Bunhill and
beyond
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"Who ... is desiring life? Loving days to see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking deceit. Turn aside from evil and do good, Seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34 in the songbook of Judaism) Referred to by Peter, (Letter one, chapter 3), an apostle of Jesus, who says we should be "all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing" because that is our calling. "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." |
North London Quakers do what Quakers do best.
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Tuesday 11.8.2015 to Sunday 6.9.2015
Inside Out / Outside In |
Inside Out/Outside In is an Art Exhibition by
Anne McNeill-Pulati from Winchmore
Hill and two other Quaker artists,
Isa Louise Levy and
Caroline Jariwala.
How can our spiritual journeys be shared? A series of Internal and External Human Landscapes. "How can we, as Quaker artists, create an opportunity to depict, show and open dialogue around our spiritual journey?" by three Quaker Female artists 'living adventurously'. Our collaborative exhibition celebrates human integrity and diversity as we come from multi-faith backgrounds namely Jewish, Hindu and Christian |
Birds make a frequent appearance, being an ancient symbol for God's presence. Anne's spiritual life has been another journey of communication. She came to Quakers in 1992. Her interest in children and their development became more prominent when she had grandchildren. Anne wrote and illustrated her first book for young children about a dog and a cat and their attitudes and behaviours, the Quaker testimonies Peace, Equality, Truth and Simplicity being the starting point for this book. It is called A Book About P.E.T.S. Peace, Equality, Truth and Simplicity. She found that much of what children learn when they are small often remains unchanged into adulthood, sometimes holding them back from having fulfilling lives and relationships. |
Although we are different, we can be friends. Friends share their space and support one another |
Why are Quakers called
friends?
George Fox
wrote that, between
1646 and 1648, "meetings of Friends, in several places, were
then gathered to God's teaching". In
1650,
Fox says, he and his friends were called Quakers.
It is generally believed that the term friend is based on the words of
Jesus
(John chapter 15) that "I have called you
friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I
have made known unto you". We are his friends if we keep his commandments.
"These things I command you, that ye love one another".
The 2015 Bunhill Friends and Neighbours Fun Day
Sunday 26.7.2015 from 12pm to 5pm It was overcast and damp, but we still had
Fun and friendship for everyone
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British Quakers say that "As Friends we commit ourselves to a way of worship which allows God to teach and transform us". "Worship is the response of the human spirit to the presence of the divine and eternal, to the God who first seeks us."
British Quakers say that "Quakers believe there is something of God in everyone." They continue:
"Worship is at the heart of what it means to be a Quaker. Meeting for worship brings Quakers together in stillness so we can quiet our minds and open our hearts and lives to God. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Quaker worship (we call it 'meeting for worship') normally lasts for an hour. We enter and sit in stillness and waiting. This stillness gives us space and time to listen and reflect. We don't have songs, set prayers or talks you might find in other places of worship. We know that some people may find the silence uncomfortable, but it can be an opportunity to come closer to God.
What happens in the stillness?
We try to be quiet in body, mind and spirit. We don't worship on our own. We look for a sense of connection with those around us, with our deepest selves, with God. As we feel this sense of connection grow stronger, we may begin to see the world and our relationships in a new way. Our worship may take us to a deep place, beyond our own thoughts and ideas and help us respond more creatively to our lives and the world around us.
Who runs the meeting for worship?
We believe all people are equal, we can all have a direct relationship with God and anyone can contribute to worship. Quakers do not have priests or anyone leading the worship.
During worship people may feel prompted to speak, pray or read aloud. They may stand to share their insights and inspirations with the meeting. We call this ministry. Ministry can inspire and enrich; we listen in silence and without judgement. It may also prompt others to say something connected to what they have heard.
Where do you sit?
In a Quaker meeting you can sit anywhere you want. We do not reserve or have special seats. Chairs or benches are usually arranged in a circle or a square. This helps us to be aware of each another and reminds us that we are worshipping together as equals. The meeting starts as soon as the first person enters the room.
What books do you use?
The Bible and copies of a book called Quaker faith & practice - a collection of writing and experiences of Quakers from our 350-year history - are to hand. We also use a small booklet called Advices & queries; a collection of prompts, insights and questions that Quakers read regularly.
How does a meeting end?
Meeting for worship finishes when two Quakers shake hands. The rest of the meeting joins in by shaking hands with those around them. Someone may then share news and information. After meeting has finished, please approach someone if you want to ask questions about the meeting or anything else about Quakers.
Who can come to meeting?
Quaker meetings are open to everyone. You do not have to be a Quaker to attend. Most meetings welcome children and some run a group specifically for them. Please be aware your children may need to sit quietly for at least the part of the meeting, when all ages are together.
Meetings can be held anywhere, at any time, although they usually take place on Sundays in a Quaker meeting house.
There are around 500 Quaker meetings in Britain, attended by more than 20,000 people. If you would like to join us, you are very welcome."
Reaching each other
"Never forget your experience of God, in whatever way it has come to you. When you leave the meeting for worship, what do you carry with you into your daily life? Attend to what love requires of you..."
From Questions and Counsel, a proposed revision of Advices and
Queries January 1988. My emphasis of "what
love requires of you",
which seems to have taken on a life of its own.
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What can we do with what we have got? Is your meeting tired and struggling? Are you looking to reinvigorate your life as a spiritual community? Do you find it hard to fulfil all your responsibilities as a meeting? Do people feel overburdened? Are you thriving inwardly but looking to engage in the world? Quakers reflected on the practical and spiritual resources of meetings on Saturday 20.6.2015. They thought about priorities and sought creative solutions together. This flip chart of ideas about what nourishes meetings seems relevant to many churches and communities.
