We Welcome You to Wanstead Meeting
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We Welcome You to Wanstead Meeting
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This page provides you with basic information about our activities and organisation. If you wish to find out more about the Quakers please see the section with further information below; alternatively there is a selection of leaflets by the front door in our Meeting House.
Meeting for Worship is based on silence in which each of us is trying to come close to each other and to God. This silence may be broken when someone feels urged to say something which will deepen and enrich the worship. Anyone is free to speak once, pray or read in response to this prompting of the spirit. The Meeting ends when the Elders shake hands. After the Meeting notices are read by the Clerk and then refreshments are served in the social room.
Children have their own meeting and join us for a short while both at the beginning and before the close of Meeting for Worship.
Preparative Meeting (PM) Most meetings for worship are Preparative Meetings and are made up of the Members and Attenders who worship together. Preparative Meeting is also the name given to meeting for church affairs.
Clerks are responsible for guiding the various business meetings towards an outcome based on spiritual discernment.
Elders are primarily concerned with the nurture of the spiritual life of the meeting as a whole and of its individual members.
Overseers are chiefly concerned with the more pastoral aspects of fellowship, including financial affairs, so that all may be enabled to serve to the best of their ability.
Elders and Overseers serve for one or two three year terms.
Members are those Friends who have decided to join the Religious Society of Friends.
Attenders are those who either occasionally or regularly attend Meeting for Worship but have not felt called to join the Religious Society of Friends. There is no time limit on remaining an Attender; it is a matter of personal choice.
‘Sharing’ Discussion Group
An open-ended discussion group, opened by anyone present, on any subject in relation to
Quakerism eg. spiritual, social, political or personal. All welcome. For details see monthly
notices or on the events page of this website.
Bible Study Group
An informal group starting with readings from the Bible, using various translations, followed
by wide ranging discussion with a place for both the critical and the affirmative. The group
meets approximately -monthly.
Crêche
This is held during Meeting for Worship for children up to about five years old.
The children and helpers join us just before the close of Meeting for Worship.
Children’s Meeting
Older children and young people have their own meeting in the library and also join Meeting
for Worship for a short while both at the beginning and before the close.
A rota of helpers is organised by the Childrens Committee for both the Crêche and Children’s Meeting. For details please contact the Clerk.
Meetings, groups and social events, including occasional open meetings for enquirers and attenders, are announced after Meeting for Worship by the Clerk, and details can be found in the Monthly list of notices or on the events page of this website.
Monthly Meeting is made up of a number of Preparative Meetings, each of which nominates Friends to attend the monthly business meetings which are also called Monthly Meeting. It deals with all matters of membership, appoints Elders and Overseers, has care of trust property and responsibility for its Local Meetings. Wanstead Preparative Meeting is part of Ratcliff and Barking Monthly Meeting.
General Meeting consists of all Friends who are members of its constituent Monthly Meetings. Its main purpose is for conference and inspiration and for a broad oversight of the Society within its area. Wanstead Preparative Meeting is part of London and Middlesex General Meeting.
Britain Yearly Meeting in session is the final constitutional authority of the Religious Society of Friends in Great Britain. Its membership consists of all those belonging to monthly meetings in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It meets annually and all members have a right to attend. The ongoing work of Britain Yearly Meeting is carried out by the following national groups.
Meeting for Sufferings is the standing representative body entrusted with the general care of matters affecting Britain Yearly Meeting. Within our church government it deliberates, makes decisions and oversees their implementation. This was originally set up in the early days of Quakerism to assist those members being persecuted for their beliefs.
Quaker Home Service (QHS) exists to support and strengthen the life of local meetings, the individuals within them, the yearly meeting as a whole and to promote outreach at local and national level.
Quaker Peace and Service (QPS) works with and on behalf of Friends in Britain Yearly Meeting where aspects of international affairs and service can best be dealt with centrally. Its primary function is to work for peace and against violence.
Quaker Social Responsibility and Education (QSRE) exists to help sustain Friends’ conviction that our spiritual understanding demands expression in society. It supports Friends’ concerns at local level and helps to give informed judgement about new concerns.
An information pack about the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is available from Quaker Home Service, Friends House, 173/7 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ 020 7387 3601
This page last updated 29 March 2000