Latest News
Initiative launched to combat modern slavery
A ground-breaking ecumenical initiative to combat modern slavery and human trafficking has been backed by Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, and pope Francis. The historic agreement to help eradicate an injustice affecting up to twenty-nine million people, by setting up the Global Freedom Network, was signed on 17 March.
African Quaker peacebuilders’ exhibition
The work of African Quaker peacebuilders is being highlighted by an exhibition and book – This Light that Pushes Me – to be launched at Friends House in London on 9 April. The peacebuilders come from nine sub-Saharan African countries and all have experienced some form of violence.
Friends choose to fast
Quaker Meetings throughout Britain are being encouraged to take part in the national day of fasting on April 4 and to support the End Hunger Fast campaign by holding events and lobbying their local MPs. Chris Skidmore, clerk of Yearly Meeting for Quakers in Britain, is one of a number...
Mental health on the agenda
Friends from across Britain are meeting at Friends House in London on Saturday 15 March to discuss whether a specifically Quaker understanding of mental health has emerged from recent concerns and gatherings.
Fair Penny petition opens to organisations
Over a thousand people have now signed the Fair Penny petition set up by Friends in Wanstead. Those who sign the petition pledge that they are prepared to pay an extra penny in income tax in order to protect the most vulnerable in society from the effect of austerity...
Quaker school governors meet
How boarders are best integrated into Quaker schools was one of the themes of the recent conference of governors of Quaker schools. The conference, which was held at the end of February at the University of Warwick’s Scarman Conference Centre, was addressed by Stuart Westley, of the Association...
Quaker fined for peaceful protest
A seventy-year-old Quaker from West Yorkshire has refused to pay a fine given to her for participating in a peaceful protest at an arms fair in London in September 2013.
Moscow concern over Ukraine
Moscow Monthly Meeting have asked Quakers worldwide to pray and work with them for peace in Ukraine. Friends in Moscow recently met to discuss the situation in Ukraine, and Russian involvement, and invited Mikhail Roshchin and Johan Maurer to prepare a statement on the basis of four principles that...
Turrell success in London
Four works by the artist James Turrell are on display at a leading London gallery until early April. The four frosted-glass screens, animated by sophisticated displays of LED lights, are one of the highlights of an exhibition at the Pace Gallery in central London.
Greening of Jesus Lane Meeting House
Friends in Cambridge are celebrating the successful completion of a project that has made their Meeting house more sustainable. Sixteen solar panels were installed on the roof of the Cambridge Jesus Lane Meeting House on Thursday 27 February as the last phase of an ambitious ‘greening programme’.