Quakers celebrated the 400th birthday of Coventry’s co-founder

QUAKERS have celebrated the 400th birthday of their co-founder who lived in Coventry.

George Fox, born in 1624 – times of religious and political turmoil – gathered people who were more interested in an egalitarian form of faith.

After some time they became known as Quakers, or Friends – today there are over 400,000 worldwide.

George moved to Coventry, meeting priests and religious teachers – he described the place as “a lot of gentle people”.

It ended when he stepped into a priest’s flower bed – “at which the man was enraged, as if he had set his house on fire”.

After this accident, George looked instead at the prospects of religious dissenters.

The journal chronicles his journey—both inward and outward—talking and listening to people as he goes.

It resolves itself when it identifies what is still the basis of Quakerism today—the inner light of Christ as spiritual guide.

Quakers meet at 10.30am every Sunday at the Friends Meeting House on Hill Street in Coventry.