All the flipcharts are online
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Not enough of us There are not enough people at the meeting house to do everything that needs doing. Can we perform miracles with a slice of bread and an olive when we need loaves and fishes? Perhaps, but that is above my spiritual pay scale. Thinking about a few decades at Bunhill I thought the following. These are not miracles, but they may help. Local Meeting seems the real element of Quaker organisation. It is this particular group of people meeting and relating in connection with this particular place that we think of as the meeting. But this is not the way Quakers have worked historically. Until recently local meeting was called preparative meeting. We prepared for the monthly meeting of which we are just a part. We are not alone and should be open to the help that is available. Old books of discipline talk a lot about love and unity. It is a lot harder to work together if we do not like one another. Quakers are supposed to be friends. When someone told me I was a "Quaker Friend" not a "real friend" s/he was honestly revealing a flaw in this Quaker argument. Being friends is sometimes much harder than we think and enmity in a meeting needs healing. Take this seriously and fewer hands will do more work. Love is the highest Christian virtue. God is love. I agree with the old Quakers on aiming for that, but it may be more practical first to seek mutual respect. Can we overcome bad feelings about others and see the positive side of their contribution? Some things, as I said, are above my spiritual pay scale. I accept that Mary chose the higher gift when she sat and talked to Jesus and left Martha to prepare the food, but did she eat any of the food? Meetings take place in material circumstances and I think we should pay attention to these as well as to the spirit of love and truth. I think Jesus did the washing up and I think that if we are all open to sharing tasks and to accepting help it will make any miracles we need easier. That is my condensed wisdom from thirty years at Bunhill. Not much, but I thought I would write it down. |
In 1657 Quakers had no members. Membership is something seen. George Fox read in an epistle of Paul that we should "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" and he wrote his own epistle to friends everywhere, saying, "Meet together, and in the measure of God's spirit wait, that with it all your minds may be guided up to God, to receive wisdom from God. That you may all come to know how you may walk up to him in his wisdom... And friends meet together, and know one another in that which is eternal, which was before the world was." Quakers now record members and get rid of members. Until recently, one way of getting rid of members was known as "disownment". Now, Britain Yearly Meeting calls it "termination of membership under Quaker Faith and Practice section 11.30(c)". In the ten years from 2006 to 2015, fourteen members had their membership terminated under this section because the society held that the "spiritual bond" had been "broken".
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Quaker
conflict - avoiding the punch up - Gospel order
Read George Fox: "If there happen any difference between Friend and Friend, let them speak to one another... Read also William Blake's poems on the divine image in innocence (mercy, pity, peace and love) and a divine image in experience (cruelty). |
On Saturday 19.3.2016 at North London Area Quaker Meeting at Winchmore Hill we experienced a time of compassion and love that muffled and contained the pain of Quakers fighting. During the meeting people sometimes touched one another to offer comfort and reassurance. The opening worship was much longer and deeper than it usually is and in it someone spoke about the importance of listening to one another. In the silence we reflected on that. Then these passages of Quaker Faith and Practice were read: 10.01 Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand. (Isaac Penington, 1667) 10.22 Part of the creative experience of a community is learning how to deal with conflict when it arises, and Friends are not usually good at this. 'Speaking the truth in love' is a Quaker cliché, but 'papering over the cracks' is the principle more commonly acted upon. Conflict met in 'brokenness' of spirit can take a meeting a long way on its spiritual journey, whereas unresolved it deadens the life. We are a small Society. Clashes have always arisen, just as they arise in any family group. In one sense the members of a family know each other too well, in another sense not well enough. It is impossible to impress one's relations, but they can be a great stand-by in time of need, and it is then that they come to know each other better, if the bond is strong enough. (Joan Fitch, 1980)
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Church Government
"There can be a reluctance to consider the written word, however, it was felt that sharing our experience, not simply our reading, was very important in leading to greater understanding". Bunhill minute of 9.8.2015 on considering the responsibilities of eldership. This minute arose from my suggestion in a discussion group that people might have something to share that was not a reading of Quaker Faith and Practice. The Clerk faithfully recorded my opinion in the minute, but I was severely castigated for it in subsequent emails from other Quakers. I still think that human experience has more of value in it than letters and that those of us who spend much of our time reading should welcome what others can bring. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (1 Corinthians 12. 4-6) |
Discipline
Does a blog called "Bunhill and beyond", written by an individual, infringe a right of Britain Yearly Meeting and clerks of meetings to speak for (British and local) Quakers? I have been asked to reflect on the passage of the current Quaker Book of Discipline, which says: "Authority for public statements "Individuals and groups must be careful not to claim to speak for Friends" [Quakers] "without explicit authority. Any activity or statement made in public which claims to be undertaken in the name of Friends and relating to the corporate life and witness of the Religious Society of Friends must be authorised by the appropriate meeting for church affairs. Any public statement which claims to be given on behalf of Friends in Britain Yearly Meeting as a whole will require the judgment of a more widely representative body than a meeting, area meeting or ad hoc group; it should be considered and agreed by Meeting for Sufferings or by Yearly Meeting before publication. It must be made clear when local initiatives relate solely to local meetings. Similarly, individual Friends or ad hoc groups should make it clear that they speak only for themselves unless their local or area meeting has agreed a minute supporting their action. "On occasion it may be necessary for the clerk of a meeting, or another appointed Friend, to take urgent action to correct misleading reports in the press or other misunderstandings in the public domain. This section is not intended to hamper such necessary action undertaken responsibly in the interests of a meeting."
