that exploit the possibilities of light in buildings.

One of his most famous creations is at the Live Oak Meeting in Houston, Texas, which has a skyhole in the roof. In 2006 a ‘skyspace,’ which frames a square of sky with an aperture cut in the roof, was unveiled at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the park’s deer shelter.

Friends at MfS generally, welcomed the proposal to consider a contribution from James Turrell for the project. A Friend questioned the use of the word ‘iconic’ in relation to what British Quakers regard as a very special space.

Courtauld House

Meeting for Sufferings (MfS) was told, in a report from Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees, that the new lease taken for Courtauld House in Bloomsbury, London, has been agreed and signed.

A development company will be converting the building into student accommodation. The new proceeds, after fees, are £6.65 million. These are capital receipts and are only available for property and capital investment.

Finances

The financial status of Britain Yearly Meeting was described as ‘very healthy’ by Ron Barden, clerk of Finance and Property Central Committee.

A substantial amount of money had been donated in the past year by several legacies, and the trading company had been very successful. The turnover of the company was recorded as £2.6 million. Friends were urged, however, not to be complacent. There was a real need to increase voluntary contributions from Quakers and Meetings across Britain.

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