Matthew Barrow

Westminster Meeting House raided by Metropolitan Police again. Statement: “For Quakers, faith and action are inseparable. Peaceful protest, prayer and nonviolent action are integral parts of many Quakers' religious life. Whilst we take the planning of criminal acts very seriously, we believe that this incident is a deliberate targeting of committed young people who want to make our country a more equitable place. This raid is part of a systematic stifling of dissent. That this is the second time in a year that the police have raided our meeting house dramatically illuminates the broader trend in the UK of cracking down on those who disagree with the government. The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy. It's a key part of how people make their voices heard between elections.” – Oliver Robertson, Head of Witness and Worship Quakers in Britain, 5 March 2026

Yesterday evening, for the second time in a year, the Met Police raided Westminster Quaker Meeting House and arrested a number of young nonviolent activists.

STATEMENT: www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

The image includes the quotation below on a brown background, along with a picture of Desmond Tutu: Goodness is stronger than evil. Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness. Life is stronger than death. Victory is ours through him who loved us. Desmond Tutu

Goodness is stronger than evil. Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness. Life is stronger than death. Victory is ours through him who loved us.

Desmond Tutu

Democracy: Reinhold Niebuhr’s Defense & Steve Bannon’s Attack on "The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness"

open.substack.com/pub/processt...

What are the five Tom stories you absolutely need in your life? No particular order.

Genesis of the Daleks
State of Decay
The Invasion of Time
Pyramids of Mars
Warrior's Gate

Genesis of the Daleks
Destiny of the Daleks
The Robots of Death
The City of Death
The Brain of Morbius

MidFaithCrisis Logo FINAL.

Out now

Mid-faith Crisis 359: What a friend we have in Jesus?

In this episode we think about the metaphors we use for our relationship with Jesus. Are we friends of Jesus? Or followers? Or slaves? Does the relationship feel diffe... https://nickpage.net/2026/01/31/out-now-midfaith-crisis-what.html

Thomas Merton

Day 18 of #Mystic #Advent

Thomas Merton (1915 –1968): American monk & contemplative:

#Quote: 'Instead of hating...war-makers, hate the appetites...in your own soul, which are the causes of war. If you love peace, then...hate tyranny, hate greed - but hate these things in yourself, not in another'

A desperately needed paper on the power of fossil capital to repress civil liberties around the world.

Quaker’s stand for “No New Oil” continues despite harsh JSO sentence A Quaker who recently completed a 700-mile climate pilgrimage has said that continued commitment to “No New Oil” is all that matters in the face of a 26-month sentence.

A Quaker who recently completed a 700-mile climate pilgrimage has said that continued commitment to “No New Oil" is all that matters in the face of a 26-month sentence.

Zack on picket line with workers from PCS and British Library.

Solidarity with @pcsunion.bsky.social workers at the British Library.

300 workers on strike. Some of them having to take second jobs or taking out loans just to be able to survive.

A Pay "award" below inflation is a pay cut. Unacceptable.

Solidarity - and keep organising! ✊🏼

We are supporting our Member Churches and partner organisations in the call to prayer for peace in the Middle East on Sunday, 21 September 2025

@churchesengland.bsky.social General Secretary Bishop @mikearoyal.bsky.social explains...

More info at: cte.org.uk/middle-east-peace/

#PrayTogether

A bear with its head outside of a taxi, arm resting on the door, looking up.

Yuri stared up at the second floor window, watching as a shadow passed behind it. Would Katya know him anymore? He'd been away ten years. He remained frozen. "You getting out?" asked the driver. Pulled from his reverie, Yuri settled into his seat. "Take me to the hotel," he said.

Out now

Mid-faith Crisis 336: Cynicism and how to avoid it

We talk cynics, sceptics and assorted doubters. What is it that pushes us towards cynicism? How can we remain open to the possibilities of prayer? How does still play... https://nickpage.net/2025/07/12/out-now-midfaith-crisis-cynicism.html

A giant Mastiff, paws on a fence, inspects mail with a carrier in front of the house.

“I see the problem.”
“Yeah?”
“This is Maple Street.”
“Isn’t that what it says?”
“You want Maple AVENUE.”
“Sorry, I’m covering for Dan.”
“Is Dan okay?”
“Shingles.”
“That’s a shame.”
“I’m Jill, by the way.”
“Where are my manners, I’m Ted.”
“Nice to meet you, Ted.”
“You too, Jill.”

Quaker statement on the escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran As we watch with horror the latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, we call upon all parties to remember that war is not inevitable. At every stage there is opportuni...

As we watch with horror the latest escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, we call upon all parties to remember that war is not inevitable.

We urge the UK government to honour its commitment to work towards de-escalation and peace in the region.

www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

“It centres me for the week.”

Ann shares what Quaker meetings for worship mean to her.

We need bold leadership. Now.

That's why I'm running to be the next leader of the Green Party.

