Cheadle Hulme, Crewe and Nantwich, Disley, Frandley (Northwich), Macclesfield, Marple, Stockport, Wilmslow
All are welcome, anytime. We meet for about an hour, and afterwards we have coffee and tea and an informal chat. If you like, you can just come and join us for that bit.
In January we joined with Marple Methodists for a shared service. This had been a regular annual event until the disruptions of 2020.
Deacon Jude Laycock and Hilary Brooks devised a programme of worship which included readings from Quaker Faith and Practice and a very enjoyable question-and-answer session where Jude and Hilary reflected on the similarities and differences between our two traditions.
Sue Pounder presented a “Quaker Feely Bag”, containing items that reflected various elements of Quakerism: peace flag, fox, candle, Cadbury’s, old £5 note showing Elizabeth Fry, tin of Quaker Grey paint, Quaker Oats promotional plate, “The Light that Pushes Me”, picture by our youngest member of a smiling person with outstretched arms..
After listening to some verses by John Greenleaf Whittier we settled into silent worship for about ten minutes, and then closed with our final hymn “The Spirit lives to set us free – walk, walk in the Light”.
It was – as always – a joyful occasion, and we were warmly welcomed. Several interesting conversations followed over coffee.
When the old Marple Meeting House was sold, in the late 90’s, and the Methodists heard we were seeking new premises, they immediately offered us the use of one of their spare rooms. A formal ‘licence’ setting out the terms of use – a legal agreement, is renewed each year. However, we also have what we call ‘The Real Agreement’, which reads as follows, and carries the signatures of about forty Methodist and Quakers.
Marple Quakers and Marple Methodist Church
The message of the gospel is love. It is in this spirit that we come together under one roof. We will celebrate that which unites us and guard against differences becoming a barrier between us.
We will:
Welcome one another to worship
Share fellowship together
Seek opportunities of learning from one another
Share pastoral concern
Share information of interest to one another
And remaining faithful to the insights of our traditions we will share one heart for the light given to us.
Sue Pounder
February 2024
Marple Quakers were represented at the Memorial Gardens (Marple park) on remembrance Sunday (12/11/23) and contributed a wreath of mainly white poppies with a few of the usual red poppies. Churches Together and others also brought wreaths which included some white poppies. (see the pictures following).
Our representative joined with Stockport for Peace and both laid wreaths composed of white poppies in remembrance of those who had fallen in war.
In addition to hymns, prayers were said including for the current wars in Ukraine, Gaza and also for those engaged in seeking and maintaining peaceful resolution.
For background to red and white poppies, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_poppy
We are now meeting in person and online
Anyone interested in joining Marple Friends should contact the clerks to the meeting at marplequakers@gmail.com or
Sue Pounder - for details of meeting online
0161 339 6740
