Meeting for Sufferings is the standing representative body of Quakers in Britain. Its members are appointed by Yearly Meeting, and they meet five or six times a year.

Papers, minutes and support can be found on the Meeting for Sufferings pages.

Meeting for Sufferings:

  • takes decisions and manages business between Yearly Meetings
  • sets priorities for Quaker work
  • helps other parts of Britain Yearly Meeting e.g. by sharing information and testing concerns from area meetings

The name Meeting for Sufferings refers to the time when Quakers were persecuted for following their faith. Their 'sufferings' were recorded by a meeting. This 'meeting for sufferings' has changed its function, if not its name, over hundreds of years.

Image by Mike Pinches 2023