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.
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.
- 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
- What Does George Fox Say? video
This is a podcast on George Fox, the beginnings of Quakerism and 1652 country.
Here is a template press release to send to your local press.
Schools
If you use this anniversary year to increase your outreach in schools, these resources can help plan your session.
Meeting house
These could be displayed in your meeting house.
- Quaker Tapestry Museum George Fox themed calendar for 2024
- Quaker Tapestry Museum photographic prints
- FWCC poster of Quakers around the world (PDF)
Adults
These resources will support local research into specific aspects of Quaker history.
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.
Britain Yearly Meeting is creating some new George Fox 400 resources to support your events, including posters, template flyers and press-releases, and simple all-age activities. Keep an eye on this page for updates.