- 425 N High St., West Chester, PA 19380
- wcfmeeting@gmail.com
- 610-696-0491
- Established in 1810
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Quakerism is an experiential faith. We come together to learn how to put our testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, stewardship and equality into daily practice. Each person’s journey may be different, but the shared experience deepens and enriches our lives.
We believe that every person is loved by God. There are Friends of all ages, religious backgrounds, races, education levels, sexual orientations, gender identities and classes.
On this page, you can read our FAQ, look at pictures of our Meetinghouse, learn what to expect in a Quaker meeting for worship. And please, if you have any questions, we’d love for you to reach out!
Find answers to our most common questions about Quakers and what our meetings are like. Something not answered here? Please reach out to our Meeting at any time, we’d love to send you more information.
Our Meetinghouse is located at 425 North High Street, West Chester, PA 19380.
Please join us on Sundays from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
The Meeting for Worship is conducted in silence because we endeavor to submit ourselves wholly to the Divine Spirit—which we believe is accessible to everyone who is attentive. We listen to God without the assistance of clergy or prepared liturgy. Friends find their own way to center into the silence and drop away the cares of the week.
During the Meeting for Worship, one or more of those present may feel moved to rise and speak out of the silence. We believe that, at its best, this vocal ministry is divinely inspired. The success of our Worship is not reflected by the quantity of vocal ministry, but rather by the quality of the stillness that surrounds it. Everyone who attends the Meeting for Worship in a spirit of quiet expectation contributes to the depth of the experience for those around them. The Meeting for Worship will conclude in about one hour, when two Friends sitting at the front of the room, on the “facing bench,” shake hands.
Read more about what to expect in a Quaker meeting for worship.
We have a wealth of information on our website here: What is Quakerism.
We believe that every person is loved by God. There are Friends of all ages, religious backgrounds, races, education, sexual orientations, gender identities and classes.
We offer youth religious educational programs, adult religious education classes, social issue presentations, service activities, film nights and shared potluck lunches to strengthen our community ties and grow in faith.
Membership is not required to attend meetings for worship. While non-members can attend the monthly Meeting for Business, only members can participate in decision making.
To become a member involves two journeys. One is personal and one is with the meeting.
The personal one is within. A potential member needs to discern what it is about Quaker faith and practice that is leading them to consider membership. If the sense of belonging is strong enough the person may ask to be considered for membership.
The meeting will establish what is called a “clearness committee” to help the prospective member though joining. That committee will help with discernment about membership. At the end of that process the person may decide being a part of a meeting is not what they are called to do; they may not feel called to join but do wish to continue to attend meetings from time to time; or, they may seek to join the meeting.
Yes, several spaces in our Meetinghouse are available for rent. Please see our Facility Rental page for details.
We have Stewardship, Social Justice, Education, and Nominations committees.
For a good many people today considering sitting in silence for an hour is daunting. We live in a time of cell phones, tablets, computers, apps; in other words, instant and constant activity.
A Quaker meeting is the opposite of that. For one hour Friends sit in stillness. In that stillness some Friends may wait for God to make his presence known; others may use the hour for meditation; others may use it to think through family or work issues. There is no “right way” to use the silence and God can be present in all of them for those who seek Him.
The meeting begins as soon as one person enters to the meeting room at the appointed time. There are no ushers, no chosen seats thought in most meetings you will notice over time Friends do have seating preferences. As you come to know them, respect them. If you arrive at the meeting after it has begun, please try to enter as quietly as you can.
What happens once the meeting begins? That depends on you. Some people sit in silence. Some people find it helpful to bring reading material to set the stage for thought, contemplation and prayer.
A Quaker Meeting is a way of worship based on silence – a silence of expectancy in which we seek to come nearer to God and each other as we share the stillness of the Meeting. Participants are not expected to say or do anything other than join in this seeking. Do not worry if the silence seems strange at first. It is not unusual to find ourselves distracted by outside noise or roving thoughts. There is no fixed structure to the Meeting: no creeds, hymns or set prayers; no minister in charge; and no formal service.
If someone feels compelled by the Spirit to speak, pray or read, the silence is broken. This ministry that is not planned before worship begins, seeks to enrich the worship. If the ministry does not seem to make sense try to reach behind the words to the Spirit which inspired them. Or allow the words to be absorbed into the silence.
At the end of the meeting the clerk, or someone acting in their place, will shake hands with the person next them, or simply stand and say “good morning” to signal the meeting is at an end.
At WCFM we introduce ourselves, mingle and then return to our seats to share any joys and concerns or announcements. At the conclusion of that brief sharing we adjourn to the social room for coffee, snacks and fellowship.
If, after your first meeting, you feel awkward, that is normal. As we said above in our time of instant everything, sitting quietly for an hour can be challenging. If you enjoy the silence, but struggle with an hour, you might consider some sort of daily meditation to condition your mind and body to stillness.
“Twenty years ago, I was searching for a spiritual home for my son and I; in WCFM I found just that. A nourishing, welcoming and progressive place which spoke to our condition. The support grows as we grow. We are a diverse group not always living the same lives yet seeking the same in spiritual growth. We are strong in love and support. A family not of origin but of choice. I feel blessed to have a spiritual home such as WCFM.”
– Linda F.
A welcoming Quaker Community Since 1810
