“… be patterns, be examples in all countries… 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 everyone.”
George Fox
Quakers do not have a traditional creed. We believe there is a divine power in each of us and the life of each person on earth is therefore infinitely precious. Each of us has an Inner Light through which we can experience divine guidance. God can speak through each of us. Therefore we have no need for clergy.
Quakerism has a simple form of worship. We meet together in silence with no set prayers. In the silence God’s voice can be heard.
Quakers turn their faith into action, with ‘testimonies’ that encourage a pursuit of social justice and peace.
Many people know about the Quaker involvement in prison reform and the abolition of slavery. In 1947 the Quakers won the Nobel Peace Prize for relief work in shattered post-war Germany. Quaker initiatives also contributed towards the founding of Amnesty International and Oxfam.
Most recently, Quakers have been working to resolve conflict in the former Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland, the Middle East and other crisis-hit regions.
All kinds of people are drawn to this mixture of faith and action.
More detailed information can be found at www.quaker.org.uk.