Newbury
104 year old Ruth walks for Charity
One of our Newbury Quaker members is Ruth Saunders, who is 104 years old. During Covid lockdown she was getting fed up with being locked in and decided to do some walks near her home. Her son encouraged her to go a bit further each day. Then, inspired by Captain Tom, she decided to walk…
Read MoreNew Booklet: ‘To Thine Own Self be True’
In the current issue of ‘the Friend’ (10 July 2020) there is a review of my new booklet: ‘To thine own self be true’ A leading Sri Lankan educator describes this production as, “Extremely interesting and extra-ordinary. The effort on one side to be honest and true to yourself, and on the other, to be…
Read MoreNewbury Meeting on Zoom
Newbury Meeting has successfully met now for several Sundays on Zoom since the lockdown. It is not the same as meeting in our circle, but we enjoy the shared worship and the connection that it allows us to make. Please join us if you would like to.
Read MoreKeep your Meetings
In 1662 when the adults of Reading Quaker Meeting were all in prison, the children kept the Meeting going. Today, because of the Covid-19 coronavirus all Quaker places of worship across the country are closed. But our Local Meetings continue – online, by phone, by waiting alone in silence knowing that others are doing the…
Read MoreLiving Simply in our Age
Quaker membership means being part of a worldwide community of welcoming, caring and thoughtful people. Helen Addison from Newbury Meeting recently enjoyed the chance to join Quakers in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, in retreats to consider the Quaker testimony to simplicity. What does simplicity mean to us today? Many participants already knew the…
Read MoreMeetings suspended
Quakers won’t gather together for worship over the coming months. But our Meetings won’t stop. Some of us will wait in silence from our homes, at our normal times of Meeting for worship, holding our fragile world in the light and knowing that others are doing the same. Some will join online meetings. Many will…
Read MoreLetlapa Mphahlele leads discussion on shared humanity
What is it that unites us as human beings, beyond all our different cultures and beliefs? Students and local residents recently took part in a thought-provoking discussion of this idea of ‘shared humanity’, led by guest speaker Letlapa Mphahlele and hosted by the Reading University Chaplaincy. Letlapa was born and grew up in South Africa…
Read MoreClimate crisis protests
Quakers from the Mid Thames area took part in Extinction Rebellion protests in London over the past two weeks, highlighting the risks posed by the climate crisis. Here’s a personal view from John: “Like the April rebellion, the impressive things were the number of people of all ages coming together, the strength of humanity and…
Read MoreHow are we tackling climate change?
Read our 2018 sustainability report to find out what Mid Thames Quakers are doing to tackle climate change and other environmental challenges. The report covers all seven local Quaker Meetings in the Mid Thames area. We first look at specific actions and practices under three headings: Developing low-carbon and sustainable premises and core practices; Energy…
Read MoreRenewing Newbury Meeting – Post 2
As we move forward with the concept of our own Meeting House development, work on the demolition of the buildings beside us has begun in earnest. This will make way for 220 new flats and buildings right next door, bringing a new gateway into Newbury between the train station and the town centre. We are…
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