Religious questioning
Quakerism was born out of huge political and religious upheaval in the mid-1600s. Civil War was raging and many people were interested in radically reshaping religion, politics and society. The Church of England was a powerful force and closely linked to the political establishment.
George Fox (1624-1691), the best known of early Quakers, was born in 1624 in Leicestershire. In his youth, he became dissatisfied with the inconsistency between what Christians said they believed and the way they behaved. He wanted to be part of a faith community that was true to their beliefs. After much talking with religious leaders and studying the bible, Fox came to the belief that there is that of God in everyone. This meant the hierarchical structure of the church was unnecessary. Anyone could be guided by the spirit of Christ within them, hearing the message directly instead of through a priest.
Spreading the message
Saying that there is that of God in everyone was dangerous. It challenged the very structure of society, which discriminated by social class, wealth, race and gender. Fox was jailed many times for spreading his egalitarian message. But his message appealed to many. It was a message of freedom – freedom from the authority of priests and from the fear of sin and damnation.
In 1652 he had a revelation at the top of Pendle Hill in Lancashire. This prompted him to search out communities of seekers who had already left the established church. They worshipped together without ritual or leader, waiting for God's message to be revealed to them. Fox brought many of the answers they had been looking for. Many were inspired to leave home to spread his message and their silent worship throughout England and beyond. These people became the very first Quakers.
Early Quakers
Elizabeth Hooton (1600-1672) was a prominent early Quaker, and some of the first Quaker meetings for worship took place in her home. She became a strong advocate for Quakerism in England and America, and acted against the power of the clergy. She also petitioned for better prison conditions.
James Nayler (1618-1660) was another early Quaker. When he met Fox in 1652, he had recently left the army and was looking for a different way of life. He found his spiritual home in Quakerism and led many people to explore the faith for themselves.
Margaret Fell (1614-1702) was a brilliant writer and organiser and was key to the early organisation of the Society of Friends. Fox stayed for long periods at her home in Cumbria, Swarthmoor Hall. It became a place where early Quakers could meet, organise and plan preaching missions.
When preaching in England, Europe and North America, these early Quakers didn't know how their message would be received. Many were beaten and imprisoned for living out their convictions on truth and equality. They refused to take oaths, insisting they told the truth at all times. Enslaved people were invited to worship in Quaker meetings. These were radical actions, and many people resented the way Quakers were shaking up established social and religious systems.
On some topics, their radical voice only went so far. Early white Quakers did not totally condemn the practice of slavery. Many profited by exploiting enslaved people through unpaid forced labour. It took more than a century for British Quakers to clarify that the transatlantic chattel slave trade was incompatible with their faith. It took even longer for Quakers to fully comply with the truth of that message. But Quakers today are aware of their responsibility to address historical injustices like slavery and colonialism – ongoing legacies that have shaped modern society.
The values that early Quakers lived by are still fundamental to living as a Quaker today. We call these values testimonies. In Britain, the four main testimonies are peace, equality, simplicity, and truth.
Peace
Quakers have long been known for their peace testimony. Fox said he lived "in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars" (Quaker faith & practice 24.01). He meant that he would never fight, even if he were being physically attacked for his beliefs. This echoes Jesus' teaching of turning the other cheek.
Their belief that there is that of God in everyone naturally led many early Quakers to the conviction that killing is wrong. In 1660, Margaret Fell wrote a declaration to parliament and King Charles II on behalf of Quakers. It stated that they oppose “all outward wars, and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end" (Quaker faith & practice 24.04). To this day, the peace testimony inspires Quakers to campaign against the arms trade, promote peace education and sell white poppies around Remembrance Day.
Equality
For 17th-century Quakers, the testimony of equality broke down barriers to spiritual equality between men and women. They recognised the spiritual authority of women as equal to men's, and many women led preaching missions to spread the Quaker message.
As society's acceptance of equality for different groups has developed, the Quaker testimony of equality has evolved with it. In recent years, Quakers in Britain campaigned for the right to marry same-sex couples in Quaker meetings. They have also committed to making practical reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and economic exploitation.
Simplicity
The testimony of simplicity is apparent in the way Quakers worship. Early Quakers worshipped in simple rooms or outside. Their meetings for worship had no set hymns, sermon or prayers. In Britain, this practice hasn't changed. Quakers simply sit in silent waiting, creating space for the Spirit to move in their lives.
In recent years, the testimony of simplicity has been linked to sustainability. Quakers are aware of the environmental damage caused by consumerism. Living a simple life means rejecting excess and waste and working for a more sustainable world. In 2011, Quakers in Britain made a commitment to become a low-carbon community.
Truth
For George Fox, being truthful was fundamental. His frustration with other religious groups was often rooted in their lack of integrity, as he saw it. He thought that people should act on what they believed – not say one thing and do another. This commitment to truth prompted Fox's preaching missions around England, which launched the Quaker movement.
Quakers today often use the phrase 'speak truth to power', coined by US Quaker Bayard Rustin, to describe their work in social activism and politics. Fox's radical message – that anyone could have a direct relationship with God – often went against what church leaders and other religious authorities were preaching. But he understood the importance of sharing his message, and did so in spite of the condemnation and persecution it provoked. Similarly, Quakers today share important messages of peace and justice with people in power, regardless of their reaction.