Online History Talk in support of Peterborough Cathedral
Thursday, 20 November
19:30 GMT
This talk explores the origins of Quakerism in the chaos of the mid-seventeenth century in England. Following the devastating civil wars, the population was left exhausted, traumatised, and living in a shattered landscape. In this context of ruin and uncertainty, a new religious movement emerged in the north of England. The early Quakers, driven by intense spiritual conviction, believed it was their duty to save souls at any cost. Their methods were seen by many as extreme and they repeatedly defied the authorities.
Their radical actions were expressions of deep religious zeal, shaped by fear, desperation, and a longing for moral certainty in a world that felt irredeemably broken. Dr Canela’s talk challenges the idealised image of early Quakerism, revealing a group of believers whose fervour sometimes led to deeply troubling behaviour. They stood firm in their beliefs, often risking persecution and death. In doing so, they demonstrated how far people will go, especially in times of crisis, to seek safety, truth, and divine purpose. Even when it meant crossing the line between faith and fanaticism.
Pendle Hill First Monday Lecture: A Radical Side of the Early Quakers (Hybrid Event)
Monday, 1 December
Pendle Hill
Wallingford, Pennsylvania
19:30 – 21:00 EST
A First Monday Lecture on the zealous and radical early Quakers of the mid-seventeenth century England.
How far did early Quakers go to save souls and live out their spiritual convictions?
Dr. Erica Canela’s First Monday Lecture explores the origins of Quakerism in the chaos of the mid-seventeenth century in England. Following the devastating civil wars, the population was left exhausted, traumatised, and living in a shattered landscape. In this context of ruin and uncertainty, a new religious movement emerged in the north of England. The early Quakers, driven by intense spiritual conviction, believed it was their duty to save souls at any cost. Their methods were seen by many as extreme and they repeatedly defied the authorities.
Their radical actions were expressions of deep religious zeal, shaped by fear, desperation, and a longing for moral certainty in a world that felt irredeemably broken. Dr. Canela’s talk challenges the idealised image of early Quakerism, revealing a group of believers whose fervour sometimes led to deeply troubling behaviour. They stood firm in their beliefs, often risking persecution and death. In doing so, they demonstrated how far people will go, especially in times of crisis, to seek safety, truth, and divine purpose. Even when it meant crossing the line between faith and fanaticism.
