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Silent witness at St Paul’s
A hundred Quakers came from far and wide to attend a Meeting for Worship on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday. The first part of the worship was accompanied by the deafening noise of the huge bells of St Paul’s. However, neither these sounds nor...
Arms trade treaty needs churches to lobby together
Churches have a crucial role to play in the run-up to next year’s negotiations of a global treaty to regulate the conventional arms trade. This was the conclusion of a World Council of Churches (WCC) panel in New York last month. WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit said...
83 year-old Quaker protester faces court
A Quaker great-grandfather is facing court this week following a peaceful protest against the war in Afghanistan. John Lynes, 83, of St Leonards on Sea Meeting, was arrested at the gates of Downing Street on 7 October. In the dock alongside him are: a former SAS soldier, Ben Griffin, a Roman...
Tackling tax dodging
Quakers have joined other Christian-based groups in urging the chancellor of the exchequer to crack down on tax dodging by the rich. They signed an open letter telling George Osborne that the wide gap between rich and poor is ‘tearing at the fabric of society’. They argue that ‘efficient...
Bootham old boy new cabinet secretary
Jeremy John Heywood, due to take over the post of cabinet secretary when Gus O’Donnell retires at the end of the year, was educated at Bootham School in York. He was head boy at the school, which has a Quaker background and ethos.
Quaker campaigner makes ‘Pink List’
Quaker activist Clare Dimyon is one of the most inspiring gay people in Britain – according to this year’s ‘Pink List.’ The list, published annually by the Independent on Sunday, names the 101 individuals considered to have done most to make life better for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)...
Quaker action at St Paul’s
Protesters camped near St Paul’s Cathedral were given an experience of Quaker activism last week, when Friends provided a workshop to help them think through their aims. Turning the Tide, a scheme run by Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW), sent two staff to facilitate a session held...
Quaker presence at financial protests
Quakers held a Meeting for Worship near the London Stock Exchange on Saturday as nonviolent protests began at financial centres around the world. The police refused to allow demonstrators to approach the exchange, confining thousands of them outside St Paul’s Cathedral. Several other Friends turned up on Sunday...
Quakers to help ‘hidden homeless’
Friends have been urged to rent out their spare rooms to single people at risk of homelessness. Quaker Social Action (QSA), who made the appeal, say there are thousands of people who are ‘vulnerably housed’ but not technically labelled as homeless. Single people are often at the bottom of...
Michael Lyons loses appeal
A member of the Navy who changed his views on war has lost an appeal against his conviction for ‘wilful disobedience.’ Michael Lyons is serving nine months in an armed forces detention centre because he refused to use a rifle. The appeal court last week decided to uphold the...