Quakerism

Kate Mellor gave a ‘sermon’ on 28 December at the Union Chapel in Islington to the Congregational Church

It was followed by fifteen minutes of silent worship and then everyone in attendance sang the song ‘Simple Gifts’. The Union Chapel hosts the Quaker Christmas Shelter each year.

Thank you for inviting me to speak today and, much more importantly, for allowing Quaker Homeless Action to use the excellent space that you use to run your Margins Project throughout the year. We at Quaker Homeless Action greatly admire your unflagging support for the homeless and marginalised in this area.

One of the questions that I think I should answer is: who are we – the Quakers? Before I start to answer that question, I have to give one major caveat: If you had asked any other Quaker to speak to you, that person would give a different answer.

You may also know us as the Religious Society of Friends and we do often call each other ‘Friend’ as well as referring to ourselves as Quakers. If I were in a Meeting house and I had felt compelled to give ministry, I might start in such a way, by saying ‘Friends’. So, now I am going address you in my ministry, Friends.

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