DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE
DESCRIPTION This Grade One listed Meeting House has been a place of worship and quiet reflection for over three centuries. Built in 1688, Jordans is one of the first purpose-built Meeting Houses in the country and Quaker meeting for worship still takes place here every Sunday morning.nAfter a major fire in 2005, the refurbishment of the building included creating new meeting rooms and conference facilities to the rear of the Meeting House.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE Simon Jenkins, in England’s Thousand Best Churches, describes Jordans Meeting House as ‘the Quaker Westminster Abbey’. Built in three months in the autumn of 1688, Jordans is one of the first Quaker meeting houses built after James II issued his Declaration of Indulgence in 1687, which allowed Quaker and other non-conformist groups to worship lawfully for the first time.nThe Meeting House has several important historical associations: it is the burial place of William Penn the founder of Pennsylvania, his first wife, Guilielma, his second wife, Hannah, and nine of his children. Other early Quakers who worshipped here and are buried in the grounds include Isaac Penington and his wife Mary Springett, Thomas Ellwood (poet and friend of John Bunyan and John Milton) and Joseph Rule.nAlthough the oak-beamed roof of the Meeting House was largely destroyed in the fire of 2005, the interior of the Meeting Room - the original wooden panelling, the brick floor and most of the leaded windows - survived intact. And the tranquil atmosphere of the place has been restored.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE Relationships between Quakers and non-Christians vary considerably, according to sect, geography, and history.nIn 1870, Richard Price Hallowell argued that the logical extension of Christian Quakerism is a universal Church, which demands a religion which embraces Jew, Pagan and Christian, and which cannot be limited by the dogmas of one or the other.nSince the late 20th century, some attenders at Liberal Quaker Meetings have actively identified with world faiths other than Christianity, such as Judaism, Isla,. Buddhism and Paganism.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE Jordans Quaker Centre offers modern, purpose-built rooms for day-conferences, training, and business meetings of various kinds. They also host family celebrations, yoga and movement classes, coaching and counselling sessions as well as solo and group retreat-days.nnJordans Village was originally established and built by the Quakers, or Religious Society of Friends, who have been meeting here since the 17th century.nnIn recent years, Jordans has supported the development of the ‘Quakers in The World’ web portal - a unique initiative that seeks to interpret the Quaker movement to the modern world through the lens of Quaker actions over the past three centuries. This ongoing project welcomes contributions from Quakers anywhere in the world.
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Jordans Village
Find out many information about the village, its history, what's on, and about the various groups you can get involved with.