It has been exciting to see so many people across the city express an interest in our Quaker Way, with most of London’s Local Meetings reporting an increase in new Friends, especially among young adults.
This poses the question – how well are we welcoming our new friends?
Whilst some Local Meetings are able to put on their own newcomers sessions, some are unable to do this. This is why Being Quaker was launched. The idea was to put on a simple, London-wide course, exploring the central themes of Quakerism, that anyone in the city could attend.
The first course ran in May of 2025 in Bunhill Fields with subsequent courses being held in Wimbledon, Westminster and Walthamstow meetings. A total of 60 participants, from 20 Local Meetings have taken part to date, with 25 Friends from across London helping with the speaking, organising, administration and hosting of the events. It truly has been a joint-London effort!
Each session follows a very simple format. A couple of speakers will come and share their understanding on a certain theme, and then the rest of the time is given over to discussion and questions. Many of those attending have already done extensive research before ever setting foot through the doors of a Meeting House, so the course provides more of an opportunity to ask questions and build confidence more than anything else.
Now that Being Quaker has been established and has run several times, the hope is that Local Meetings will take it on, and think whether they might be able to host the next series of sessions. Resources are available online and there is a list of Friends from across the city who are willing to serve as speakers, hosts and administrators, so there is lots of support to make it happen.
If you think you or your Local Meeting might be interested in organising the next Being Quaker course, email beingquaker@londonquakers.org.uk.
Those who have been involved with running the course often seem to get more out of the experience than the participants, often stating that there is something truly infectious about the excitement of someone who has recently discovered the Quaker Way.
For a report written by a participant who attended the Bunhill Fields course, click here.
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