I do not speak for Quakers, but some may believe that the above passage
means Quakers should not speak as individuals. Others do not think this is
what it means. We make different
interpretations of the same passage.
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A rat in May
I remember one evening of a long past Spring
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Welcome assurance
Seen on Stoke Newington Quaker website: Everyone is welcome to attend [Meeting for Worship]. Seen on Winchmore Hill Quaker website: We seek to be a friendly and open spiritual community, which welcomes everyone. You are very welcome to join us for worship. Seen on New Barnet Quaker website: We are a small meeting, but we pride ourselves in being friendly and welcoming. Seen on Tottenham Quaker website: Everyone is welcome to attend Seen on the Bunhill Fields Quaker website: Worship is at the heart of what it means to be a Quaker. Meeting for worship brings Quakers together in stillness so we can quiet our minds and open our hearts and lives to God. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Hymn writer Marty Haugen wrote in 1994:
Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word. Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace, let this house proclaim from floor to rafter All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place
Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic custodian of the Holy Land from 2004 to 2016, has said that "even the biggest sinner in the world cannot be told not to come to church if he wants to pray." (Reported in the Los Angeles Times on Christmas Eve 2017)
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Stoke Newington Quakers are not burdened with their own meeting
house
They meet on Sundays at 10am in Clissold House, Clissold Park, London, N16 9HJ |
Tottenham
594 High Road London N17 9TA Sunday Meeting Time: 10:30 |
Winchmore Hill
59 Church Hill,
Check their website for how to get there |
New Barnet
55 Leicester Road,
Transport: New Barnet National Rail station - about 10 minutes walk. High Barnet Underground (Northern Line) - about 20 minutes walk. Nearby buses include 84, 107, 184, 307 and 326. |
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Bunhill Fields Meeting House
Quaker Court, Banner Street, London EC1Y 8QQ. |
Nearest Underground: Old Street (Northern Line) Nearest Mainline station: Liverpool Street Buses: Old Street: 55, 135, 243 City Road: 21, 43, 76, 141, 205, 214, 271
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Bunhill: A shared community space
There are people at Bunhill who remember the times when Quakers wanted to close the building. Common sense seemed to dictate no other course as there were so few Quakers and so much repair work. But then the vision was presented of a meeting house that was shared, a community centre. Nowadays, Sunday morning Quaker worship is one part of a tapestry of activities. Every first Sunday the local community gathers with Quaker gardeners to care for the natural, wild life friendly, garden that we share. Every Sunday evening 'Conservative' Quakers meet in Christ centred worship and once a month, a mid-week meeting includes conservatives, liberals and many others who share not only worship, but food. Every month, a member of St Albans meeting conducts a Quaker walk through the City that includes the possibility of sharing food and worship with mid-week meeting at Bunhill. Also on Sunday, At Ease, who have their offices in the meeting house, provide a much needed rights advice service to members of the armed forces. On Monday's the meeting house has recently become host to the City group of Al-Anon, for families and friends of alcoholics. Another welcome development is the use of the space in front of the building by the Quaker Homeless Action Library van. Social action groups that have used the meeting space have campaigned against female genital mutilation, for cycling and clean air, against waste, befriended the earth, befriended prisoners, cared for animals and worked for disability rights. A memorandum of 8.6.1969 described Bunhill "as an oasis of peace and the centre of a rimless bowl of prayer". Last year, one Quaker described it as a "multi-faith prayer space". During the week, muslims from local offices conduct their mid-day prayers in the main meeting room and Sufis pray and meditate in the specially designed Sufi Centre on the top floor. On special days the meeting house is used throughout the night for prayer and fasting. Buddhists have long held meditation classes on Monday evenings and the building is increasingly used by other meditation groups including Mind Space, London Energy Share, Discovering Unity and Live from your Heart. Saturday meetings include sessions of the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. Bunhill seeks to be a centre of local community life. It has been used for a two day planning consultation, is used every year for the annual meetings of the local Tenants Management Organisations, and is used for informal meetings of residents. The highlight of this community cooperation was the bumper "Friends and Neighbours Fun Day" on the last Sunday of July 2014, organised jointly by Braithwaite House, Quaker Court and Bunhill Quakers. One of our Methodist visitors described this as the "noisiest Quaker shin- dig" he had ever been to. Therapists, business people, charities, amateur investors and others have used the meeting house for various activities, including a fund-raising linch. It also has an intellectual life. In the coming year, a group with a Christian tradition plan a weekly philosophy discussion. In the past year, many discussions have been organised by the Quaker worship groups. In addition, people from local churches have discussed war and peace, people from different denominational libraries have heard from a Quaker historian about Quakers and war before they became pacifists, and the Powys society have watched the "age of aquarius" arise from the cauldron of war in an essay by John Cowper Powys. |
The
Shabbat Blessing for Children
May God bless you and protect you.
Those stanzas comprise the Priestly blessing said in
the Temple 3,000
years ago and it is what we say when we bless the children on Friday night.
(Martin Gaba). Blessing children can be traced back to
the patriarchs.
