Margaret Fell: Tim Gee tells a story for children
'Even when she was behind bars, her message kept spreading, and the group kept growing.'
Once upon a time there was a woman called Margaret Fell, who wanted to change the world.
Ever since she was a child she had seen men arguing about land and religion, then sending armies to fight. Margaret saw the suffering that came from war, and knew deep within her that there must be a better way. But in those days women were expected to be quiet, and not say what they thought in public.
One day Margaret received a very surprising visitor. He had long, messy hair, and looked as if he hadn’t washed for a long time, or even slept in a bed. Instead of fighting in wars, he had spent his life talking with ordinary people, and had recently had a vision at the top of a hill. His name was George Fox.
George and Margaret began to pray together, in silence, with others who were part of the household. In the stillness, Margaret felt herself shaking a little, then found herself on her feet speaking for herself, sharing out loud the words that had been inside her for so long.
The next week the pair met again, and again the following week, and again and again as other men and women joined them. Soon, they began telling other people what was happening. The news went around the country, and then the world. At the time it was a shocking event: women were speaking in religious meetings!
Many powerful men heard about this, and didn’t like it at all. They said that the Bible didn’t allow women to speak in this way, and even accused these women of witchcraft! But Margaret knew the Bible very well, and showed that there had been female Christian leaders even in the time of Jesus.
A few years later, a new king came to power in England. He didn’t understand the ideas that Margaret and George had, and feared they were plotting against him. Margaret had already spent years standing up for the right of women to speak; now it was time to speak directly to the most powerful man in the country.
With a mix of confidence and nervousness, she wrote a letter, climbed on to her horse, and rode until she arrived in London, to give it to him directly.
The ruler was surprised and impressed with what he heard, and promised to protect Margaret’s group. But he didn’t keep his promise. George, Margaret, and people they knew, were arrested just for meeting together. Even children were punished for continuing to gather together after their parents were taken away.
When Margaret was thrown in prison, she wrote her ideas down. Even when she was behind bars, her message kept spreading, and the group kept growing. After many years the government had to admit that their efforts had not worked. Without violence, the people Margaret helped lead had won the right to meet together as they wished.
By sharing her message when others said she should stay silent, Margaret showed the power of a peaceful movement, speaking up for the equality of women. Centuries later her words still inspire many to keep making change.
