Issue 12-09-2025

The Friend

The Friend is a weekly magazine in which Friends speak to each other and to the wider world, offering their insight, ideas, news, nurture and inspiration.

Nurturing Quaker community, each issue offers a space for Friends to share their concerns, and to support each other in faith and witness.

The Friend: enriching, inspiring and connecting the Quaker community since 1843.


Issue 12-09-2025

Thought for the week

Thought for the Week: Howard Grace shares a letter

by Howard Grace

My wife Maria and I met in 1969, invited for a venture with an international group of forty people to India. Led by Rajmohan Gandhi (grandson of Mohandas Gandhi) the initiative aimed to foster the spirit of a strong, clean and united India. Whatever may have been the value for India at the time, it was a transformative experience for Maria and me, and we have been good friends with Rajmohan ever since. 

Features

A fine line: Abigail Maxwell and the Quaker Arts Network visit the Greenbelt Festival

by Abigail Maxwell

I am distrustful of institutions, but the two I love most are our Religious Society of Friends and the Greenbelt Festival. Arranging Quaker worship there helps bring these two together. This year, both are treading a fine line around the genocide in Gaza, wary of criminal offences under the Terrorism Act. 

Features

Finding Living Water: Epistle from an international gathering of young adult Friends

by International Gathering of Young Adult Friends

Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give will never thirst. But the water that I shall give them will become in them a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life… God is Spirit, and those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:14, 24).

To all Friends everywhere, and to a world that God yearns to heal, we send our love.

Features

Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2025: Frances Voelcker reports on the Quaker presennoldeb/presence

by Frances Voelcker

Friends in other parts of the UK may not be aware of Wales’ cultural phenomenon, the Eisteddfod. This is, literally, a sitting together. Eisteddfodau are held throughout the year in villages, towns, and regions, culminating each year in the week-long National Eisteddfod. This year it was in Wrecsam; next year it will be held in Llantwd. In addition to the singing, poetry and literature competitions, there is dance, drama, an art pavilion, and all sorts of activities and interests are represented on the Maes (literally field), from universities and government bodies to charities, campaigns, emergency services, and Welsh learners from all parts of the world. 

Reviews

Black convicts: How slavery shaped Australia

by Roger Sawkins

On the First Fleet of 1788 [taking British convicts to Australia], at least 15 convicts were of African descent. By 1840 the number had risen to almost 500.’

This startling statement begins the publisher’s description of this book. 

Features

Poem: Do go gentle into that warm light

by Kate Howchin

It doesn’t help to rage and rail,
You can’t beat it, you will only fail
Anger won’t help or make it right,
Do go gentle into that warm light

News

Quakers witness against DSEI

by Rebecca Hardy Friends embarked on a peace pilgrimage last week to witness against the arms trade.
News

Quakers intervene in PA judicial review

by Rebecca Hardy Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has applied to intervene in the judicial review of the…
News

Friends in protest against PA ban

by Rebecca Hardy At least sixteen Quakers were arrested at a protest against the decision to ban the group…
News

New director for QUNO Geneva

by Rebecca Hardy The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva has appointed Laurel Townhead as its new…
News

Peacemakers goes national

by Rebecca Hardy The Quaker Peacemakers organisation has become a national charity dedicated to providing…
Q-eye

Eye - 12 September 2025

by Elinor Smallman Just for fun While many of the ‘Just for fun’ prompts in the current edition of the…
Letters

Letters - 12 September 2025

by The Friend A reminder Regarding recent articles and letters, could we remind ourselves that Quakers…

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