Below is a list of resources to help you plan and run George Fox 400 events in your local area. They are sorted by intended audience. There are activities, books, leaflets and videos. Some will help you explain Quakerism to newcomers, and other resources will support your meeting with community building and in-reach.
The Black History themed resources and resources on reparations are included as George Fox and early Friends had many direct links to slavery. Fox was a supporter of Quaker meetings that included enslaved Africans who were working on plantations in Barbados and other Caribbean islands, but he also profited from slave labour in those plantations. Quakers in Britain are committed to making practical reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and economic exploitation that occurred from the 17th century onwards. Expanding British history to include the perspectives and stories of the people living in colonised territories helps to tell a more nuanced and truthful account of our joint pasts. Celebrating those nuances in all aspects of meeting life is one way of supporting this commitment and helps create welcoming and inclusive communities.
Meeting House Open Days
If you are opening your meeting house to the public as part of Heritage Open Days, 6-15 September, or Quaker Week, 28 September – 6 October, the resources below will help you prepare.
- George Fox 400 display poster, available in A1, A3 and A4.
There are two versions available:
- George Fox 400 display posters - artwork to print out yourself (PDF, 2MB)
- George Fox 400 display posters - artwork to send to a professional printer (with printer marks and bleed) (PDF, 15.9MB) - Posters on George Fox's life and Quakerism today put together by Friends from Swarthmoor Meeting (PDF)
- The Friend special George Fox issue – You can place bulk orders at discounted rates! Ideal for use at Fox 400 events throughout the rest of the year! Email subs@thefriend.org for more information. Look out for the Quaker Week issue of The Friend (27 September) which can also be bulk ordered.
- Quaker Tapestry Museum photographic prints
- FWCC poster of Quakers around the world (PDF)
- GF 400 template press release (Word)
- Outreach resources, including posters and leaflets
George Fox 400 logo and images
Make your George Fox 400 events stand out by using the anniversary logo and selection of collages.
Videos
You may wish to play some of these videos at an outreach event.Go to the youtube link to show on full screen.
- Introduction to Quakers videos
- Quaker Tapestry Museum video on George Fox and early Quakers
- George Fox, Margaret Fell and Swarthmoor Hall video
Children and young people
These resources will help you plan activities for children and young people related to George Fox, early Quakers and Quaker faith and practice.
- Journeys in the Spirit - George Fox 400 (PDF)
- Journeys in the Spirit - George Fox, including an all-age worship plan (PDF)
- Journeys in the Spirit - lights, camera, action (PDF)
- Journeys in the Spirit - Worship (PDF)
- Journeys in the Spirit - Black History (PDF)
- Journeys in the Spirit - Black History 2 (PDF)
- Faith and Play website
- Faith and Play video – Margaret Fell
- Faith and Play video – George Fox
These resources are 'take-aways' for children and young people.
- Chatterbox – a 'fortune teller' style resource based on quaker values
- Let's Explore the Quaker way (PDF)
All age
These resources will help you plan community building sessions within your meeting.
- Planning a party in your meeting? Use this pack of George Fox themed activities for all ages (PDF), including crosswords, wordsearches, a quiz and a drawing activity.
- Quaker Arts Network Fox@400 video project
- All-age worship preparation guide (PDF)
- Being Quaker, Doing Quaker (PDF)
- What do you do in Meeting for Worship? (PDF)
- FWCC George Fox 400 pack (PDF) and in hard copy from the Quaker Bookshop website.
- World Quaker Songbook (PDF) and in hard copy from the Quaker Bookshop website.
- 'There's a Light that is Shining' is now available to sing free of fees at events. Chords and lyrics are now available in this video on FWCC's website.
This resource is a good all-age guide to Quaker principles.
Non-Quakers or newcomers
These resources can be used in outreach activities, or shared with newcomers to help explain the beginnings of Quakerism and Quaker beliefs and practice today.
You may wish to play some of these videos at an outreach event.
- Introduction to Quakers videos
- Quaker Tapestry Museum video on George Fox and early Quakers
- George Fox, Margaret Fell and Swarthmoor Hall video
- What Does George Fox Say? video
This is a podcast on George Fox, the beginnings of Quakerism and 1652 country.
Schools
If you use this anniversary year to increase your outreach in schools, these resources can help plan your session.
Quaker history and reparations research
These resources will support local research into specific aspects of Quaker history.
- Resources to support exploration into reparations
This page contains resources which Quaker groups, including local and area meetings, might find helpful in working together to respond to the Yearly Meeting 2022 minute regarding reparations.
- 'The First Publishers of the Truth'
This is a record of the first known introduction of Quakers to each of the counties of England and Wales. This could be an interesting document to consult if you wanted to link Quaker history with your locality.
- George Fox Subject guide
This subject guide from the Library of the Society of Friends includes a summary of who George Fox was, a concise timeline of his life, and what is held about him in the library's collections.
Keep an eye on this page for new resources.
