Quakers in Wales

The Meeting of Friends in Wales is the body which draws together all Quakers in Wales. It normally meets three times a year for day meetings for business and spiritual nurture. These meetings are open to all members; non members may request permission to attend. Retreats and family residential gatherings are organised on a regular basis. The clerks can be contacted via the email link.

It has the following responsibilities outlined in “Quaker Faith and Practice”, the Christian discipline of the Religious Society of Friends:

• Representing Britain Yearly Meeting in Wales, including: the appointment of Friends to serve on Cytűn (Churches Together in Wales) and its committees and in dealings with the National Assembly for Wales, its ministers and departments, with the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and with other public and voluntary bodies;
• Facilitating contact between Friends in Wales, including sharing responsibilities with the general meetings which include parts of Wales;
• Outreach in Wales and commissioning, translating and publishing Quaker material in the Welsh language; speaking for Friends in Wales where there is a specific Welsh view to be expressed and acting as a reconciler on issues affecting the Religious Society of Friends in Wales and generally within Welsh society;
• Maintaining links with peace organisations which have a particular Welsh interest or orientation, and giving consideration to social issues which have a bearing on life in Wales and to the needs of a bilingual society;
• Representing Wales to Britain Yearly Meeting, liasing with yearly meeting committees and departments where appropriate.

The work is organised through the groups and committees, taking responsibility for areas such as Outreach and Exhibitions, Children and Young People, Publications and Website, and through representatives on committees of Britain Yearly Meeting and Cytűn (Churches Together in Wales).

Regionally, local meetings are brought together into Monthly Meetings. They link Quakers together. Their main purpose is spiritual nurture. They are also responsible for membership matters, and look after Quaker property.