FAQs

Quakerism is much more about experience than a particular set of beliefs. It was born out of the radical idea that all people can have a direct relationship with the spiritual element of life. For some that means a connection with God; others seek a different sense of spirituality. There are both theist and non-theist expressions of this experience: Quakers are a community that is able to hold these different perspectives.

We are united by the idea that this sense of spirituality is something we can each listen to and discover for ourselves. We are supported to do this in the stillness of a Quaker Meeting.

Some Quakers are Christian, some are not. A recent survey revealed that about 45% of Quakers in the UK believe in God. This is quite particular to British Quakers, who are described as a very ‘liberal’ community. Internationally, by contrast, other Quaker communities have a clearer emphasis on Christianity.

Quakerism started in England in the 1600’s, and was borne out of Christian roots. Over time, Quaker communities have made room for ‘new light’ from other directions. So while some of our language and writings reflects the Christian roots of Quakerism, Quaker communities today hold space for a variety of spiritual beliefs and influences.

To be a Quaker is to engage with spirituality directly, with inquisitiveness, taking nothing as ‘gospel’, but being open to new light. For some, that looks like engaging with the teachings of Christ; for others, ‘new light’ may come from other directions such as other Abrahamic religions, Buddhism, Humanism, Non-Theism, Paganism, and so on.

Our favourite question! A Quaker Meeting or ‘Meeting for Worship’ occurs when people come together to sit quietly, tapping into a place of stillness and togetherness. In that quiet time, many feel a greater sense of connection to the deep, divine, spiritual element of life.

Coming together to hold a space like this can feel very powerful, quite different to meditating alone. What also sets a Quaker Meeting apart from meditation is the fact that at any moment, somebody may feel prompted to ‘give ministry’ - to speak into the silence in a way that contributes to the overall experience of being in this deep, reflective time together.

Quaker Meetings usually happen in person and they usually last for an hour, although there are shorter meetings and online meetings too.

You can find out more about visiting a Quaker Meeting for the first time in our Introductory Pack.

It's very understandable if sitting in silence for an hour sounds daunting. Although that's often how we describe a Quaker Meeting, there are actually no strict expectations about sitting perfectly still for ages. It's meant to be a peaceful, accessible space.

Check out our blog post exploring our tips for enjoying Quaker Meetings without compromising on comfort.

Quaker Meetings are open to people of all faiths and none: you do not have to be a Quaker to come along.

And yes, you can just show up for your first Meeting - although we encourage you to read our short Introductory Pack which walks you through visiting a Quaker Meeting for the first time.

If you want to get in touch with your Local Quaker Meeting before your visit, you can reach out to a friendly contact person at your local meeting with your questions.

Plenty! We have recently released a new edition of a book called ‘Being a Quaker’which is dedicated to answering any questions people new to Quakerism may have. You can also take a look at the videos section of our website, or explore our list of introductory podcasts.

We have a ‘little red book’ called Advices and Queries which offers 42 short prompts for reflection - you can find these for free at any Quaker Meeting house.

We also have a ‘big red book’ called Quaker Faith and Practice which explores insights from Friends and explains our structures and processes. What sets this book apart from most spiritual texts is that it gets updated with every new generation of Quakers to bring in new insights and transformations.

Absolutely. In fact, Quakers were one of the first religious communities to advocate for same-sex marriage, and we’re one of the few faith communities that facilitate same-sex marriages. In 2021, Quakers in Britain affirmed trans and non-binary people as welcome members in our community.

Yes! We have a list of regular online meetings here. You can also join us for one of our weekly Quaker Lives sessions which is a chance to ask your questions about Quakerism, hear from a guest speaker about how being a Quaker has enriched their life, and experience a short Meeting for Worship.