Volunteering at Woodbrooke
Sila Collins-Walden writes about her experience of volunteering at Woodbrooke
In 2014 I went to the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham with my husband to have a holiday and an opportunity to explore the lovely village of Bournville. I had always wanted to visit and it was a real treat staying at the Centre. I hoped I would return in the future and recently did so, for two weeks in August, as a Friend in Residence.
Unfortunately, a few days before being due to leave I fell and fractured my fifth metatarsal! I was distraught. I had to go to hospital, where they encased my foot in a boot! I wasn’t going to get to Woodbrooke now, I thought, but the consultant’s advice was that I could go ahead with my plans as the boot would protect the fracture and enable me to get around. It was agreed I could come, despite my injury, and that my husband Brian could act as my ‘assistant’.
We travelled by train from Inverness and Sally Sadler, the Friends in Residence coordinator, was there to greet us both on Sunday evening. On Monday morning I was introduced to the other Friends in Residence and members of the staff. Armed with a tick list of duties and a map, I orientated myself around the building and grounds with Brian’s help. The list looked daunting. However, once you get to know the routine it wasn’t that difficult. At hand were two very experienced Friends in Residence, Margaret and Faith, who were there in case of an emergency!
Woodbrooke is a lovely old building with many nooks and crannies. It is steeped in history and has some interesting features. There is a well-stocked library, including the Quaker library, which houses a historic collection of Quaker books. It also has some interesting works of art. I was particularly inspired by Elisabeth Holmgaard, who was once a cook at Woodbroke. Her beautiful tapestries based on biblical themes hang in one of the corridors above the dining room.
Volunteering to do Quaker service is a form of ministry. The role of the Friend in Residence is concerned with welcome and worship. You become temporary ‘elders’ during your time in residence.
You are partaking in Meeting for Worship and Epilogue, and are responsible for greeting and closing the Meeting. You have the opportunity to take Epilogue. I brought a piece of the Highlands with me and decided to show a short film of the ‘Flow Country’ in Caithness, the largest blanket bog in Europe. It was edited by a Friend from Local Meeting and went down well.
I did find it difficult sometimes with the boot on the end of my leg, so Brian came in very handy doing some of the inaccessible places I couldn’t reach. Among the other duties of a Friend in Residence are learning to make key cards, some administration, locking the Quaker library, holding silence at mealtimes and generally giving support to tutors when needed. You do have ample rest periods, as well as a day off each week, so I didn’t feel overworked. I would spend my day off in the garden room or in the lovely grounds, reading and chatting to other Friends. I was invited to go along to Bournville Meeting on Sunday. What a lovely Meeting house it is. Bournville is apparently the only Meeting house in the country with an organ.
The Eva Koch scholarship presentations took place in the Cadbury Room while I was there and I was invited to attend. Four very inspiring topics were presented: Concern, Discernment, Simplicity and Afterword. I met some very interesting people at Woodbrooke and had some fascinating conversations at the dining table – you do tend to get Friends and non-Quakers from the various courses asking if they may join you.
Woodbrooke was a restful and peaceful place to be. There were no blaring TVs, radios or any disturbance from mobile phones. I heard some very inspiring ministry at Meeting for Worship while worshipping with other Friends. I found being at Woodbrooke life-enriching and spiritually nourishing. I suppose I could say I saw it as a ‘working holiday’. I would really recommend it. I am booked in next year for two weeks again along with Brian but – I hope – minus the boot!
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