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A fuller description of our structure can be found in the video at the bottom of this page. A complete description can be found in Quaker faith & practice chapter 8 (offsite link).
Our name
You will hear the whole organisation of Quakers in Britain referred to as 'Britain Yearly Meeting'. 'Quakers in Britain' is an informal name.
Local meetings
Local meetings are where Quakers go for regular meeting for worship. Everybody is welcome. Local meetings also hold a regular 'meeting for worship for business'. Here Quakers deal with business matters and raise concerns that affect the local meeting.
Local meetings may take their concerns to an area meeting.
Area meetings
Area meetings are a group of local meetings responsible for looking after local and area resources, finances and spiritual and pastoral care. They meet regularly to test concerns from local meetings.
If you live in Scotland or Wales, your area meeting will also be part of General Meeting for Scotland or Cyrnwyr Cymru/Quakers in Wales. These bodies deal with concerns specific to each nation.
Concerns raised by area meetings can be sent to Meeting for Sufferings.
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) Trustees
Our trustees are responsible for the work, assets and property of Britain Yearly Meeting.
Britain Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting is where important concerns and questions for Quakers in Britain are considered. It meets four times a year and all Quakers are welcome.
Yearly Meeting makes decisions on Quaker work and is the final constitutional body for Quakers in Britain. Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees are accountable to Yearly Meeting and they report regularly to it.
Meeting for Sufferings
Meeting for Sufferings was laid down by Yearly Meeting in May 2026.
A fuller description of Britain Yearly Meeting's structure
Image by Mike Pinches 2024