Local Quakers meet for silent worship in the Town Hall in Caerleon, Newport on the first and third Sunday of each month. There are also meetings for worship at Chepstow, Cardiff and Abergavenny. All are welcome. For local information contact Michael Knight, Clerk of Caerleon meeting, on 01633 776390

Who are the Quakers?

Quakers are members of the world wide Religious Society of Friends which was founded in the Christian witness of George Fox and others in Britain in the 17th Century. They sought to worship without a priesthood in silence in simple meeting houses where all present took responsibility for the meeting. Many early Quakers were persecuted. Meetings for worship were broken up. Thousands were heavily fined and many were imprisoned before the right to freedom of worship was final won for dissenters.

When William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania tolerance was extended to many from a variety of religious backgrounds who had suffered persecution for their beliefs and ways of worshipping. Respect was given not simply to other Christians but to other people also. This respect for diversity is crucial to the Quaker witness today.

Early Quakers too to heart the revolution begun by Jesus with its emphasis on loving relationships. They soon concluded that taking up arms for any cause whatsoever was incompatible with this way of life.

As well as opposing war, Quakers have tried to bring about peaceful solutions by mediation and reconciliation. They have struggled to relieve poverty and combat injustice which are both the causes and the results of warfare. When conflict occurred, however, they were active in ambulance, relief and rehabilitation work both during the hostilities and in the following periods of reconstruction. Quakers today are working in the Balkans, in Africa and in Asia.

Today many Quakers are exploring the connection between peace, justice and reconciliation, and are active in campaigns on these issues at local, national and international level. The Quaker presence at the United Nations Offices in New York and Geneva, and at Quaker House in Brussels, are examples of these concerns, as are the many Quakers working for peace around Britain.

Some Quakers, using non-violent techniques, are engaged in civil disobedience in their campaign for disarmament. Others hold vigils in protest against weapons of mass destruction and the waste of resources caused by the arms race.

Quakers aspire to values which are profoundly spiritual as well as political and social. They strive for equality, truth, justice, integrity, simplicity and respect for all life. The projects which they support throughout the world are attempts at putting the ideals of justice and peace into practice.

For further information about the Society, contact the Religious Society of Friends at Friends House, Euston Road, London. NW1 2BJ on 0207 387 3601 or http://www.quaker.org.uk/

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