Quaker Meeting House Liverpool

07/09/2025

Shanthini Cawson talks racism and reparations before reminding Quakers of their spiritual core.
As part of the series on diversity and inclusion, Shanthini and I speak about racism and reparations. As a woman of Malaysian heritage and spiritual formation in Hinduism, Shanthini is not convinced there is racism among Quakers and focuses on the need to be reminding people of our welcome in to a deep spiritual practice that works! We lament the loss of our patient, waiting worship which in our business method should take time rather than being rushed along by centralised work schedules. We wonder how Quakers in Britain have lost their way and loss of fresh perspective in senior management by overly long terms of office.
Much to think about...

https://youtu.be/IKAr4oILIVo

Ps Please remember to leave your comments if you feel they might be useful.
Thank you 🙏

As part of the series on diversity and inclusion, Shanthini and I speak about racism and reparations. As a woman of Malaysian heritage and spiritual formatio...

17/10/2024

Kieran's bimble stops off at St Helens Quaker Meeting House (8m 30s in)

I'm back in the midst of the wonderful St Helens to settle some unfinished business.Tickets for Liverpoolhttps://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Liverpool/The-Ship-...

19/03/2024

On Sunday we went to Hertford Meeting for Meeting for Worship.
This Friends Meeting House is dated 1670. It is believed to be the oldest purpose built meeting house to have been in continuous use for worship throughout its existence. A Quaker preacher first came to Hertford in 1655 and services were held in private houses. Then in 1669 the decision was taken to build the Meeting House, at a cost of £243 12s 0d. George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers) visited the building at least 3 times.
Being in such an old Meeting House does bring to mind how serious Quakers were about Worship and what it meant.
“Worship is our response to an awareness of God. We can worship alone, but when we join with others in expectant waiting we may discover a deeper sense of God’s presence. We seek a gathered stillness in our meetings for worship so that all may feel the power of God’s love drawing us together and leading us.”

06/03/2024

Everyone needs meaning in their lives. Everyone needs purpose. Quakers find them through a blend of spirituality and action. And for many of us, it can be hard to distinguish between the two.

Quakers often talk about a ‘Spirit’ working inside people. We recognise and accept there is a part of us that is not our intellect, not our emotions, not our ego; but something central to our being that can guide us, help us connect to others, provide insights and help us make sense of our lives, if we trust it and give it time to work.

We find we may be prompted by the Spirit while sitting in silence and stillness, and unexpectedly at other times. Through these promptings we find meaning and purpose from everything that happens in our daily lives.

Quakers record the shared wisdom from these promptings in a helpful pocket-sized booklet called Advices & Queries, a kind of maintenance manual for Quakers. (It is available for free online and in print from the Quaker Centre and your local Quaker meeting.) Here is an extract from it:

“Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Let your life speak.”

03/03/2024

A Quaker voice:

“We are heartbroken by the violence in Israel and Palestine. As Quakers, we deeply mourn the loss of all lives and pray for those who have lost loved ones due to this latest escalation. We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ attacks and inhumane treatment of civilians and call for the release of all hostages. We also condemn Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza that has claimed thousands of civilian lives. More war and weapons won’t bring peace. In the face of growing violence, lawmakers must push for a permanent ceasefire and address the root causes underlying this explosion of violence.

It is time for everyone – including the international community – to recognise that no military solution will bring a permanent end to violence. Only a just peace based on international law can do that. We urge the UK government and international leaders to ensure humanitarian access and response. We call for a ceasefire and release of hostages to prevent further loss of life and suffering for Israelis and Palestinians.”

22/02/2024

St Helens Meeting House:
The house has a wonderful atmosphere of calm, the people using it for worship are warm and friendly, and visitors leave feeling an inner peace. It was established as a place of Quaker worship in 1679 and is the oldest building in St Helens.

George Shaw of Bickerstaffe first established this handsome stone built house of 1679 as a place of Quaker worship. It is the oldest building in St Helen's, and forms part of the town's George Street Conservation Area.
A path bordered by seasonal flowers and plants leads to the main entrance door, above this is a sundial bearing the date 1753. Curiously, in the garden visitors can see a massive glacial boulder presumed to have been left by the last ice age of the Lake District.
We meet every Sunday at 10.30 am. All are welcome. 🙏

21/02/2024

A personal experience of Meeting for Worship:

“On one never-to-be-forgotten Sunday morning, I found myself one of a small company of silent worshippers who were content to sit down together without words, that each one might feel after and draw near to the Divine Presence, unhindered at least, if not helped, by any human utterance. Utterance I knew was free, should the words be given; and, before the meeting was over, a sentence or two were uttered in great simplicity by an old and apparently untaught man, rising in his place amongst the rest of us. I did not pay much attention to the words he spoke, and I have no recollection of their purport. My whole soul was filled with the unutterable peace of the undisturbed opportunity for communion with God, with the sense that at last I had found a place where I might, without the faintest suspicion of insincerity, join with others in simply seeking His presence. To sit down in silence could at the least pledge me to nothing; it might open to me (as it did that morning) the very gate of heaven. And, since that day, now more than seventeen years ago, Friends’ meetings have indeed been to me the greatest of outward helps to a fuller and fuller entrance into the spirit from which they have sprung; the place of the most soul-subduing, faith-restoring, strengthening, and peaceful communion, in feeding upon the bread of life, that I have ever known.”

