The Pendle Hill Area Meeting consists of Blackburn, Bolton, Chorley, Clitheroe, Crawshawbooth and Marsden Local Meetings.
We meet together on a monthly basis to discuss local Quaker issues, and also as an opportunity to share and learn from each other. Attenders (or members of other Area Meetings) wishing to attend Area Meeting need to ask the correspondence clerk.
In the summer months, we meet up to socialise (and enjoy sharing food); usually in one of our Meeting House gardens. We also have an annual weekend away at Glenthorne, the Quaker guest house in Grasmere. Click here for more information about Glenthorne.
The north-west of England is the birthplace of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and is sometimes known as “1652 country”.
Quakers have been active in Lancashire since the 1650’s. In 1652, George Fox journeyed towards the north-west and wrote:
"As we went I spied a great high hill called Pendle Hill, and I went on the top of it with much ado, it was so steep; but I was moved of the Lord to go atop of it; and when I came atop of it I saw Lancashire sea; and there atop of the hill I was moved to sound the day of the Lord; and the Lord let me see atop of the hill in what places he had a great people to be gathered." (Quaker faith & practice 19.06)
In the North-West of England there are several ancient sites and buildings of interest dating from the 17th century that are significant in the history of early Quakerism. These attract visitors from all over the world.
A local Quaker, Alan Clowes, has produced a video about Pendle Hill and surrounding Quaker history. Please click here to see it.
Quakers built their Meeting Houses in quiet places to avoid persecution. Most of our historic houses date from the 18th century and are plain and simply furnished.
You can enjoy visiting their gardens, often a graveyard and sharing a wonderful peaceful atmosphere.