Are welcome at all Quaker Meetings. You are assured of a warm welcome and no expectations of anything
Check out the links in the footer of this page centre and right which take you to the resources of quaker.org.uk, the website of Quakers in Britain, the national federation of all local Quaker meetings
We have regular Meetings for Worship every Sunday. If you are visiting the area, or resident in Bognor and are curious about Quakerism, you are very welcome to join us for worship. Please don't be mislead by pictures on packets of Oats, we don't look like that. Please see the diary page of this website regarding other activities and events.
Meeting for Worship
Sunday, 10:30am – 11:15am
Friends Meeting House, 6, Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, PO21 2RJ
If this is your first time at a Meeting for Worship
There is a welcoming Friend at the door of the Meeting House. We are a small meeting so it is hard to disappear into the crowd, but we hope you will feel welcome. Tell them that it is your first time, and they will be able to give you a leaflet which explains what to expect.
Enter the Meeting Room as soon as you are ready. It is a good thing if a Meeting for Worship can settle down a few minutes before the appointed time. Sit anywhere you like – there are no ‘reserved’ places. Our Meetings are open to Zoom participants so if you prefer not to be on camera sit at the left hand side of the room as you enter. There is no altar, just a central table with Bibles and copies of the Quaker book of Advices and Queries, which is a collection of, hopefully helpful writings collected over the years bu Quakers.
Our meetings for worship are blended that is Friends who are unable to attend in person join us via Zoom. They appear on an iPad in the room and it has an integral camera. The picture being broadcast is also shown on screen along with those Quakers attending by Zoom. There are usually 2 to 4 on Zoom.
A Quaker Meeting is based in silence, but it is a silence of waiting in expectancy for the spirit to move amongst us. For many minutes, perhaps for the whole of the Meeting, there may be silence. But that does not mean that nothing is happening. In the quietness of a Quaker Meeting those present can become aware of a deep and powerful spirit of love and truth that transcends their ordinary experience.
You may find it easy to relax in the silence or you may be disturbed by the strangeness of the silence, by distractions outside or by your own roving thoughts. Do not worry about this. Try if you can, if only for an instant, to be quiet in body, mind and spirit.
The silence may be broken if someone present feels moved by the Spirit to say something that will deepen and enrich the worship. The silence is interrupted for the moment but is not broken. We call this ministry, and it will be picked up by the microphones in the room and relayed to those on Zoom. When a Friend on Zoom ministers their words will be relayed to the Meeting Room by the iPad speakers.
At around 11:15, an Elder will shake hands and speak to signal the close of the worship. Everyone who wishes then shakes hands with those sitting near to them. We then have about 5 minutes where those present in person or on Zoom can speak a few words that have occurred to them but which they did not consider were of a nature to count as ministry.
Then notices will be announced.
We very much hope that you will join us for coffee, tea and biscuits after Meeting for Worship. Feel free to speak to anyone. If you wish to know more about Quakers, please introduce yourself to anyone present.
If you wish to take part via Zoom, please contact the Elder whose details are at the at the bottom of this page.
Accessibility
The Meeting House has wheelchair access, a wheelchair–accessible toilet and wheelchair–friendly parking. There is a hearing loop system.
Hiring Rooms
There are two rooms in the meeting house that are available for hire.