Join our campaign: backzack.com

#BackZack

Yearly Meeting Explained YouTube video by Quakers in Britain

Yearly Meeting, the annual gathering of Quakers in Britain, is coming up soon. We'll be coming together and discerning the way ahead for our faith community in Britain.

Here's what it's all about youtu.be/kL9rugx31ho

We know that there are many trans and non-binary Friends who may be feeling sad, angry or deeply worried following yesterday’s Supreme Court judgment. In 2021 we acknowledged and affirmed the trans and gender diverse Friends in our Quaker communities, with glad hearts. The Supreme Court judgment does not change our unwavering commitment to upholding the spirit of the minute, which is clear in our intent to build a welcoming and loving community for all trans and gender diverse Friends. Remember that each one of you is unique, precious and a child of God.

We know that there are many trans and non-binary Friends who may be feeling sad, angry or deeply worried following yesterday’s Supreme Court judgment.

Remember that each one of you is unique, precious and a child of God. 🏳️‍⚧️

Speaking truth to tech gods: I return to TED Six years ago I was sued for libel. This time, I call Silicon Valley collaborators and data rapists. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the most important thing you will read/watch today - no, this year! Carole Cadwalladr reminding us, yet again, that the broligarchy are data rapists who must be resisted. Immense courage 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

amazing how the cyber attack on the British Library still means that all recently published work (and that's a definition that stretches back several years) is completely unavailable to researchers, since they only acquired ebooks and that system is still down

Silent but not subdued: Quakers hold vigil at Scotland Yard A silent Quaker Meeting was held outside New Scotland Yard on Thursday, to bear witness to the police raid on Westminster Meeting House last week.

Over 350 people joined a meeting for worship outside Scotland Yard today, with 25 more meetings held nationwide and online.

"This is about the kind of country, the kind of world, we want to live in... We need laws that enable participation rather than suppress it." www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Quakers call for rights to be restored after police raid on Westminster Meeting House The police raid on Westminster Quaker meeting house last Thursday was a massively disproportionate response to the legitimate concerns of UK citizens.

People talking and peacefully demonstrating is not a threat to society; but stopping them is. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Join Quakers on Thursday at a meeting for worship outside New Scotland Yard, 12-1pm 🪧

Join us in responding to police aggression with love and peace 🙏🕊️

Details: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotland-y...

More recently, I think we really are the victims of a discursive shift, since the late 1970s, towards economics. Intellectuals don't ask if something is right or wrong, but whether a policy is efficient or inefficient. They don't ask if a measure is good or bad, but whether or not it improves productivity. The reason they do this is not necessarily because they are uninterested in soci- ety, but because they have come to assume, rather uncritically, that the point of economic policy is to generate resources. Until you've generated resources, goes the refrain, there's no point having a conversation about distributing them. This, it seems to me, comes close to a sort of soft blackmail: surely you are not going to be so unrealistic or unworldly or idealistic as to place goals before means? We are accordingly advised that everything begins with eco- nomics. But this reduces intellectuals-no less than the workers they are discussing-to rodents on a treadmill. When we talk of increasing productiv- ity or resources, how do we know when to stop? At what point are we suffi- ciently well-resourced to turn our attention to the distribution of goods? How would we ever know when the time has come to talk about deserts and needs rather than outputs and efficiencies? The effect of the dominance of economic language in an intellectual culture which was always vulnerable to the authority of "experts" has acted as a brake upon a more morally informed social debate.

Tony Judt again (talking talking to @timothysnyder.bsky.social in 2009.

"Intellectuals don't ask if something is
right or wrong, but whether a policy is efficient or inefficient. They don't ask
if a measure is good or bad, but whether or not it improves productivity...

The Home Secretary downplays "heavy-handed policing," including Friday's Quaker Meeting House raid. But the government could end this by repealing Public Order Act 2023 and parts of Policing Act 2022. Time 45.30 👇https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0029k8y/sunday-with-laura-kuenssberg-30032025

Quakers condemn police raid on Westminster Meeting House Police broke into a Quaker Meeting House last night (27 March) and arrested six young people holding a meeting over concerns for the climate and Gaza.

You think the arbitrary arrest of political dissenters cannot happen in the UK? It already does. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Quakers condemn police raid on Westminster Meeting House Police broke into a Quaker Meeting House last night (27 March) and arrested six young people holding a meeting over concerns for the climate and Gaza.

🚨 Outrage as 20 police officers break into Westminster Quaker Meeting House and arrest six. 🚨
This shocking violation of a place of worship is a direct result of crackdowns on protest and dissent - freedom of speech, assembly and democracy are at risk.🕊️
👉 www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly There are no perfect ways to improve EDI. Beth Montague-Hellen, author of Practical Tips for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries discusses the fine lines and red lines.

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly. Beth Montague-Hellen, author of Practical Tips for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Libraries @facetpublishing & argues the fine lines and red lines of EDI. www.cilip.org.uk/news/696519/...