Why? How? Rhiannon Grant

by Rhiannon Grant I am a Quaker both by accident and by design. I didn’t set out to be born into a Quaker family (although perhaps my parents had it in mind!), but nevertheless I was, as it happened, a cradle Quaker. Later in life, I made a few half-hearted attempts to leave the Quaker…

Trees in a park on a sunny day

Why? How? Stephanie Grant

By Stephanie Grant Why am I a Quaker? because it’s where God wants me to be, because it’s a place I can work out how to follow the teachings of Jesus without the rituals and creeds that troubled me in other churches, because I feel it’s where I belong, because it gives me a safe…

Why? How? Ben Jarman

How and Why I am a Quaker by Ben Jarman I first came to Quakers because of a crisis. In 2005, a friend fell victim to a serious crime, and in the aftermath her life fell apart. Those of us around her tried to help pick up the pieces, but we were powerless and our…

Why? How? John Southern

How I became a Quaker. My parents were Quakers and I was enrolled as a “birthright Friend”. They sent me to a Quaker school at aged 10, principally to avoid the blitz in 1940-41. We had daily Assembly and compulsory attendance at Meeting for Worship on Sundays. I joined a small group of pupils to…

Photo: Jay Clark

Why? How? Jennifer Kavanagh

Why I am a Quaker is first of all because faith took me over. About sixteen years ago, in response to trauma and in a dark time, something was going on within me that I did not understand but felt powerless to resist. I went into churches and ran out. Not what I was looking…

A camera on the floor pointed at a circle. Photo: Heather Martin

Why? How? Heather Martin

by Heather Martin I have been coming to Wednesday Meeting at Westminster Quakers for just over 2 years. My spiritual life was something I had struggled with for a number of years before I started coming. I had been raised a Catholic, became an Anglican, ended up doing some Eastern meditation. What I increasingly was…

Emily Bishop

Why? How? Emily Bishop

By Emily Bishop Good afternoon, friends. My name is Emily, and I’ve been attending the Wednesday Meeting for nearly two years. I was really touched to be invited to speak today, so thank you. I was originally drawn to Quakers by the testimony of Peace. The Peace movement has been a big part of my…

The Nayler logo in white text on a grey background

Why? How? Bill Clendineng

By Bill Clendineng of Plainfield, Indiana, USA. Why am I a Quaker? I am a Quaker because when I was in high school I went to county-wide Youth For Christ meetings at Garden Grove Friends Church in Southern California.  Fast-forwarding a few years, I found myself looking for a church to attend and while browsing…

Oliver Robertson standing in an old greenhouse

Why? How? Oliver Robertson

by Oliver Robertson If asked “Why am I a Quaker, how am I a Quaker?”, this is what I can say. That when the answers to these two questions are the same and when I live out my Quaker values all the time and not just on Sunday morning, then I am all the better…

Roger Knight

Why? How? Roger Knight

Why I am a Quaker, how I am a Quaker by Roger Knight   Why Quaker? People play an important part in our spiritual journey.  I wish I could say that mine was significantly influenced when I came through the door at Westminster Meeting  and was welcomed with smiles and laughter by dear Doris.   However…