Ship of Fools: Stoke Newington Quaker Meeting, Hackney London

The Mystery Worshipper

Ship of Fools: Stoke Newington Quaker Meeting, Hackney London

By their fruits – and tea – ye shall know them

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here

Pangolin Guerre

Lovely review, and accords perfectly with my experience of Quaker meetings on all the particulars. I also find the meetings strangely restorative despite or because the collective silence. I had been to a Buddhist monastery before I had ever attended a meeting, and also found them quite similar. At the meeting house I attended, though, we did have a couple of members who were often quick to offer their testimony at some length. Reading this makes me think that I'm well overdue to visit the local house. Thanks for that!

Bishops Finger

I've never been to a Quaker meeting, but having become rather tired (to say the least) of the tedious and increasingly verbose services at Our Place, this most positive and appealing Report has also encouraged me to think about seeking out my local Friends.

My only concern is whether I would (because of Physical Infirmities) be able to sit in one place/position for an hour, no matter how comfortable the seat. I certainly would not have a problem with an hour's collective silence - I hope there will be lots of silence in Heaven!

Amanda B Reckondwyth

Bishops Finger wrote: »

I hope there will be lots of silence in Heaven!

Not according to Revelation.

Pangolin Guerre

@Bishops Finger I would strongly encourage you to give it a shot. No one would criticise you for quietly getting up and Quietly leaving the room, especially because it would be out of physical necessity, not boredom or protest, like walking out of a sermon. (No sermon out of which to walk!) The silence isn't precisely timed. About an hour is my experience, but with some elasticity. Welcome, Friend!