Ulverston, Cumbria (and its rich Quaker history)
Ulverston is a historic market town in the mostly rural county of Cumbria. Set just outside the Lake District, the birthplace of comedian Stan Laurel features a short deep canal and The Hoad Monument (a 19th century tower modelled after the famous Eddystone Lighthouse).
However its main claim to fame is being the international cradle of the peaceful Quaker faith.
George Fox was the pioneer of the Quaker movement, a Bible scholar whose breakaway from the main Church of England led to some people battering him with Bibles and throwing him down steps, as he wished to follow in the real message of Jesus – peaceful living and simplicity.
He married the local magistrate’s daughter (a widow with several children). And he and Margaret Fell spent little time together during their long marriage, as usually one or the other was in prison.
The relatively small Quaker movement has a huge bearing on life worldwide, with lots of work done for world peace, environmental protection, animal welfare and prison reform.
Even today, if a Quaker became an MP, he or she is exempt from swearing an oath, as they feel they don’t need to, as Quakers always tell the truth. How refreshing!
And just up the road in the village of Hawkshead is Colthouse Quaker House, one of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in the world (the poet William Wordsworth would often worship here, when he attended school).
Find out more at Quakers of Britain.
