Latest News
Blue plaque for Sunderland Quaker women
The role played by Sunderland Quaker women in the anti-slavery movement is to be honoured with a blue plaque. The move follows a successful bid by academics at the University of Sunderland. The plaque will be unveiled in Sunderland city centre on 30 June and fixed to the façade of...
Friends in Scotland consider poverty action
Scottish Quakers are considering how they can respond to a new initiative for churches to unite to fight poverty.
US Friends push for landmine ban
Two US Quaker organisations joined thirty-four other leaders in calling on Joe Biden to adopt a new landmine policy after the administration announced that it was conducting a review. Representatives from both the American Friends Service Committee and Friends Committee on National Legislation signed a letter calling on the...
Call for investigation into UK-made tear gas in Oman
Friends have been supporting a call from Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) for an investigation into the use of UK-made tear gas in Oman. The push follows the publication of what CAAT describes as ‘damning’ images by journalist Phil Miller of Declassified, which show the use of tear gas canisters...
Quakers lobby against controversial bill
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has submitted evidence to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill Committee on a controversial bill that is now passing through parliament. Working with the group Unlock Democracy, Quakers called for part 3 (public order) and part 4 (unauthorised encampments) to be scrapped ‘at the very least’.
Rare manuscript of Quakers’ US exodus
A rare manuscript has offered insight into the Welsh Quaker exodus into the US in the seventeenth century.
Clergy make stand against Exxon
Two members of the Anglican clergy have glued themselves to furniture in the reception of Church House in London in protest at the Church of England continuing to invest in Exxon Mobil despite their extraction of fossil fuels. Sue Parffit from Bristol was arrested but Tim Hewes, a retired vicar...
Quakers send postcards for COP26
Friends have been taking part in a ‘Make COP Count’ initiative, which involves sending Boris Johnson a postcard supporting the twenty-sixth United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
PPU accuses education secretary of ‘misrepresentation’
Peace campaigners have accused education secretary Gavin Williamson of ‘bending the truth’ over cadet forces in schools. According to the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), which includes Quaker members, the cabinet member has misrepresented research from the University of Northampton, claiming that it justifies the UK government’s decision to spend...
Vigil for George Floyd
A Bristol Quaker organised a vigil to mark the anniversary of the death of George Floyd last week. Friends were among those who gathered for the Lantern Vigil of Remembrance at College Green in Bristol on 25 May to hear speakers and poets, with time for reflection and sharing. One of...