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Passover: What makes this night different? |
Always be peaceful and harmonious with others
The Precious Fish. One of the eight auspicious symbols that adorn the Kadampa Buddhist Temple in Ulverston, England. Photographs of all sixteen illustrate Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's book How to Solve Our Human Problems. Bunhill has been the home of Kadampa Buddhist meditation for many years. The Monday evening meditation classes are open to everyone - Buddhists and non-Buddhists |
The Buddha in the Library
In January 2013 a heavy brass praying figure was donated to Bunhill by a Buddhist, Redwood Fryxell, who worshipped with Quackers on Sunday and at mid-week meetings on occasions. We believe this donation is because he learned of Buddhists (and Muslims) meeting at Bunhill regularly. The figure has been placed on the mantelpiece in the basement library- children's room. Copies of a new booklet on Quakers and other faiths are available among Bunhill's free introductory publications and library materials on the ground floor. The picture of the Buddha in the Library was taken by Helen Hulson in May 2015. |
Mary said
My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things .... |
Jesus said:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Marcus Aurelius said: "we are made for co-operation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids" |
Islam - submission to the will of God
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community use Bunhill Meeting House regularly for prayer. They have recently made free copies of Life of Muhammad by Hadrat Mirza Basiruddin Mahmud Ahmad available to all users of the Meeting House. Thank you. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has sponsored The Review of Religions since 1902. Jesus in India is a treatise written (originally in Urdu) by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement. |
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful |
This seems to say that to submit to the will of God is to attempt to do
everything in the spirit of
compassion, mercy and good intention to others.
24.12.2017 BBC News: The Muslim youth group who help bring festive cheer |
Begin with a transformation of the
heart
Students of the School of Sufi Teaching begin with practices which bring about a transformation of the heart rather than beginning with the transformation of the ego. This approach, known as "in their end is our beginning", was first taught by Khwaja Baha'uddin Naqshband who died in 1389. For many years, the School of Sufi Teaching occupied all of the top floor of Bunhill, which they designed beautifully as a centre for worship. The room was used for prayers and so anyone who entered was asked to remove shoes. They left Bunhill and established a new home at 25 Colville Road, London, E11 4EQ in July 2016. The top floor centre for worhip has since been used by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community |
George Fox said
Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one. |
A
heart warming experience
Charles Wesley wrote
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
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Britain Yearly Meeting Quaker faith and practice
Our diversity invites us both to speak what we know to be true in our lives and to learn from others. The promptings of love and truth in your hearts [are] the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life. Hold yourself and others in the Light, knowing that all are cherished by God. Take time to learn about other people's experiences of the Light. Quaker meetings are held at Bunhill on Sundays every week and once a month on Wednesdays. |
[Using their logo for illustration does not imply approval of
my blog by Quakers
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Christian Quakers
Jesus Christ is with us now... He is the Light given to each and every human being that shows what is right and what is wrong. And he is the Power which enables us to do right and resist wrong... We believe anyone, of any faith, can know God's saving power. Christian Quaker meetings are held at Bunhill at 4pm on Sunday evening every week. Everyone is welcome. Bunhill's Christian Quaker Group are affiliated to Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative Friends), and use their Book of Discipline |
Sophie sang |
Loneliness is not the will of God
Go into the church to make it vanish in your mind Read sometime the word of life To give your spirit peace Don't think bad about yourself Appreciate your life God we need your grace - To be happy |
Giraffe speak (non violent communication) has been at Bunhill since September 2015
To move blood up such a long neck takes a strong heart. That is why the
non-violent communicators call one another giraffes. Non-violent
communication, they say, is the
language of the heart.
Nonviolent communication is also known as compassionate
communication and
is also known as collaborative communication. Compassion is one of
the
emotions that the heart symbolises.
Every Monday evening - Downstairs - 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The first Monday of
every Month is open for anyone to attend. For other meetings some
preparation reading or video watching is suggested. A contribution of
£2 helps pay the rent.
See the website
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When we are met with compassion and respect for our autonomy, we tend to
have more access to our own compassion for ourselves and for others.
Open-hearted living aims to meet ourselves with compassion and
understanding for our own needs. It aims to express our feelings and needs
clearly and to ask others for specific things they can do to help. It aims
to hear the feelings and needs behind other people's expressions and
actions, regardless of how they express themselves.
Central London Meetup Non Violent Communication
group:
UK Nonviolent
Communication ~ Community Website
Center for Nonviolent Communication: An International Organisation
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At Ease: a voluntary organisation providing advice and information to members of the Armed Forces. It has a small office in the Basement Centre. The advice service is open on Sunday between 5pm and 7pm when visitors are welcome at the meeting house. For telephone and email contact, see the At Ease website. Information leaflets are available online. |
This leaflet arrived with a Christmas Card (Thank you) in December 2017
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Quakernomics is a forum for discussion and debate about the relationships
between the economic system, our lives, and the Earth. It is a space to
both reflect on and plan ways to build a more just and sustainable world.
Quakernomics been set up by Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) as a space to share ideas, debate, learn and be inspired to take action. Earth and Economy newsletter 1 Earth and Economy newsletter 2 Newsletter 1 includes (page 6) an article by Suzanne Ismail, a Quaker economist, on the importance of concepts like wellbeing, which include more than economic wealth (link to Andrew Roberts' site). The article includes these links: Office of National Statistics wellbeing project Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress |
Church Action on Poverty - Building partnerships of hope an transformation |
Poverty - The Tottenham statement - May 2013
We, the Quakers of Tottenham Meeting, have carefully considered the question of using our Sunday collections towards food banks. In an austerity-era approach to the problems faced by civil society, food banks and the volunteers that run them are filling a yawning gap created by frozen wages, rising food prices, and fuel bills. While we recognise the importance of emergency food aid, and the moral imperative behind the need to support it, in whatever way we can, we strongly believe that the access to food is a fundamental human right. We believe that this therefore is a social justice issue disguising itself in such a way as to allow government to ignore hunger and its obligation, committed to when the UK ratified the international covenant on economic social and cultural rights (ICESCR). What is the right to food?: "States that sign the covenant agree to take steps to the maximum of their available resources to achieve progressively the full realisation of the right to adequate food, both nationally and internationally." (ICESCR 1966: article 2(1), 11(1) and 23.; Ziegler 2012.) We urge all, at the same time as supporting food banks, to remind the government of its own obligations.
