Issue 01-09-2017
Featured story
Thought for the Week: Asking questions
As belief in God is such a personal thing, it seemed only fair to give my pupils, who are from eleven to fourteen years of age, a chance to express their feelings, thoughts and ideas on this subject through a survey. Their anonymous responses varied from just a few lines...
Top stories
Quaker diversity
Those of us who were lucky enough to be at Yearly Meeting Gathering were rightly and repeatedly challenged to look at ourselves and our lack of diversity and its causes, and to become a more welcoming and inclusive Society – not only numerically, but also in terms of responsibility and influence...
The ‘elephant’ at YMG
When I started writing this piece, the BBC was under fire again for giving Nigel Lawson, the former chancellor of the exchequer, peak airtime on the Today programme, no less, to peddle a whole bunch of falsehoods about climate change. It matters not that the following day (at 6.50am, not 8.15...
The Baker family
Pierre-Simon Laplace, an influential French mathematician, physicist and astronomer, when asked by Napoleon why he had not mentioned the author of the universe in his book about the system of the world, replied: ‘I had no need of that hypothesis.’
Laying down a concern
Manchester and Warrington Friends have joyfully played a part in the annual Manchester Pride events for the last ten years. In that time Friends have walked with banners in the Pride parades, danced at the Quaker ceilidhs, prayed in outdoor Meetings for Worship, listened deeply and shared information at the...
Friends join Manchester Pride parade
Between twenty and twenty-five Friends took part in Manchester’s annual Pride parade on Saturday 26 August. Friends from Manchester and Warrington were joined by others from York, Cheshire, London and the Isle of Man.
All articles
Quaker witness at arms fair
Quakers are joining a day of worship, prayer and nonviolent resistance to the Defence and Security Equipment International arms fair in East London, the largest arms fair in the world, on 5 September. A spokesperson said: ‘Friends will gather for prayer at 9am, and there will be a Meeting for Worship...
Quakers at Coventry Hiroshima Day
Twenty Quakers travelled to Coventry Cathedral on 6 August and joined a group of one hundred people to mark Hiroshima Day. Friends, many of whom have attended the event for years, came from Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, and Hartshill to join a strong representation from Coventry.
Ruth Cadbury welcomes policy review on Heathrow airport
Ruth Cadbury, the Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, has welcomed a possible change in Labour Party policy over plans to expand Heathrow airport.
Woodbrooke project on divorce
Woodbrooke and Quaker Life are supporting a project exploring the effects of divorce and relationship breakdown on individuals and Meetings.
Leadership programme
Woodbrooke have announced that applications for their 2017-2018 Young Adult Leadership Programme are now open.
Call on fracking change in Lancashire
Friends of the Earth (FoE) and local campaigners including Friends are calling Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy not to give final consent to allow fracking to go ahead in Lancashire, even as drilling was reported to have begun at Preston New Road last...
Suffer the little children
Then there were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said: Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19: 13-14 (KJV) My heart...
My two uncles
I knew your faces, Always had your photos there. I never knew your voices, Or smiles and laughter. I knew a little of your thoughts, I’ve read your letters, But we never had a conversation Or exchange of views.
Letters - 1 September 2017
Walden School I, too, have been saddened by the news that Walden School was to close, and have reflected on what it gave me, a pupil in the 1950s. I was a rather bookish child but with two left feet; others were sporty but struggled with exams. But there was...