On the evening of 27 March more than twenty police officers forced their way into Westminster Quaker Meeting House
They arrested six young people who were holding a meeting over their concerns for the climate and the events in Gaza. All have now been released, some on bail conditions.
This is the first time anyone has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory.
In response, Recording Clerk Paul Parker has said that “this aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy."
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 have criminalised many forms of protest and allow police to halt actions deemed too disruptive. In addition, changes in judicial procedures limit protesters' ability to defend their actions in court. All this means that there are fewer and fewer ways to speak truth to power.
Quaker Life has been inundated with media requests, and we have used the opportunity to emphasise our view that Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet. Over the centuries many Quakers have taken nonviolent direct action to protest injustices, including the abolition of slavery to women's suffrage and prison reform.
The events on March 27 have led to many thousands of people engaging with our social media channels and responding to the media coverage.
BYM staff and Friends have been providing support to the young women who were arrested, Westminster Quakers, Quakers in Britian, the organisation ‘Youth Demand’ and other individuals affected by the police raid.
Quaker Peace and Social Witness are working on supporting an outdoor meeting for worship on Thursday, 3 April to witness against the police action. Details can be found here:
Scotland Yard Quaker Meeting for Worship Tickets, Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite
London Quakers' mission is to keep Quakers across London connected and to share our voice with the wider world. We share events with London Friends, foster communication, and aim to strengthen our London community.
London is home to around 40 Quaker meetings. Most meet on Sundays, with some gatherings held at other times too.
Each one is open and warmly welcomes visitors. Come as you are, whenever you feel called to join us.
Find your nearest Quaker meeting in London using our map of London Meetings. You can find out about upcoming events in the calendar.
London Quakers send out a monthly mailing with news of events and meetings to subscribers. We also will help the clerks of the 7 area meetings to distribute papers for the Joint London Area Meeting.
Find our more about the Joint London Area Meeting - a project to simplify Quaker Governance in London.
Sun 27 April
London Teenage Quaker Meeting
14:00-16:00
Venue: Westminster Quaker Meeting House, 52 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4EA
Are you a teenager (13 - 19)? Do you live in or near London? Then come down to London Teenage Quaker Meeting, a meeting specifically for teenagers! Biscuits will be provided!
London Link Group is a volunteer-run Quaker group that organises events to bring Young Quakers aged 11-18 together. They run the monthly Teenage Quaker Meeting, along with other fun events like trips to theme parks, parties and residentials.
Sun 4 May
Young Adult Quaker Meeting
17:00-18:00
Venue: Westminster Quaker Meeting House, 52 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4EA
London Young Adult Quaker Meeting occurs every first and third Sunday (and fifth Sunday if there is one!) at 5pm at Westminster Quaker Meeting House! To enter the building, go to the side door down Hop Gardens and buzz for the Library upon arrival.
Contact us via our Instagram page: @lyaqmeeting
5:00pm - Arrivals and socials
5:30pm - Meeting for Worship (if you want to join the Meeting for Worship, please arrive on time. We will not let people in the building between 5:35pm and 6:15pm.)
6:15pm - Notices and shared meal (an opportunity to socialise more over a bite. If you’re able to, bring snacks to share. If you’re not able to, bring your lovely presence!)
7:00pm - Home time or pub!
Everything is optional!
You can come for just the worship, or just the meal, or just the pub! Whatever you choose to join us for, it’ll be great to see you ❤️
Wed 7 May
Wandsworth Prison Improvement Campaign - second Public Meeting
19:00
Venue: St Anne's Church, St Ann's Hill, Wandsworth
The Wandsworth Prison Improvement Campaign will be holding its second public meeting on May 7th at 7pm at St Anne's Church, St Ann's Hill, Wandsworth - just up the hill on the right past Wandsworth Meeting House. TH speakers will be the new Governor of hte prison, Andy Davy, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, Adrian Usher and Natasha Porter who runs Unlocked Graduates which seeks to encourage and support good new potential leaders to join the prison service. There will be lots of audience participation too!
Come along and learn about what is really going on in our prisons and particularly in Wandsworth.