George Fox and Quakerism; 400 years on

2024 marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox whose radical spiritual experiences led to the formation of the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers. His passionate preaching to those hungry for spiritual renewal offered a way of connecting with 'that of God', or the 'Inward Light' within themselves and allowing that experience to transform their lives. The Quakers have been at the forefront of social change towards a better, more loving, peaceful and humane world since the mid 17th Century. Prison Reform, Peace-Making, Sustainability, abolition of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, Nuclear Disarmament, Equality are someof the areas you will find Quakers have been at work. Quakerism relies on no dogma, doctrine or set of beliefs, but rather an openness to the possiblity of a divine encounter through silent and expectant waiting in our Meetings for Worship or in personal quiet times.

The exhibition at the Library offers an opportunity to take a walk through some of the Quakers' early history. Great writers and record-keepers the Quaker books in this dispay offers a glimpse of documents giving accounts of some of their concerns over the ages, slavery, conscientious objection to fighting in wars, work in furthering botanical studies and much more.

Current Quaker work in New Zealand and around the world includes work in the following areas:

• peace
• restorative justice 
• alternatives to violence
• penal reform
• climate justice
• sustainability
• disarmament

For further information explore this website.