Thought for the Week: Why I became a Quaker

Giampiero Zucchelli reflects on why he became a Quaker

by Giampiero Zucchelli 15th April 2016

When in Italy I have a problem explaining what Quakers are and what they believe. For that matter, I even find it difficult to translate the name ‘Quakers’, as very few people in Italy have heard of this strange name: Quaccheri.

I certainly knew nothing of them before arriving in Britain more than fifty years ago. The fact is that even here, the birthplace of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers are still a bit of mystery for most people. The word ‘Quaker’ is generally associated with porridge, plain dress code and old-fashioned values!