Aylesbury Quakers
9-11 Rickfords Hill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2RT
The Society of Friends (also called Quakers) was founded in the 1640s. In the late 1650s Quakers met in Weston Turville and in Rowsham. There are records of Quaker meetings in a house in Aylesbury in 1689.
The two cottages fronting on to the road date from the end of the 17th century. In 1704, the cottages and land behind them were legally transferred to Aylesbury Quakers. The cottages were leased to various people until 1985, when they were converted into one, with most of the upstairs becoming a flat for the Warden and the downstairs used for meetings, as a library and so on.
The present meeting house was built in 1726-27, so it is nearly 300 years old. Quakers have worshipped here ever since, though there was a period from 1836 to 1933 when there were not enough Quakers in Aylesbury and the meeting house was rented out to other organisations.
The interior of the meeting house reflects Quaker simplicity and equality. Benches and chairs face towards the centre. There is no font, pulpit, altar or communion table. The walls are plain, with no pictures.
In our 'meeting for worship', we sit in silence, but if anyone feels they wish to speak, they can do so: this is called 'ministry'. So we have no priests, or put another way, we are all priests.
9-11 Rickfords Hill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2RT
Although we have full wheelchair access, the wheelchair has to be pushed or driven uphill with some bends.