Cannon Valley Friends

“When early Friends affirmed the priesthood of all believers it was seen as abolition of the clergy; in fact it is the abolition of the laity. All members are part of the clergy and have the clergy’s responsibility for the maintenance of the meeting as a community.”

London Yearly Meeting Quaker Faith and Practice

Like many religions, Quakerism arose from a desire to refocus the existing religious establishment. For the Religious Society of Friends, this took place in 17th century England after the English Civil War.

In the early 1650s, George Fox (1625-1692), seen as the founder of Quakerism, arrived with an empowering message. He proclaimed the early preaching of Peter (Acts, 2 and 3) that Jesus, who had been present in the flesh, had risen from the dead and was come now in the form of the Light within every person.

This inner, egalitarian spirituality drew many dissatisfied with the tumultuous religious environment, and the message quickly spread. In America, Quakers cultivated this growing message. For example, William Penn, one of Fox’s followers, founded the Quaker colony of Pennsylvania.

17th century England mercilessly persecuted Quakers — killing many founders. The steadfastness of persecuted Quakers in England and America helped win tolerance of all religions. By 1700, Quakerism entered a period of peaceful recuperation and regrouping.

In the early 19th century, differences between an emphasis on evangelism and biblical authority on one hand and on the quiet inward life and the inner light on the other produced a split. These groups reconciled in the mid 1900’s in Philadelphia. While they maintain organizational separation, they enjoy a sense of unity.

Quaker meetings of the Friends General Conference (FGC), including Cannon Valley Friends Meeting (CVFM), tend to practice an unprogrammed meeting format. Meetings of the Friends United Meeting and the conservative Evangelical Friends International have taken on the programmed format more similar to other Protestant services — being led by pastors.

Quakerism has spread internationally since its founding with an estimated 300,000 Quakers throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North and South America today. About one third of all Quakers live in the United States and Canada.