Not just Porridge and Puritans
An insider’s view by Neil Boulton
For lots of people, the term “Quakers” conjures up images of a bizarre puritanical sect who insist on wearing seventeenth century hats such as those featured on Quaker Oats packets, and whose religious fervour leads them to tremble like a batch of Rowntree’s jellies. Anyone who has ventured into the Friend’s Meeting house at Friargate, however, will have realised that the Quakers — or members of The Religious Society of Friends as they are officially titled — are a forward-looking, lively group whose religious beliefs are as diverse as Rowntree’s products.
Starting out under the leadership of the visionary George Fox, in the mid seventeenth century, the early Quakers were a subversive and determined group whose distrust of dogmatic and priest-centred church lead them to break away altogether. At first meeting in each other’s houses (for Quakerism was initially illegal), they developed a style of worship which dispensed with priests, the Eucharist, and even the concept of a consecrated, special place of worship. Instead, they held silent meetings during which people were free to stand up and express their spiritual feelings, if so moved.
These days, the basic concept of a silent meeting interspersed with the spontaneous words of anyone who wishes to speak is still put into practice. The hour-long meetings are attended, quite simply, by anyone who wishes to attend them, be they Christians who maintain a belief in a personal God, agnostics, members of other faiths or atheists who hold no conventional religious convictions, but wish to acknowledge and explore ‘That of God’ which resides in them, or are just glad of a chance to meditate in a friendly atmosphere. Since the Quakers do not subscribe to any creed and are usually distrustful of dogma — although they do have a strong tradition of pacifism and interest in social justice — anyone who is able to overcome the feeling that the entire room is listening to the seemingly amplified rumblings of their stomach could get something out of Meeting. Spoken contributions vary enormously, of course, but I find the Meetings work best when we hit on a common theme — whether a specifically religious point or a spiritual or ethical idea — which I can meditate on and take out with me into the following week.
Perhaps Quakerism’s lingering associations with porridge and puritans are linked to the society’s reticence in publicising too strenuously. Although a welcoming and wide-ranging organisation, the society has shied away from any evangelising which might appear to set its members on a pedestal, or disparage the valuable insights of other faiths. I share such reservations about evangelism, since I do not believe that Quakerism, or indeed the Christianity to which it is loosely affiliated, has found the truth any more than that a Truth exists. Quakerism is simply an interesting — and for many, inspiring and fulfilling — starting-point from which you can embark on inner journeys. I’m not evangelising, but meetings are held at Friargate Meetinghouse, near the Coppergate shopping centre, every Sunday at 10.30!