This letter was written after and Oxfam/Church Action on Poverty report which says that half-a-million people are now dependent on food banks in the UK. The letter was sent to Tottenham MPs, raised at the North London Area Meeting of Quakers and published in The Guardian on Friday 30.5.2013
July 2015 Parliamentary briefing on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill |
"The fact that there has been a 57 per cent rise in the number of hate crimes reported in the aftermath of the referendum shows that the result has given a new found confidence to those who may have previously expressed such views online or in closed quarters; they have been emboldened to take their messages of hate to the streets." (Qari Muhammad Asim Senior Imam - Makkah Mosque, Leeds)
The Methodist Conference of 2016 unanimously passed a resolution calling for respect and tolerance in our national life in the wake of the divisive EU Referendum Campaign. It asked that the statement below be sent to MP's and others in positions of leadership. Racism is a denial of the gospel The Methodist Conference believes that the British Isles are enriched by diversity and celebrates the contribution made by those who have come from other parts of the world. The Christian tradition calls for respect, tolerance, love of neighbour and hospitality to the stranger. All bear the responsibility of speaking and acting for healing, reconciliation, and mutual respect. The Methodist Conference abhors and deeply regrets those actions and words which incite hatred and lead to the victimisation of groups within society and notes with concern that such actions and words have been normalised in recent public discourse. Believing that racism is a denial of the gospel and that to stay silent when others are abused is to collude with those who seek to promote hatred and division, the Methodist Conference calls:
Quaker statement
Building bridges after the referendum
The outcome of the EU referendum and the campaigning that led up to it have
shown up and sometimes exacerbated divisions within and between our
communities.
There is now a great need for bridge-building, for reaching out to one
another in love, trusting that below the political differences lie a shared
humanity and a wish for flourishing communities.
Inequalities run deep in society and some are exposed by the vote. Quakers
in England, Scotland and Wales are committed to working together and with
others - including Quakers across Europe - for a peaceful and just world.
In the coming year our Quaker Yearly Meeting will focus on building
movements with others locally and globally. We refuse to prejudge who is or
is not an ally.
Turbulent times can be frightening, but the Spirit is a source of strength
for all, guiding us in who we are and what we do. We take heart from the
knowledge that with change comes opportunity. We will look for creative
ways to find common cause, to listen, to influence and to persuade. As the
status quo is shaken we and our neighbours must look to one another for
support, wisdom and above all ways of healing divisions.
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16.1.2015
Britain First drove an armoured van to the East London Mosque before
handing out anti-Muslim leaflets in Brick Lane. They call
themselves "Christian Patrols".
Tower Hamlets Church Leaders' Statement on the "Christian Patrols" We, representatives of all the major Christian traditions in Tower Hamlets, strongly oppose the presence of Britain First on our streets and reject their views. We are not living in "occupied East London" and we do not require these trouble-makers to "take back" Brick Lane or any other part of this diverse Borough for Christians, or for anyone else. We are proud to be part of the diverse communities of Tower Hamlets and will continue to work with all of them, including our Muslim neighbours, to maintain that diversity in the face of any who attempt to undermine it. Britain First try to justify their mis-named Christian Patrols on the basis that we are constantly endangered by the (equally mis-named) Muslim Patrols out to enforce their own set of standards. That very small group were active for only one weekend at the beginning of 2013 and, because of prompt action by the police and community groups - including local mosques, were quickly arrested and have been sent to prison. Neither group is welcome and neither speaks in the name of the Christians or the Muslims who live here. The Christian churches here in Tower Hamlets remain active, lively and committed to living out our discipleship to Jesus Christ through worship, teaching and service. Britain First do not just threaten Islam by their presence here, but all of us, by their hateful words and behaviour. They do not represent Christians in Tower Hamlets and they do not represent Christianity. Please do not come back!
Signed,
Thursday, February 5th, 2015
"Britain First, who came to the borough last year to "bait" Muslims by smoking and drinking outside a mosque, were also condemned by Muslim leaders. Hira Islam, secretary general of Council of Mosques, said: "Britain First will never succeed in dividing our communities in Tower Hamlets. "We are stronger as a borough through our work together." Last week the protests were denounced by the council, the East London Mosque and Rushanara Ali MP." (East London Advertiser 4.2.2015
I find the
solidarity of faiths in Tower Hamlets inspiring. Many Quakers
and friends of Quakers would agree. However, Quakers advise that
"individuals and groups must be careful not to claim to speak for
Friends" [Quakers]
"without explicit authority", and my blog has no
authority. There is an official
statement by British Quakers on
inter-
faith relations that you could read.
