Quakers in South Staffordshire are opening the doors of their meeting houses to tell people about their faith.
Quaker Awareness Week began on Saturday with the aim of explaining the origins of the Religious Society of Friends. When Anthony Wilson tells fellow Quakers that he lives in Lichfield they usually stare at him in surprise. “The city is famous among Quakers,” explains Anthony.
“In the winter of 1651 the founder George Fox stood in the market square in his bare feet shouting ‘Woe to the Bloody City of Lichfield’, says Anthony, 76 of Beacon Mews in Lichfield
“It is so famous that there is even a painting depicting the incident in Lichfield Heritage Centre.
“George Fox was the founder of Quakerism, which a lot of people believe was a puritanical sect that died out a century ago.
“In fact it is alive and well and there are groups in Lichfield, Stafford and Wolverhampton.”
During awareness week members are putting on displays and having discussions about their church.
“Because Quakers don’t tell people they should all be like them, they are not good at telling them about their faith,” says Anthony, who is clerk of the Lichfield Quakers. In Staffordshire and Wolverhampton there are around 130 members, as we are a very small church.
“In the 17th Century Quakers were at the puritan end of the Christian spectrum and against music and drama as they thought they were sins of the flesh.
“They believed the country was going to the dogs and there was no time for going to the theatre.”
Anthony says Quakers withdrew from society and lived among themselves, creating their own thriving businesses.
“Their businesses did well because Quakers were renowned for their truth and integrity,” he says.
“People knew that Quakers wouldn’t short-change them and then during the First World War they were against men being sent away to fight.
Quaker Awareness Week takes place from October 4 to 12 with open days at Stafford Friends Meeting House in Foregate Street on October 10 and 11 from 10am to 4pm.
Lichfield Quakers will be in the Guildhall on October 18 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
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