A view of the new Quaker garden in St Albans. Photo: Courtesy of Naomi Randles.
Eye - 15 November 2024
Q-Eye hears from Friends in St Albans about a recently-completed Quaker garden at the heart of the town, and offers readers a phrase to contemplate and colour-in
Planting a seed
Quakers in St Albans are celebrating a new friendly presence at the centre of their town, with a Quaker garden, rooted in the history of the Meeting, being opened to the public this summer.
Local Friend Naomi Randles told Eye all about it: ‘Part of it is a Quaker burial ground in the ownership of Friends since 1676 with the last burial dated 1869. It has been leased to St Albans City and District Council since 1906 and they maintained it as a public garden.
‘Several years ago, the council launched a plan to redevelop the area that included the burial ground and we were contacted to work with them and their landscape consultants. They were keen to develop a design which reflected Quaker ideas and thinking.
‘We chose the design which has a large central circle, with seating, approached by a straight path thereby forming a letter Q. Set into the paving of the circle are the words “Quaker Testimonies” and the terms “Truth & Integrity”, “Peace”, “Equality & Justice”, “Simplicity” and “Sustainability”.
‘There are also two information boards each with the time and location of St Albans Meeting for Worship and a QR code that links to the Britain Yearly Meeting website.
‘A few weeks ago we held our Sunday Meeting for Worship there with the enthusiastic support of our link person from the council.’
Well-loved phrases
Eye invites you to contemplate well-loved phrases from Quaker texts by picking up a pen or pencil and colouring, doodling… whatever moves you! This week, the phrase is from Advices & queries 7.
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