Short answer to: How did Quakers begin?

It's hard to give a very short answer - but the beginnings of an answer are lower down on this page.

A brief and lucid picture of the beginnings of Quakerism (and of its 350 year history) is given in the book by John Punshon:

    Portrait in Grey: a short history of the Quakers (Quaker Books 2006)
    See details and buy at Quaker Bookshop (opens new window) here.

There are many other introductions to Quaker history and life; most of those still in print can be found at the Quaker Bookshop. Quaker Meeting House libraries will also have many including some out of print.

Our history page is here and our books page is here.

Beginnings: A few extracts from Quaker Faith & Practice can only begin to give a feeling for the early days in the 1640s and 1650s. (The full text of Quaker Faith & Practice Chapter 19 is here.)

Preambles to sections in QF&P Chapter 19:

George Fox (1624-1691) was born in Fenny Drayton in Leicestershire. As a young man he was shocked by the failure of those who professed themselves to be Christians to live up to their Christian standards. (19.01)

This disillusionment drove George Fox from home in search of spiritual help, and during the next four years he turned without success to one person after another. (19.02)

During the next three or four years, George Fox travelled through the East Midlands, and the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire and encountered religious groups of several kinds. (19.05)

In 1652, George Fox journeyed towards the north-west. (19.06)

Fox found the 'great people' to the north in and about Sedbergh and Preston Patrick. (19.07)

Francis Howgill (1618-1669), one of the Westmorland Seekers, described the sense of communion engendered among these early Friends. (19.08)

From the north the new movement had in 1654 spread to London and the south. (19.13)

From 1655 the movement spread to mainland Europe, the West Indies, and the mainland of North America. (19.17)

At a time of political and religious turmoil, early Friends as a people were gathered, guided and ordered by God. From their experience of the immediacy of the presence of Christ sprang the form of worship and the way of life which became the distinctive testimonies of Friends, and which were upheld with courage in the face of great persecution. From the need to make provision for those suffering and the need to set boundaries to individual behaviour, came the insights into 'Gospel Order' and the setting up of meetings for church affairs which were also meetings for discipline. (Second paragraph of introduction to Chapter 19)

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