Caroline E Stephen, 1890

20/02/2024

What Quaker Worship is really about and our red booklet Advices and Queries:

As Friends we commit ourselves to a way of worship which allows God to teach and transform us. We have found corporately that the Spirit, if rightly followed, will lead us into truth, unity and love: all our testimonies grow from this leading.

Our diversity invites us both to speak what we know to be true in our lives and to learn from others. Friends are encouraged to listen to each other in humility and understanding, trusting in the Spirit that goes beyond our human effort and comprehension. So it is for the comfort and discomfort of Friends that these advices and queries are offered, with the hope that we may all be more faithful and find deeper joy in God’s service.

Dearly beloved Friends, these things we do not lay upon you as a rule or form to walk by, but that all, with the measure of light which is pure and holy, may be guided; and so in the light walking and abiding, these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not from the letter, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

Postscript to an epistle to ‘the brethren in the north’ issued by a meeting of elders at Balby, 1656

19/02/2024

What happens in a Quaker Meeting for Worship?
On arrival we like to settle down comfortably in the Meeting Room a few minutes before the appointed time. The Meeting begins when the first person sits down in the meeting room and begins the silent journey inwards, so it is important to be as still and quiet as possible right from the beginning. Make sure that you are sitting comfortably early in the Meeting.

The Meeting Room is a simple room with chairs arranged around a central table.
On the table are copies of Quaker Faith & Practice and Advices and Queries (these two books give the essence of the Quaker way). Anyone may refer to these books during the Meeting if they feel that they could be helpful to them. In some meetings there may also be a lighted candle or some flowers on the table.

Our Meetings are held in silence. There is no ceremony or ritual; the Meeting takes the form of a silent contemplation or meditation. There is no priest or pastor; everyone is equally responsible for the silence and for the words that may be spoken. Anyone may speak if he or she feels that the Silence will be enriched by the message however hesitant or imperfect it may seem. In this Silence we become less aware of external noise, more aware of one another, and more able to tune in and listen to God. Through this we can find God in ourselves and in other people. We seek to ‘know one another in that which is eternal’. If you find it difficult to stay focussed in the Silence, this may be because of some inner restlessness, troubled thoughts or external disturbances. Acknowledge their presence and gently let them go.

Our expectation is that the Silence will deepen. Gradually we develop our own methods of helping to achieve this, but it takes time and patience. Sometimes the whole hour is silent, but it is more usual for the Silence to be broken (but not interrupted) several times by a thought, a reading or a prayer from one of those present.

As the Meeting proceeds, you may notice a common thread running through it. If what is said does not seem right for you, remember that it may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Try to be open to what lies behind the words that are spoken in the Silence. Quakers aim to build a community of trust and mutual acceptance. Remember: no two Meetings for Worship are ever the same, so it is a good idea to come on several different occasions if this is possible.

At the end of the Meeting, all those present join hands. Visitors are welcomed and you may introduce yourself if you wish. Afterwards everyone is invited to have tea / coffee. Do not be shy: speak to anyone present and ask him or her for more information about Quakers. Everyone will be happy to tell you what he or she knows.

We hope that you will enjoy our Meeting for Worship and feel comfortable with us. Please come again – it often takes some time to feel totally at home in the Silence.

—–’Stillness feeds the Spirit’—-

St Helen’s Meeting House, every Sunday at 10.30 am till 11.30 am.

06/11/2023

Incredible! Wonderful! Amazing! Thank you!!

09/10/2021

Hope to see you all today!

JONATHAN GRIFFITH. A Memorial Meeting to give thanks for Jonathan’s life will be held at Liverpool FMH at 2pm Saturday 9th October. RSVP to attend to Jo Tobler [email protected]
To book a zoom option contact shantzcawson@ gmail.com

27/09/2021

JONATHAN GRIFFITH. A Memorial Meeting to give thanks for Jonathan’s life will be held at Liverpool FMH at 2pm Saturday 9th October. RSVP to attend to Jo Tobler [email protected]
To book a zoom option contact shantzcawson@ gmail.com