Open to new light

Ian Kirk-Smith celebrates the new Kingston Quaker Centre

by Ian Kirk-Smith 3rd October 2014

Quakerism is a faith rooted in tradition. It is also a faith that embraces change. The change, however, from an old building to a new one can be challenging. It means leaving a valued part of the past behind. It can also, as in the case of the new Kingston Quaker Centre, refresh, nourish and renew. Different kinds of engagement and encounter are made possible.

The building on Fairfield East, which was officially opened in September, opens up a new chapter in a long history of Quakerism in Kingston upon Thames. It is the culmination of a long process that involved two previous designs. Local Friends have welcomed it enthusiastically.