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The British Quaker Survey 2013: believing and belonging in secularising society. Ben Pink Dandelion, Woodbrooke and the University of Birmingham "The respondents were aged between 17 and 100, with a mean age of 64. In terms of gender, 61% were female, in line with national figures. In terms of ethnicity, 99% belonged to the white ethnic group, and 71% had undergraduate degrees with 32% of these a Masters or doctorate in addition. The Quakers are not typical of the British population as a whole but represent a very particular demographic." Only 1% of Quakers classify themselves as non-white. Does this make you feel uncomfortable? Only 29% of Quakers have not got a degree. Are you feeling more uncomfortable? Writing in Barbados, George Fox and other Quakers said that native Indians and people from Africa "make up a very great part of the families in this island, for whom an account will be required by Him who comes to judge both quick and dead," "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance" (2 Thessalonians 1: verses 7-8)(An epistle from the Quakers to the Governor of Barbados, 1671, re- published in the First Edition of George Fox's Journal in 1694) On 21.4.1676 the government of Barbados made it a legal offence for people with black skin to be allowed in Quaker meetings. "Enforcement of the 1676 Act had little impact on Quakers." (Larry Gragg, "The pious and the profane: the religious life of early Barbados planters". The Historian 1.1.2000.) A Quaker meeting is for everyone.
Quakers advise that
"individuals and groups must be careful not to claim to speak for Friends" [Quakers] "without explicit authority", My blog has no authority. I am not expecting mighty angels to support me (-:.
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Friends School Tokyo is a school for girls established by the Women's Mission Board of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1887. A fire in 1902 and the firebombings of Tokyo in the spring of 1945 destroyed the buildings, but the school was repeatedly rebuilt. The school begins each day with meeting for worship and ends each day with the singing of a hymn and a moment of silence. Students study the Bible or world religions at every grade level. |
1517 to 2017: Five hundred years since
Luther's 95 theses
The anniversary inspired Rockwell Moulton (Washington, West USA) to conceive a website of theses for social justice - new95theses.net - . "This anniversary of the Reformation seemed a great opportunity for churches to re-address issues affecting people across class, race and political affiliations!" - "We hope for more peace, equity and honesty in 2018." |
The Friend, which calls itself "The Quaker magazine", can be read
free at most Quaker meetings in Britain and most will let you take a copy
home.
A Friend being read is worth ten on the shelf - Go on - Take one!
If you visit The Friend online, you will find you are allowed to peep at its contents without being charged. The Friend 25.4.2014 The Fox Report from the North East. |
Mailings
Clerks' monthly mailings (Available to
members and attenders at Quaker meetings)
Bunhill and beyond mailings. Occasional unauthorised mailings
from Andrew Roberts. Available to anyone who can stomach the
unofficial.
Sexy website
In November 1999 James Grant's new
"Quakers at Bunhill Fields" website was widely praised with
comments like "the site is sexy and direct. And full of life" - "colourful
and accessible, almost, dare I say it?, fun" - "attractive and loads
quickly" - "excellent - very much in keeping with Quaker philosophy -
simple but effective. I particularly like the larger print text on a white
background ... so much easier to read than the typical web page" - "all the
things that were recommended at the Woodbrooke conference in July ... will
copy your ideas shamelessly"
There are many unexpected links between
the quite of Quaker Gardens and
the music of Wesley's Chapel on City Road.
"Hope for All", the Methodist School was built in Quaker Gardens. George Fox's stone and John Wesley's statue were erected to make old graveyards a memorial to dissent. The campaign to restore Fox's stone started in Wesley's Chapel. A conservation plan envisages Quaker Gardens, Bunhill Dissenters Burial Ground and Wesley's Chapel on a historic green pathway. |
Methodism
Called By Name: Being a member in the Methodist Church
Wesley's Chapel makes history relevant today
On 31.12.2012, BBC Today Programme "Thought for the Day" (live at 7.45am), had a 2013 message from Helen Drewery, General Secretary of Quaker Peace and Social Witness. I have copied this and a thought for Hanukah from The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks below. You can still listen to these online on the BBC website - Along with other thoughts for other days by many thoughtful people. By clicking on a thought, you will be able to listen to it and/or read the thoughts.
January 2013 With great joy we welcomed Michael Albero, Richenda Carey and John Foley to the life of our meeting. Spring 2016 Michael is recuperating from illness. Richenda and John have, sadly, withdrawn. We wish them well. |
Tim Gee of New Internationalist thinks we should make peace a way of life. As his friends deliberately misunderstand him, he reflects on what Quakerism is really about. "The essence of Quakerism" he says "is not an easily repeatable creed or dogma, but space. In shared silence there is profoundness and intimacy that is difficult to experience in any other situation. But the space goes beyond the Quaker meeting. It is a community.... " Oh, go on, click the link and read the rest yourself! |
Our friend and long-time Premises Clerk, Christopher Vincenzi died on
Wednesday 14.11.2012. His funeral was on Friday 30.11.2012
at
Wanstead Quaker
Meeting House. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Christopher Vincenzi, our father, who has died aged 73, was a humanitarian lawyer, peace activist and Quaker. He probed into obscure areas of English law and brought to light the powers enjoyed by the crown that affect our rights and liberties. Born in Ipswich, Suffolk, Christopher was the son of Julius, a GP, and his wife, Dorothy. Julius's father, Paulo, was a hatmaker from Carpi, Italy, who had established a business in Luton in the early 1900s. He left money for his family's education, and Christopher was sent to boarding school at the age of five with his older brother Paul. He went on to be educated at Stowe school in Buckinghamshire, and Christ Church, Oxford, studying law, and later obtained a PhD at Leeds University. He became devoted to the struggle against inequality, injustice and discrimination, and soon became a dedicated socialist. He married Ruth in 1965, and they moved in the late 60s to Bradford, where Christopher served as a Labour councillor and in 1980 helped found the first Bradford Law