Catherine James reflects on the Crynwyr Cymru

Quakers in Wales October Meeting

The following words have been written and shared by Catherine James of North Wales Area Meeting

“Gathering together on zoom for a meeting, we ‘see each others’ faces’, we learn to know each other. Better than not meeting, but never quite what meeting in the flesh does for us, when we can have those informal, unexpected encounters which enrich our lives. We wait till June for that. But what a gift it is to hear of the breadth of the work done by members of CCQW.

These matters were not the main part of the meeting, but covered CCQWs responses to the need for free school meals for ‘children of parents whose visa conditions do not allow for recourse to public funds’, opposition to Rosebank oilfield, working with other churches in Wales, a slide show of a joyous weekend for children and plans for the video on climate change which they will soon make, a report on last year’s National Eisteddfod, and plans for the next one in Wrexham and for a prize for musical composition for setting one of Waldo’s poems to music in 2026…. And so much more.

Yet the main subject of the meeting was about our future as Quakers in Wales. And we were reminded of the research done over 20 years ago by Stevie Krayer, ‘Spiritual Hospitality’. We need to tell people that Quakerism is here, is a way to be open to the Spirit, a way of worshipping which allows us to be our best selves in the world. If no one knows we are here, they can’t make an informed choice to join us. Remember to tell everyone we are here.”