Our History
Welcome. Whether you are new to Quakers or simply curious, this page offers an introduction to our history and how it shapes who we are today.
Discover how a small 17th-century movement of seekers became a global community rooted in peace, equality and action. Start your journey through Quaker history.
In the mid-1600s, England was unsettled by war and religious tension. In this time of searching, George Fox discovered a direct, personal experience of the Divine — a way of life rooted in simplicity, equality, and deep listening. Thousands responded to this insight, and the Religious Society of Friends — Friends for truth, peace, and service — came into being.
Beginnings
In England . . .
The upheavals of the English civil war brought radical change in religious life. Individual seekers were freed from State/Church control. Many started their own churches. A young seeker named George Fox began to talk about a direct experience of God within each person — a faith that didn’t rely on priests or rituals. He drew together a mass movement of women and men with a vision of building, from the chaos of war, a just, peaceful and compassionate society.
Many early Quakers were persecuted for their beliefs and practices, but their faith, perseverance and integrity laid the foundations of the pacifism and social activism that has been central to Quaker belief and action that continues to this day over 370 years later.
“Friends” & “Quakers” — The first name of Quakers was "Friends of the Truth". The name Quaker started as a nickname but is now widely accepted; today Friends call one another Friends to reflect their belief in equality and mutual respect.
Core Values That Shaped a Movement
Guiding Principles that last
From the beginning, Friends trusted that of God in everyone, welcomed both women and men as ministers, and lived out a pacifist vision that challenged the norms of their time. These foundational values shaped Quaker practice and continue to guide Friends today.
If you'd like to read more about Quaker faith and practice, browse this compilation of Quaker thought, including records of early Quaker history.
What makes Quakers distinctive
Some practices and ideas that emerged early in Quaker history continue today:
- Silent worship, where people gather to listen inwardly and speak only if moved to do so
- Equality, including early support for women’s leadership and opposition to slavery
- Peace, including conscientious objection to war
- Integrity, expressed through honesty and consistency between belief and action
These are often summarised as testimonies — ways of living out faith in daily life.
Quakers around the world
From England, Quakerism spread to Europe, North America, and beyond. Friends were involved in movements for social reform, education, prison reform, and humanitarian relief.
Quakers have worked internationally through organisations dedicated to peacebuilding, human rights, and reconciliation. While Quakers are a relatively small community worldwide, their influence has often been wider than their numbers.
Journey to Aotearoa New Zealand
How Quakerism came to New Zealand
Quaker faith and practice reached these shores with early settlers in the 1840s. The first regular weekly Meeting for Worship in Nelson began in 1842, and by 1885, committed Friends like Ann Fletcher Jackson were helping establish a growing network of Meetings from the north to the south of the country. Over the decades, permanent meeting houses, community gatherings, and witness in daily life helped Quaker communities take root across Aotearoa.
The history of Quaker Settlement in New Zealand
Growth through generations
Taking root and branching
Through the late 19th and 20th centuries, Quaker Meetings grew across Aotearoa, forming communities in places such as Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Permanent meeting houses, community projects, and a Quaker school in Whanganui were part of this continuing story of growth and witness.
➡ Today there are nearly 30 Quaker worship groups throughout the country, from the far north of Kaitaia to the deep south of Invercargill.
Living History
What this history means today
Today’s Friends across New Zealand continue this history by seeking Spirit-led lives, nurturing community, and living out values of peace, equality, and integrity — a legacy woven through time and place.
Explore the stories that follow to learn more about who Quakers are, where they came from, and how their history continues to unfold.
🔗 Find out more — NZ Quaker History
🔗 Explore Snapshots of Quaker History
🔗 Meet Friends in your region
Related Stories
Read more about Prominent Quakers in History — stories of George Fox, Margaret Fell, and others.
Explore the Spread of Quakerism Worldwide — how Quaker thought and action spread globally.
Learn how Quakers influenced Industry — how Quaker values shaped business practices.
Maintained by
Yearly Meeting Outreach Committee