Meet the Quakers of Truro
Finding wisdom in silent worship
NORTH RIVER — In a cozy cabin nestled in North River, a small but dedicated group of Quakers and friends sit and worship – in silence.
“Newcomers might find it odd to sit in silence for an hour with other people,” said Katherine Reed. “But most people, probably if they like it, they get to like it a lot. They get to discover the wisdom of listening in silence and reflecting on things like the testimonies Quakers have cultivated over many years and listening to each other’s insights.”
Quakers typically use small, plain meeting houses. Quite often, smaller groups are in places like Mary Petrie’s apartment, where she and Dick Cotterill first started meeting after connecting a few years ago.
“You can worship alone,” said Cotterill. “But when you worship as a group, in a meeting house, I think it’s more meaningful.”
One year ago, the Truro Worship Group was gifted the use of a private singleroom cabin and an annex that has a compostable toilet with a cozy fireplace.
Wood planks run along the ceiling, walls and floor, nailed in place in a mesmerizing pattern that is visually comforting during worship. Various chairs and a sofa are informally placed in a circle around the small room and a mini library offers some Quaker writings. A kettle comes to a boil on the woodstove. Inside the small, rustic space, turnout is usually about four or six people, all kept warm in the cold of winter by the roaring fire.
Services are remarkably different compared to other Christian denominations – no leader or authority figures, formality or creed. Worshippers meet and a more “seasoned” Quaker may offer an introduction.
Then, silence.
Over one hour, each person can share a revelation, if they feel moved to do so. They can only speak once and no one is allowed to respond, letting the statement hang in the air and then settle on its own.
“Sometimes, there could be meetings where absolutely nothing is said the whole hour,” said Petrie. “Sometimes, there are meetings that are very chatty. But always, one person speaks at their various silos, to let that settle in. And somebody else doesn’t stand up and contradict them or answer them.”
Quakers believe in a spiritual
being, and whatever one chooses to call it – God, the divine, life – there is a little bit of it in everything; each blade of grass, every tree, every person. They believe that every person can communicate directly themselves and do not need someone else.
“When we meet to worship, what we’re doing is we’re listening for the small, still voice,” said Cotterill. “We’re listening for truth, we’re listening for the divine.”
An opportunity for worship sharing is offered before closing.
And with that, it ends. The place springs to life with community conversation, enjoying one another’s company, comforting tea and baked cookies.
WHO ARE QUAKERS?
The Truro group, like those in Antigonish and South Shore, are under the care of the Halifax monthly meeting. In Nova Scotia, there is also the Annapolis Valley Monthly Meeting and the Eastern Shore Worship Group. Over 1,000 Quakers are estimated to be living in Canada.
George Fox (1624-1691) founded the Quaker movement after he could not find the answers he sought in traditional churches. Like other deviations from orthodox Christianity, thousands of Quakers were persecuted and imprisoned in England and Massachusetts Bay Colony during the 1600s.
There are also many people who attend worship services but do not become members, with some undetermined regarding faith. Jockie Loomerkruger is one such attendee who joined last year after finding she enjoyed the company and experience.
“We don’t force people or go looking for people to join us because we don’t believe that we have the truth any more than anybody else has the truth,” said Petrie. “Because that is a universal thing.”
Petrie was born a Quaker in England. She recalls a thousand Quakers gathered in the Royal Albert Hall.
“You could hear a pin drop,” she said.
Quaker testimonies rely on SPICES – simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship. They interpret what is written in the Bible within themselves and also seek truth from other sources and experiences like philosophers, other religions, novels, music or even just a walk in the woods.
“Some people say being open to being led by the inner life, or the spirit,” said Reed. “I just find it a refreshing, centering experience.”
Reed learned about Quakers from a friend and realized that she “always thought and felt” like one through spirit and character.
“I used to find, intensely uncomfortable, was going to church and reading the prescribed things that you’re supposed to say,” said Reed. “You’re supposed to mean them, but you didn’t think them up. So how could you possibly mean them?”
Historically, Quakers have opposed war and weapons and are known to have aided humanitarian efforts, including as quiet peacebuilding negotiators. During Vietnam, the American Friends Service Committee gathered and sent medical supplies to the northern part of the country.
Broader Quaker committees do advocacy work with issues such as the justice system, Indigenous rights, refugees and peacebuilding – all tied back to the remarkable social and prison reformer and Quaker Elizabeth Fry. As well, notable business names include John Cadbury, Cyrus and James Clark.
Cotterill is a “convinced” Quaker who grew up in the Christian faith. He resisted the Vietnam War because he did not want to kill people and deserted from the United States Marine Corps to Canada.
“It was the Quakers who welcomed me and gave me a place to live and helped me to emigrate and celebrate, along with 200,000 other young Americans,” said Cotterill.
Cotterill adds that Quakers are friendly with other faith groups, particularly through venues such as the Cobequid Interfaith Council locally and the Friends World Committee for Consultation globally.
The group is open to people wishing to explore their way of worship. Those interested can contact Cotterill at 902-893-4588 or quakersintruro@gmail.com.