Monday, 10 December 2018

WE'VE MOVED!

This blog is no longer being kept up to date.
For the latest news from Chiltern Area Quakers, please visit our new website at

CAQM.ORG.UK/NEWS

Monday, 1 October 2018

Penn 300 - Celebration the life and legacy of William Penn

To commemorate William Penn’s life and legacy this year, 300 years after his death, Jordans Quaker Meeting arranged an exhibition and a series of events between the 25th June and the 31st July.

The very popular Andrew Murphy talk (followed by supper) was the first event, and drew around 60 attendants on a lovely summers evening. Andrew (professor of Politics at Rutgers University) talked about Penn’s vast legacy and the paradoxes in his life. The talk was followed by a light supper of jacket potatoes and various toppings. People were able to enjoy further discussion over supper.

On invitation, the children and teachers from the 2 local schools visited the exhibition early in July; it was a first visit to Jordans Meeting House for most of them. The children enjoyed learning about Penn and Quakerism and went on to prepare a Children’s Trail and Penn Posters.


The next event was ‘Afternoon Tea with the Penns’ which did not have a large turnout. However several people attempted one or more of Guli Penn’s baking recipes. Deciphering and improvising were part of the fun and most of the baking was palatable, with the Portingall cake proving the most popular. It was a fun afternoon, enjoyed by bakers, tasters and exhibition visitors alike.

Nigel Pascoe’s one man re-enactment of the Penn-Mead trial was the next event. The brilliant writing, combined with the retired QC’s powerful voice and masterful delivery, brought to life this important landmark case in legal history. It was attended by 60 people and thoroughly enjoyed by all.


The swan song of the events was ‘Notes on Penn – William Penn in Words and Music’ – arranged by Catriona Troth and Jane Faulkner. About 90 people attended the concert which offered glorious baroque music by the 3 musicians (Jane Faulkner – Violin, Esther Cavett - Keyboard and Victoria Barrett - Oboe). The music was interspersed by readings from Penn’s writings, sensitively and beautifully delivered by the narrators, Catriona Troth and Martin Pounce. The concert, followed by tea and cakes, was a delight and a perfect ending to the event series.

A total number of 428 visitors visited Jordans, 192 specifically for the exhibition, and the others for one or more events as well as the exhibition. During the same period last year, we welcomed 80 visitors in total, so this was a huge increase for us and showed that the effort we had put in on preparation and publicity had made a substantial difference. The events also raised about £1000 for the 3 chosen charities.



In parallel to this, a travelling exhibition was created by Rose Tolley and Takako Barker of Chorleywood Meeting, and put on display at St Mary’s Church, Rickmansworth and at the Mill End Community Centre.

We are very pleased with these results and extend a thank you to all who made Penn300 a success.

Friday, 29 June 2018

Family Day on Friends Meadow, Amersham

The hunt is on - Unnature Trail
Saturday 23rd June saw our second ever Chilterns Area Family Day on Amersham’s beautiful Friends’ Meadow. Once again, we were blessed with the most wonderful weather – sunny and inviting without being too hot.


Activities on offer included storytelling (for adults and children), Dru Yoga, English country dancing and a ' helping hands' art project.

In between, we were serenaded by live music on guitar, ukulele and mouth organ.


Up in the long grass at the top of the meadow, an Unnature Trail challenged all comers to find twenty items that didn’t belong in the environment (the highest score was 17!)


There was a wonderful plant stall, a display of the talents of Chilterns Area Friends in the library – including paintings, jam, home-made cards and beautiful textiles.

An abundance of delicious cakes were on offer, and tea and squash proved particularly welcome after the dancing!

It wasn’t a large gathering, but those who came told us how much enjoyed the peaceful, inclusive atmosphere, and very much hope we will do it again.

All in all, we are pleased to say that £ 235.06 was raised via donations for Wycombe Refugee Partnership.

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Jordans Burial Ground

Members and Attenders of meetings that are part of Chilterns Area Meeting: Did you know that we have access to a beautiful Quaker burial ground in the area? 

Jordans Quaker Burial Ground is adjacent to the historic Jordans Meeting House, where William Penn and his family are buried. The burial ground was designed in the early 20th century by the Quaker architect Hubert Lidbetter (who also designed Friends' House and other meeting houses), its graves are arranged in a circle, which is meant to represent a Quaker meeting. It is a beautiful, serene place for Quakers to be buried or have their ashes scattered. And it is free to all members (Attenders pay just a small fee) of London West, North West London, and Chilterns Area Meetings.

For more details, see www.jordansburialground.org or contact the Advising Friend Janet May-Bowles at JBG1@talktalk.net or on 01753 862 428.

Jordans Quaker Centre: Events Planned for 2018

Jordans Quaker Centre Events Planned for 2018

Sat. 24th March Workshop with Jennifer Kavanagh Unknowing. (Walking with a smile into the dark) 10 am – 4 pm

Sat. 14th April Digging the Dirt – Play and Supper; 6:30 pm

Penn300 Events - marking the tercentenary of William Penn's death

25th June – 30th July Penn300 Exhibition at Jordans

Wed. 27th June
Andrew Murphy – Supper and Talk. Andrew is currently writing a Penn biography

Sat. 21st July Nigel Pascoe - One Man Show. Performance of the Penn-Mead Trial

Sun. 29th July Baroc Music Concert & Refreshments; 3pm

Further details on these events will be made available soon.

Save the dates: June 30th, July 7th & July 15th – more Penn300 event details will follow shortly.



Sat. 29th September Quakers and Criminal Justice Workshop 10am – 4pm
For any enquiries : Ring 01494 876594 or email office@jordansquakercentre.org

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Jordans March/April 2018

Experiment with Light Group meetings will be held on 2nd and 4th Thursdays. PLEASE NOTE once we change to BST at the end of March, EwL meetings will again start at 6:30pm.

Thursday 22nd March: Experiment with Light group, a guided meditation based on early Quaker practice. 6.00pm. Everyone welcome.

Tuesday 3rd April: Poetry that Pleases: 11.00 – 12.15. Subject: TBA . All Welcome.

Thursday 12th April: Experiment with Light group, a guided meditation based on early Quaker practice. 6.30pm. Everyone welcome.

Thursday 26th April: Experiment with Light group, a guided meditation based on early Quaker practice. 6:30 pm. Everyone welcome.
Tuesday 1st May: Poetry that Pleases: 11.00 – 12.15. Subject: TBA All Welcome.

Aylesbury March/April 2018

Meetings for Worship take place in the Meeting House every Sunday at 10.45-11.45am except (usually) the first of the month, when we finish at 11.30 am, so that after a short break for refreshments we can accommodate our Meeting for Worship for Business starting at 12 noon.

*However, please note that since 1st April is Easter Sunday, although there will still be a Meeting for Worship then, the Business Meeting has been postponed until the following week (8th April), since many Friends and Attenders will have family commitments over Easter.

Our Experiment with Light takes place in the library at 9:45 am on the second Sunday of the month (8th April).

There is also an evening Meeting for Worship in the library at 7-7.30 pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month (28th March / 25th April).

WE'VE MOVED!

This blog is no longer being kept up to date. For the latest news from Chiltern Area Quakers, please visit our new website at CAQM.OR...