Radical Roots - Quakers and Activism
Founded in 1799 (!), Pelham Friends Church is a historically significant church family, maintaining deep roots in the community of Pelham dating back over 200 years. Over that time, PFC has participated in standing up for justice. We are connected to a larger family of churches called Evangelical Friends Church (EFC).
WHAT IS WITH "FRIENDS" IN OUR NAME?
You may not be familiar with the term "friend," but you may have heard of Quakers. Formally defined: "The Quakers (properly The Religious Society of Friends) are a body of Christians that arose out of the religious ferment of mid-17th century Puritan England. Founder George Fox (1624-91) was the son of a Leicestershire weaver."
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
The Friends movement began in the 17th c with a growing dissatisfaction with the rigid forms of the Church of England, and the increasing desire for a more inwardly satisfying way of worship and life.
George Fox, a trained cobbler and early dissenter, became passionately convinced that the living Christ could speak directly to the need of every seeking soul. Over time, Fox's teachings attracted large numbers of people. At that time, no other church body was permitted except the Church of England; and so the followers of Fox first called themselves "friends of Jesus" to get around legal restrictions. Later they formalized their name to the Religious Society of Friends. A radical belief for its time, Fox insisted that both women and children were qualified for ministry because they had souls that were capable of experiencing the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.
Early Quakers escaped persecution by coming to North America, eventually making their way to Niagara and settling in the area now known as Pelham. With a heart for God, these friends lived with a respect for all others as being equal, a belief in peace and non-violence, a desire to seek justice for the marginalized, and a willingness to colour outside the lines of accepted religious practice of the day by including women as church leaders and teachers.
ABOLITIONISM
Quaker activism in the anti-slavery movement can be traced back to the late 1600s and played a pivotal role in a later involvement with the Underground Railroad. In 1776, Quakers were prohibited from owning slaves, and 14 years later they petitioned the U.S. Congress for the abolition of slavery.
HISTORY WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Carrying a collective memory of escaping their own persecution and unjust imprisonment, Quakers were sensitive to the then accepted practice of slavery. Driven by their belief that all are equal under God, Quakers played a prominent role in the Underground Railroad - a dangerous movement that helping men and women escape slavery in the southern U.S. to a life of freedom in the northern states and Canada.
PFC served as a welcoming home for those making their way to Canada. The historic cemetery located beside our PFC building serves as the final resting place of a number who joined us by way of the Underground Railroad.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Founded on the belief that all human beings are equal and worthy of respect, the fight for human rights has also extended to many other areas of society. By the 19th c many Quakers were active in the movement for women's rights. Many early suffragettes were Quakers.
Both Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Fry were Quakers. Susan B. Anthony dedicated her life to fighting for equal voting rights for women. Elizabeth Fry was a philanthropist who actively campaigned for prison reform and inmate rights. Her work led to the establishment of the Elizabeth Fry Society.
PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE
Quaker history includes many accounts of individuals going to jail rather than sell out their beliefs.
Thousands of Quakers spent years in prison in 17th c England for refusing to bow to the societal norms that included swearing oaths, paying fines, and bearing arms. Non-violent civil disobedience was a part of Quaker response to injustice since the 1650's. Our belief in peace and non-violence continues to be practiced today and we are still committed anabaptists.
You may not be familiar with the term "friend," but you may have heard of Quakers. Formally defined: "The Quakers (properly The Religious Society of Friends) are a body of Christians that arose out of the religious ferment of mid-17th century Puritan England. Founder George Fox (1624-91) was the son of a Leicestershire weaver."
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
The Friends movement began in the 17th c with a growing dissatisfaction with the rigid forms of the Church of England, and the increasing desire for a more inwardly satisfying way of worship and life.
George Fox, a trained cobbler and early dissenter, became passionately convinced that the living Christ could speak directly to the need of every seeking soul. Over time, Fox's teachings attracted large numbers of people. At that time, no other church body was permitted except the Church of England; and so the followers of Fox first called themselves "friends of Jesus" to get around legal restrictions. Later they formalized their name to the Religious Society of Friends. A radical belief for its time, Fox insisted that both women and children were qualified for ministry because they had souls that were capable of experiencing the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.
Early Quakers escaped persecution by coming to North America, eventually making their way to Niagara and settling in the area now known as Pelham. With a heart for God, these friends lived with a respect for all others as being equal, a belief in peace and non-violence, a desire to seek justice for the marginalized, and a willingness to colour outside the lines of accepted religious practice of the day by including women as church leaders and teachers.
ABOLITIONISM
Quaker activism in the anti-slavery movement can be traced back to the late 1600s and played a pivotal role in a later involvement with the Underground Railroad. In 1776, Quakers were prohibited from owning slaves, and 14 years later they petitioned the U.S. Congress for the abolition of slavery.
HISTORY WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Carrying a collective memory of escaping their own persecution and unjust imprisonment, Quakers were sensitive to the then accepted practice of slavery. Driven by their belief that all are equal under God, Quakers played a prominent role in the Underground Railroad - a dangerous movement that helping men and women escape slavery in the southern U.S. to a life of freedom in the northern states and Canada.
PFC served as a welcoming home for those making their way to Canada. The historic cemetery located beside our PFC building serves as the final resting place of a number who joined us by way of the Underground Railroad.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Founded on the belief that all human beings are equal and worthy of respect, the fight for human rights has also extended to many other areas of society. By the 19th c many Quakers were active in the movement for women's rights. Many early suffragettes were Quakers.
Both Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Fry were Quakers. Susan B. Anthony dedicated her life to fighting for equal voting rights for women. Elizabeth Fry was a philanthropist who actively campaigned for prison reform and inmate rights. Her work led to the establishment of the Elizabeth Fry Society.
PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE
Quaker history includes many accounts of individuals going to jail rather than sell out their beliefs.
Thousands of Quakers spent years in prison in 17th c England for refusing to bow to the societal norms that included swearing oaths, paying fines, and bearing arms. Non-violent civil disobedience was a part of Quaker response to injustice since the 1650's. Our belief in peace and non-violence continues to be practiced today and we are still committed anabaptists.