Meeting for Worship

All are welcome to join our Meeting for Worship.

Meeting for Worship is held at Brigflatts at 10:30 on a Sunday morning. Occasionally we hold a meeting for worship with a difference. These are shown as events on the homepage.

If you are coming for the first time, see the advice about HOW TO GET THERE and, if coming by car, where to park.

If it’s your first experience of a Quaker Meeting

There is usually a welcoming Friend outside the Meeting House. Tell them that it is your first time and they will be able to help you find a leaflet which explains what to expect.

Enter the Meeting Room as soon as you are ready. It is a good thing if a Meeting can settle down a few minutes before the appointed time. Brigflatts has a double row of benches which are arranged on three sides of a square facing the so-called ‘Ministers’ Bench‘ and the windows. Sit anywhere you like – there are no ‘reserved’ places – but the benches with backs seem to be more comfortable for most people. There are foot rests (cushions) under the benches for the less tall amongst us.

A Quaker Meeting is based in silence, but it is a silence of waiting in expectancy. For many minutes, perhaps for the whole of the Meeting, there may be silence. But that does not mean that nothing is happening. In the quietness of a Quaker Meeting those present can become aware of a deep and powerful spirit of love and truth that transcends their ordinary experience.

You may find it easy to relax in the silence and enter into the life of the Meeting. Or you may be disturbed by the strangeness of the silence, by distractions outside or by your own roving thoughts.  Do not worry about this. Try if you can, if only for an instant, to be quiet in body, mind and spirit.

The silence may be broken if someone present feels moved by the Spirit to say something that will deepen and enrich the worship. The silence is interrupted for the moment, but is not broken.

If there are children that day, they will join us at 11:20 from their meeting. At around 11:30, two Elders will shake hands to signal the close of the worship. Everyone then shakes hands with those sitting near to them. 

Afterwards there will be some notices announced.

We very much hope that you will join us for coffee, tea and biscuits. Feel free to speak to anyone. If you wish to know more about Quakers, please introduce yourself to any member.