‘It does what is says on the tin.’

What’s in our name?   The Religious Society of Friends and the divine commonwealth

I have been asked at times: where does the uniqueness of Quakers lie? Indeed, is there anything that is unique amongst us? In order to respond to these questions, I found it…

Quakers in parliament – and elsewhere

William Penn’s view that ‘true godliness’ does not force people out of the world but drives them to live more adventurously in it is well known. So too is the query as to…

Quaker etiquette: a rough guide

This last Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), held in London 28 to 31 May, (in case you’ve been out of touch for awhile) was my first. It was probably the most momentous Quaker…

Workplace bullying – a hidden injustice

It is easy for most of us to feel a sense of injustice for people subjected to human rights abuses – people suffering abject poverty or living in war zones – but would it be as…

The Pump

What is the background to the poem? The poem was triggered by a photo I took of the pump in the yard at Bridport Meeting House. However, the poem isn’t particularly about…

Hurt Feelings

I was shopping in Tesco’s for some strawberry jam, Some wafer-thin ham, standing by the Spam, When up behind me comes security Over my shoulder, looking straight at me.

An opinion from Screwtape

My dear Wormwood   In recent years, we have made excellent progress weakening the Quakers, with the number of members dropping on average about 800 every four years. Although…

Because spiritual matters

Skeletons of trees on a high horizon, gleams of sunshine and curtains of rain: inside the school hall, wall bars, balloons and red hearts stuck on the walls, and groups of Quakers…