Eye - 08 February 2013

From covert congregants to mistake-riddled compost

Covert congregants

They stalk the aisles of unsuspecting shops, keeping their eyes peeled and biros at the ready, primed to tell shops exactly what it’s like to be one of their customers. They are ‘mystery shoppers’.

Now a new brand of clandestine volunteers has emerged. ‘Mystery worshippers’ are penning their perspectives on church services across the world for the Ship of Fools website.

Their mission is simple: ‘Travelling incognito, they ask those questions which go to the heart of church life: How long was the sermon? How hard the pew? How cold was the coffee? How warm the welcome?’

Last Autumn, Wanstead Meeting joined the ranks of the few Quaker Meetings to have been ‘mystery worshipped’.

One of the key questions asked is ‘Which part of the service was like being in heaven?’ to which ‘Party Girl’, the worshipper who visited Wanstead, responded: ‘The peace and quiet. I would imagine if you had a very hectic lifestyle, this hour of virtual silence would be an absolute joy! Also the fact that everyone I met was incredibly friendly and welcoming.’

The after-service refreshments received a particularly good verdict: ‘It was instant coffee, not my favourite, but Fairtrade as I would expect from Quakers. It was strong enough, though, and hot. There were nice cookies available and plenty of food for the lunch, which looked delicious.’

This is all the more glowing when compared with some reviews of other services where ‘my gin and tonic in a local public house was much needed’.

Friends will be getting a reputation for post-Meeting treats: Horfield Meeting’s review described refreshments as ‘fair traded and nice!’ whilst Bunhill Meeting’s historical mugs impressed their visitor.

To read the full review, visit: http://bit.ly/wansteadSOF

Loaves and limericks

A selection from Limericks to Raise the Roof, published for Come-to-Good Meeting, Cornwall.

There once was a handsome young Quaker
who made lots of dough as a baker
With plenty of leaven
his loaves rose to heaven
much to the joy of his maker.

Barbara Holt

Though Quakers no longer wear grey
an oath in the courts they won’t say.
They still worship in silence
and don’t hold with violence
and taxes for wars they won’t pay

Val Ferguson

There once was a man called George Fox
who brought people to Meeting in flocks
They met in a wood –
t’was called Come-to-Good –
amid primroses, bluebells and docks.

Moira Fitt

Quotable

Our mistakes contribute
to the compost from which
our future grows.

Leslie Fuhrmann

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