About Us

Who Are We?

Our Worship

Two people preparing flower arrangements

Our Community

Our History

Statements

Who Are We?

Quakers have a remarkable faith and practice to share with the world. Rooted in Christianity, we seek connection to the Inner Light, Spirit, or God through the practice of silent worship “when two or more are gathered.” We believe that ‘there is that of God in everyone’ and try to remember that in our daily lives.

From our beliefs come a peace testimony that wishes to end the cause of all wars, a sense of stewardship for our world, and a deep feeling of spiritual equality with all people. We call each other ‘Friends’ as members of The Religious Society of Friends, a name we adopted more than 350 years ago.

Meeting for Worship is the corporate collective act by which we share a communion with each other, centered most deeply in silence. This carries over into our business practice of expectant waiting to be Spirit-led in our decision making.

The 17th century founding Quakers realized that God, who they often referred to as the Light of Christ, was reachable within each of us, and that no clergy or trained minister was necessary as we are all ministers. Acting on this knowledge shows us the way opening before us.

Our Worship

Worship is mostly silent. We enter the meeting house in silence, gather in our seats in silence, and await the spirit to enter with us in silence. The Friend “in care of meeting” may offer a welcoming introduction with a reading or using their own words. Friends who are led to offer vocal ministry during the hour of worship are welcome to stand and speak. Occasionally, a hymn will rise up as an expression of ministry suggested by a Friend and our hymnal is used to guide us in prayerful song.

Following silent worship, Friends are invited to share joys and concerns for members of our community, both local and global. After announcements, we greet Friends seated near us with a handshake or other greeting. Many will then extend this sense of community by gathering in the social hall following worship to enjoy refreshments and fellowship. We welcome you to experience the warmth and joy of worshiping with us.

Our Community

We are an active, caring, welcoming community of people from diverse backgrounds who have been led to Quakerism by our desire for a personal, experiential relationship with the spirit, devoid of hierarchy and dogma. The path that has led each person here is different. It is our shared journey and deep sense of community that enriches our lives and guides us in living. We are committed to the Quaker ideals of peacefulness, simplicity, integrity, equality and justice for all.

As a community, we willingly share our talents and our skills. We are encouraged to question and wonder aloud and in our own quiet thoughts. We bond in worship, form friendships during coffee hour, and find purpose in serving the greater community. Each of us ministers to one another. We practice our faith by bearing witness to injustice and share our love in the tender moments of visitations with people in their homes. Our community grew during the pandemic with the increasing use of videoconferencing tools. Several Friends have been pleased by their ability to connect with their faith and our meeting regularly, even though they are joining from afar.

“Our life is love and peace and tenderness; and bearing one with another and forgiving on another and not laying accusations one against another; but praying for one another and helping one another up with a tender hand.”
—Isaac Penington, 1667

Our History

In 1620, a date familiar to all Americans, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. The ranks of these first settlers were augmented by colonists landing from the “Fortune” in 1621, and the “Ann” in 1623, and several other ships of later date. In the meantime, patents had been granted by the king, for various colonies, called the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the land called New England became widely settled.

These were hard and stern times, and stringent laws were made by the Plymouth Colony, as to the worship of God and the general conduct of the colonists. Gradually, a certain group rebelling against the orthodox religion of the colony, swelled by the ranks of the members of the Society of Friends, commonly called ‘the Quakers’, settled in the present town of Dartmouth.

Many of the men and women who settled here were substantial people; some came to make iron from the bog ores nearby, and others came to till the land on the banks of the peaceful Paskamansett River. All of them came to leave the impression of their character and enterprise on the new and rapidly developing religious sect which brought our meeting place, and Dartmouth Monthly Meeting into being.

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