Quaker Curious?
Thirsk Meeting House is one of the oldest Quaker sites in the world. The name was first used against George Fox during a Civil War trial in 1652, five years after our deeds were signed. During the Civil War, as the power of the magistrates collapsed, small groups of Seekers sprang up all over North Yorkshire to worship in mainly meditative silence and foster pacifism and equality.
“It may seem strange to hope that anything would change because of a few people practising friendship. The Religious Society of Friends achieved nothing by force. They sent food to Ireland during the potato famine and led the protests against the slave trade. Quakers were the first to plead for the abolition of the death penalty and to propose a free national health service. They set up The York Retreat for the humane treatment of the mentally ill. Elizabeth Fry was one of the first prison reformers. And they went to jail for conscientious objection.” (Prof. Theodore Zeldin of Oxford University) Thirsk Friends sent food and baby clothes to starving Viennese families and took part in the kindertransport, rescuing children from the Nazis.
If you ever felt you would like to attend this form of worship, we are staging a half-hour taster session at 10:30 on Saturday 3rd October. Afterwards there will be a free continental breakfast and the chance to chat.
Any questions, email us at clerk@thirskquakers.com