Fox’s sermons celebrated
An appeal to develop a new Quaker Centre will be launched at a Fox400 event on 25 August
Pardshaw Quakers are planning to develop the Pardshaw Quaker Centre (PQC) for ‘peace, retreats and affordable accommodation’.
The appeal will be launched at a Fox400 event on 25 August on the crag above Pardshaw where George Fox used to preach.
Dawn Beck, from Pardshaw Meeting, told the Friend: ‘George Fox is known to have preached here in both 1657 and 1663. As well as picnicking together, there will be an introduction from Angus Winchester, emeritus professor of History at Lancaster [University], and copies of his newly reprinted booklet “Light Reflected: The Story of Pardshaw Meeting” will be available, with all proceeds to Pardshaw Quaker Centre.’
David Day, trustee of PQC Charitable Incorporated Organisation, who organised the event, told the Friend: ‘We regard Pardshaw as an exceptional place, fundamental to early Quakerism, and seek to develop it further as a centre for peace, retreats, and affordable accommodation.’
In 1653, Fox and other preachers travelled through West Cumberland, preaching at Egremont, Embleton and Brigham, until eventually being imprisoned in Carlisle Castle, and later freed. ‘The followers in Cumberland met for worship in the open air at Pardshaw Crag from 1653, knowing they faced persecution and violence if they went to local churches,’ David added. ‘Pardshaw became the focal point.’
Pardshaw was the first settled Meeting in Cumberland and, in 1672, a Meeting house was built. Later demolished, all parts were recycled to form the larger 1729 Meeting house, stables and schoolroom.
The historic Meeting house is now under development by the PQC CIO. The voluntary group ‘Friends of PQC’ also cares for Pardshaw. Donations of time and money have led to much progress in the aim of creating a ‘safe and accessible Pardshaw’, said David.
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