Centre, which offered free legal representation to those who could not afford to pay. As well as working as a solicitor and lecturing in law at Huddersfield Polytechnic, Christopher was a steward for his union, the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education. His published work included Law of the European Community (1992, which went into several editions) and Crown Powers, Subjects and Citizens (1998), the latter a controversial book which was recommended in the Guardian as giving a "full, unprepossessing picture" of the operation of crown prerogative. Christopher supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and campaigns to stop the National Front. In the 1970s he was a member of the group campaigning to preserve the old Kirkgate Market, a historic Victorian building in Bradford; their efforts were thwarted, and in 1973 the building was replaced by a concrete shopping mall. The following year, the architect John Poulson was imprisoned for bribing council officials in return for contracts including the redevelopment of the market site. Christopher was asked to give evidence in court against those who had been receiving bribes. He was an honest man with great integrity and a vision of social justice. After 35 years in Bradford, he and Ruth returned to London, where Christopher was active in the Quaker movement. He is survived by Ruth, us and our brother, Simon, and three grandchildren, Rosy, Ruby and Luca. |
God's grace to us through Ernest Yarrow
18.7.1921-19.2.2003 The grace of God is the gift of God. Freely given, freely received. What words would you use to describe the grace that God showed in his friend Ernest Yarrow? We thought we could start with: Good nature and good humour. Friendly with children. Steadiness. Solidarity. Faithfulness. Rock of the meeting. Friend and husband. Now, could you continue? Ernie's family lived in Dalston. His mother had to struggle. Her husband worked for the Metal Box Company and suffered from tin poisoning. When Ernie was only seven years old, his father went into hospital and he was continually ill until he died, when Ernie was fourteen. Ernie left school as soon as he was legally able, and went out to work as the breadwinner of the family. When war came, Ernie was sixteen. When he was old enough to be called up, he found he was rejected by the navy because he was hard of hearing. He went for a course to do engineering, and was sent to Acton where he helped make gliders. Ernie was, by profession, a carpenter and chair constructor. He worked for Cinque Chair Makers, who also did upholstery and made settees - but mainly chairs. Ernie was innovative. He called himself a "saw doctor". He was the person who kept the tools sharp and repaired them when they were broken. His hobbies were gardening and keeping tropical fish. All these skills, apart from the fish-keeping, he later lent to the service of God at Bunhill Meeting. About 1948, Ernie met a young Quaker friend of his cousin Iris. It was Iris's birthday party and the Quakeress was Olive Jenkins. There was something very un-Quakerly about Ernest. Olive's account of the meeting is plain and matter of fact. Ernest's account sparkled with romance. The Jenkins family had a problem. Their meeting house had been burnt and bombed during the war and was a small fragment of its former self. The part that survived had a tarpaulin for a roof for about two years after Olive first showed the Bunhill Meeting House to her new friend. So Ernie's first involvement in Bunhill Quaker meeting was practical. He repaired the forms and chairs; polished and sparkled the furniture that was dull and fire- tired; helped to decorate the meeting room and tended the meeting house garden. Ernie Yarrow and Olive Jenkins were married at Bunhill Fields Meeting House on 24.1.1953. They were married on the top floor (later used as a wardens' flat and then an office) - which was then used for meetings. So many gathered to witness the wedding that they were told afterwards that it was only the grace of God that had held the bomb shaken floor in place. A couple of years after the marriage, Ernest decided to take another step, and applied for membership of the Religious Society of Friends. At one time he was the overseer of the meeting. In those days there were not enough members for Bunhill to have more than one overseer and one elder at a time. Ernest and Olive lived at Greenwood Road, Hackney until 1966, when they moved to South Woodford. From there they travelled to Bunhill every Sunday and helped to keep the meeting alive during very difficult times. One of us remembers hearing of Bunhill in 1971 as the meeting where one family and a few friends thought they had a mission from God to keep His meeting alive in defiance of all logic and in a building that threatened to fall down. Ernest was a quiet part of that family. God's rock and anchor in the storms. Two of us first came to Bunhill in the 1970s. At that time, Ernest's health was fine and he was working full time. We remember him most as an affectionate uncle to the Hooker children (Stephen, Ian, Janet, Philip and Alison), who regularly attended Bunhill meeting with their parents, Ron and Kathleen Hooker (Olive's sister). Coming to Bunhill then was, in every sense, being welcomed into a family. As the years moved on, Ernest's health began to decline. He had a special chair in the meeting and his slow, heavy breathing was the regular ministry in what was otherwise a silent meeting. Eventually, it became impossible for Ernie to attend meeting regularly. One day, not long before he died, a small group from Bunhill went over to Woodford on a Sunday morning to join Earnest and Olive in worship in their front room. The sun shone, the spring flowers were out in the garden, and we were all supremely grateful for the grace of God. |
Getting to Wanstead Meeting House
By clicking on
this
Transport for London link you can plan your own journey within
London
by typing in your own postcode and the meeting house postcode E11 3AU
Leytonstone on the Central Line is 1/2 mile from the meeting.
Buses: 66, 145, 257, W14 and W19 (not Sundays) go to the
Green Man Roundabout.
Wanstead on the Central Line is 3/4mile
Leytonstone on London Overground is also 3/4 mile.
Buses 101 and 308 to
Blake Hall Road/Bush Road.
This map shows the walking route from Leytonstone Tube Station to the
meeting house.
Transport for London suggest you allow 17 minutes for the walk.
Click here for a detailed map that shows you the route exactly and locates other places near the meeting house, including the 'Green Man Roundabout'. |
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2012 Within Area Meeting a Spiritual Events Group has
organised two successful
retreat days at Capel Manor, and another is
planned, on the theme of Healing, this autumn. Rupert Price has provided
a report of the last one, on the Winchmore
Hill website.
