Quakers were known in the neighbourhood in the 1650s, the first decade of the movement.  Quakers built the current Meeting House in 1688, the first year they were allowed to do so after decades of official persecution.  The current building dates back to 1790.

The Meeting House stands in pleasant grounds and for most of the year, the flowers fruits and trees lift our spirits.  The children play among the old gravestones, make jam from the plum trees, and argue about the rules of French cricket from time to time.   When the gates are open, visitors are welcome to come and enjoy the grounds peacefully.

Interesting people buried here include two members of the original Committee to Abolish the Slave Trade.  Britain’s first proper campaigning group was started by Quakers (1783), who encouraged and brought in others, in a lengthy campaign to end this social evil.  But Quakers are very much aware that slavery, racism and injustice still exists around the world today, including in Britain.   Crucially they needed to enlist Anglicans, such as William Wilberforce, because at that time Quakers were banned from Parliament and could not promote laws directly.

One of these pioneers was the banker Samuel Hoare, who lived in Hampstead: he managed the finances of the campaign, reminding us there are often practical if less charismatic roles! Draper Joseph Woods was also on the original committee.

Also buried here was Luke Howard, a scientist, who invented cloud classifications such as ‘cirrus’ and cumulonimbus.  Many Quakers have been scientists and naturalists, seeing no division between scientific enquiry and religious faith.

Many Barclays of bank fame are buried here, descendants of Robert Barclay, whose “Apology” is the first systematic book on Quaker thinking.

For those interested in other creatures, we have bird boxes, and the site is noted for stag beetles.

Inside and out the Meeting House reflects our values.  Gravestones are of similar size and unadorned, because we don’t think people’s memorials should reflect their wealth.  The meeting room is level, with benches in a square, so none of us occupies a more important place than another.  We don’t use symbols or pictures, preferring a spareness that allows us to concentrate.   Outside the meeting room, however, the noticeboards are crowded with things we are doing, community events and the like.

There’s a book available from us on the history of the meeting and the building.