9. Are Quakers inclusive?

Absolutely. Quakers care deeply about equality and belonging.

Quakers were early advocates of gender equality, anti-racism, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. They celebrate same-sex marriages. They affirm trans and non-binary people as valued members of the community.

Quaker meetings welcome people of all faiths and none: you do not have to be a Quaker to come along.

Accessibility matters to Quakers too. Many Quaker meetings have online or ‘blended’ meetings which means people can join in from the comfort of their home.

Curious to give Quaker silence a go? Here’s how:

(1)  Find a meeting near you (or join an online meeting) - we can help you find your local Quaker meeting when you sign up to our newsletter.

(2)  Arrive mindfully. Show up a few minutes early - someone will be there at the door to welcome you. Don’t forget to silence your phone.

(3) Take a seat. Settle into the stillness. Enjoy the silence.

(4) You don’t have to be perfectly still as a statue. If you need a second to cough, or fidget, or have a drink of water, that’s absolutely okay. We’re all human.

(5) When the meeting comes to an end, there’s usually some notices and a chance to chat over tea and coffee. You’re welcome to stay on to say hello and ask questions, or you can leave quietly if you prefer.

10. How do I try a Quaker meeting?

1. Are Quakers Christian?

Founded over 350 years ago, Quakerism has Christian roots. And nowadays many Quakers still describe themselves as Christian.

But Quakers today are a surprisingly spiritually-diverse bunch.

If you pay a visit to a Quaker Meeting, you’ll meet people with a range of different beliefs - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Humanism, and everything in between.

Quaker communities act as a kind of meeting point or melting pot, you might say. They celebrate difference.

So you might notice that parts of Quaker language still echo those Christian roots, AND find that Quakers talk about their experience of spirituality beyond Christianity.

People come together to sit silently, usually for an hour.

There’s no priest, no sermon, no ritual. Just gentle, calm stillness, and a sense of togetherness.

People come to Quaker Meetings for many reasons: they may be there in order to reflect, pray, meditate, find peace, find connection, be with God, ask questions, seek answers or belong to a community.

Sometimes, someone might feel moved to speak briefly. They’ll share something on their mind that contributes to the spiritual experience of the meeting. But apart from those rare moments, it’s all about the quietness.

Quaker meetings usually happen in person and they usually last for an hour, although there are shorter meetings and online meetings too.

2. What happens in a Quaker meeting?

3. Why do Quakers sit in silence?

Silence makes room for what matters.

It’s an opportunity to slow down. To listen, attentively and honestly: to ourselves, to each other, to something beyond us or within us.

Coming together to share silence like this can calm a busy mind. It creates space for reflection, prayer, meditation, and connection.

If sitting in silence sounds daunting, that’s completely normal. There are no strict rules about sitting still as a statue for ages. It's meant to be a peaceful, accessible space, somewhere to feel safe and calm.

Some Quakers believe in God, some don’t, and some aren’t sure.

Quakers are interested in personal experience, rather than a fixed set of religious beliefs. In fact, Quakers are pretty sceptical about telling people what to believe.

As individuals, their understanding of a word like ‘God’ is shaped by their unique personal experiences.

So some Quakers feel a strong sense of connection to God, the Light or Spirit. And at the same time, some Quakers would describe themselves as atheist or agnostic.

So what brings Quakers together? For one, the practice of deep stillness in a Quaker Meeting. And many share a commitment to honesty, equality, peace, and simplicity.

4. Do Quakers believe in God?

5. Is Quakerism a cult?

Far from it.

Quaker Meetings are not just for Quakers. They’re open to anyone. You can pop in, give it a try, and never come back.

Or you can come for years without ever ‘becoming’ a Quaker. And nobody is going to try to turn you into one.

You can ask awkward questions. You can disagree. You can bring new ideas.

The only thing that might feel a bit odd or unclear to begin with is the lingo. Quaker words like ‘worship’ or ‘ministry’ can come across as a bit mysterious. Our top tip is to find a Quaker and simply ask! Lots of Quakers love a question and can happily untangle those woolly words for you.

There’s no strict list of beliefs you have to sign up for.

Quakers are interested in personal experience. They believe that each person can make their own discoveries about their spiritual lives. You don’t need someone else to tell you what’s going on: it’s yours to own and explore for yourself.

There are some other common threads of belief Quakers share: that every person has value; that things like integrity, equality, and peace matter a great deal; and that the planet we live on deserves our care and protection.

6. What do Quakers believe?

7. What are Quaker values?

Sitting in silence and listening deeply gives Quakers time to think about what matters most to them, and how to live by that.

Over the years, Quakers have come to identify common themes they want to act on and live by, as individuals and as communities:

 - Integrity, truth, honesty
 - Standing up for equality and fairness
 - Living simply, not taking more than you need
 - Finding peaceful ways to resolve conflict
 - Caring for the planet we live on

In practice, this might look like making simple lifestyle changes for a fairer, better world, or taking a stand together through non-violent protest and campaigning.

Meditation is very welcome in Quaker Meetings, but Quaker practice is a little different.

Meditation is often practiced alone, focusing on the breath, a mantra, or loving-kindness.

Quaker practice happens together. Sharing stillness can feel very powerful, quite different to meditating alone. There’s a sense of connection with the rest of the room, and to something that’s bigger than the sum of its parts.

Quaker practice also places a strong emphasis on listening attentively for powerful, quiet moments of inspiration from deep within.

Another thing that sets a Quaker Meeting apart from meditation is the fact that at any moment, somebody may feel prompted to speak to the meeting - to say something that contributes to the overall experience of being in this deep, reflective time together.

8. Is Quaker practice just meditation?