Summer 2012 Follow this link to hear about a piece of direct action by Sam Walton a member at Bunhill. Sam has given his own account. He works at Friends House on Peace and Disarmament, although he is acting on a very serious issue his blog is very funny! Ruth Vincenzi |
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Thoughts by and about Lucy and George Gorman"The Gorman home felt 'open /house' and when the Meeting started a tennis evening in Grovelands Park we always adjourned to their home for coffee and fellowship afterwards. Looking back I think I would have to admit that it was the warm, welcoming fellowship of Friends in Winchmore Hill Meeting, and especially George and Lucy Gorman that attracted me to Quakers" (anonymous p.19)
"A Quaker Meeting, he said, that was not literally a miniature Society of Friends - a community of people who love and care for one another - would not be likely to get off the ground; and he advised a Meeting which asked: "Is our Quaker worship adequate?" to ask itself first: Is the fellowship of our Meeting adequate? In an atmosphere of loving understanding such as he described, the next encounter in the Meeting for Worship was possible: the encounter with oneself." (The Friend 9.6.1967 p.695) "He steadfastly opposed proposals to dissociate" [people like me - Andrew] "who had not been seen in meeting for years. Who could know, he asked, why they did not appear or when they might be able to attend regularly again?"
"Dear George...": An Anthology of Recollections of George H Gorman (1916-1982), a paperback, was pucklished by Quacks Books in York on 20.11.2013. You can buy it online for less than £10. |
A thought for 2013 from Quaker Helen Drewery - BBC Radio Four 31.12.2012 Good morning. Two incidents of horrific violence have shocked us all in recent days: the church organist killed in Sheffield on his way to Midnight Mass, and the medical student in Delhi whose funeral was held yesterday. In the light of those I want to tell you two different stories about ordinary people's successful efforts to counteract violence. A young woman in Year 9 at school - about 14 years old - was walking home through a park at dusk, and saw a group of Year 10 students she recognised from her own school, standing in a circle. As she got nearer she could see that one of them was holding down and punching someone from her year group. He was being hit in the face repeatedly. The crowd was jeering. The young woman was terrified but walked into the centre of the circle and just said 'stop doing that', and to her amazement they did, and she was able to take the boy back to his home. But peace does not just require personal courage. It can be organised for. My second example is set in Kenya. Local Quakers there, learning from past experience, were determined to be well prepared to limit the predicted violence around the coming general elections. So they invited in a British Quaker project to give them training in skills of active non-violence, helping people to see that real political change can be achieved by peaceful means. Already they have launched a campaign to challenge unfair local taxes. The alternative might easily have been a violent riot. As we turn to face the new year, maybe bracing ourselves for more conflicts and challenges, we need a sense of hope. I try to remember all the countries and communities which don't feature in the news headlines, because ordinary people are busy keeping the peace. And many feel supported by their faith to do more than they could have done in just their own human strength. Who knows what violence has been prevented, at an early stage, by the unknown actions of ordinary people? A century ago there were people working to prevent the outbreak of World War One. They failed - but failure is not inevitable. Wars that have been prevented have no names and no dates - documentaries are rarely made about them. So what would it take for us to be peacemakers, in the coming year? I suggest it takes, mostly, a willingness to build trust, and some skills in cool-headedness, which can be learnt by anybody. And many people find that it really helps to see every human being as unique, precious and a child of God. It has been said: "there is no way to peace - peace is the way." Or as Sydney Bailey, a Quaker who worked at the United Nations, put it: ''peace is a process to engage in, not a goal to be reached'. A Thought for Hanukah from The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks - BBC Radio Four 13.12.2012 This week we've been celebrating Hanukah, the Jewish festival of freedom, and what a week it's been. On Monday night, together with thousands of people, we had a Hanukah ceremony in Trafalgar Square, with choirs, a rock band, and chocolate coins for the children. And I thought, this would have been inconceivable even a generation ago. So haunted have Jews been by a history of prejudice and persecution, that we often used to hide our identity in public; and yet here we were sharing our joy with others, with confidence and pride. On Tuesday together with Jewish and non Jewish members of the metropolitan police, we lit candles in Scotland Yard, and I recalled the extraordinary remark I heard some years ago from one of the people who'd been rescued from Nazi Germany by kindertransport, the operation that saved 10,000 Jewish children in 1939. She spoke of the shock of freedom she felt when she realised that in Britain a policeman might be not an enemy but a friend. Last night we lit candles in the speaker's residence in the House of Commons, and again I had that same feeling, remembering that not until 1859, two centuries after Jews returned to Britain, could someone of our faith be admitted as a member of parliament. These are, by any historical standards, extraordinary times, and this, a remarkable country. There are few places in the world where the leaders of our many faiths are such close personal friends, and where minorities have the confidence to share their celebrations with neighbours and strangers. So when the results of the census came out this week, showing that there are six million fewer religious believers than there were ten years ago, but that the minority faiths are getting stronger, I thought: perhaps heaven is summoning us to a deep and difficult truth, that all religions are at their best when they are a minority voice, when they have influence but not power, when they make space for people whose views are different from their own, when they offer others their stories and songs, hospitality and food, seeking nothing in return. Religion isn't about power but about the powerless. It's about those who have more than they need sharing their blessings with those who have less than they need. The candles of Hanukah are the light we share with the world; and the more faiths Britain celebrates and the more we share, the more light there will be. |