Newark Quakers move into their new home

A former off-licence that has been used over the years as a sweet shop and a fashion boutique has been transformed into a tranquil new home for Newark Quakers.

For many years Quakers in the Newark area have travelled to Brant Broughton for meetings, held in a building dating back to 1701.

Eight years ago an outreach group was set up to raise their profile and to try to find ways of letting more people know about Quakerism.

Lunchtime meetings were held in Newark, advertised as Silence In A Busy Day.

Initially a yoga studio was used and then the foyer at Barnbygate Methodist Church.

But as numbers grew it was decided, two years ago, the time had come to establish Newark as a separate local meeting.

Architect Mr Andrew James saw the shop at 1 Queen’s Head Court, off the Market Place, was for sale and saw its potential.

“Sandwiched between three pubs in the corner of the Market Place it gives us a street presence and it certainly puts us directly in touch with the market place of life,” he said.

The building is a one-up one-down with a cellar and a quadrant-shaped high-walled courtyard. The conversion has turned the ground floor into a social room with a kitchenette and toilet.

The meeting room is upstairs. Quaker meetings are held in silence or until someone wishes to speak so it is important the meeting room is quiet.

It has triple glazing and substantial insulation, providing a meditative place.

The courtyard has been given a glass roof to become a conservatory and is joined to the social room by triple doors.

The conversion was designed by Mr James, who also managed the building work.

Several members helped with the conversion and others created artwork for it.

Church elder Mr David Ditcham said he was amazed at what had been achieved.

“The transformation is brilliant and its location on the edge on the Market Square is perfect,” he said.

Numbers have doubled in the past year from 12 to 24 and Mr Ditcham says they will continue to grow.

People will have the chance to look around the new premises when they are officially opened on October 13 by comedy magician and actor Geoff Durham, known for many years as the Great Soprendo.

He became a Quaker in 1996 and, after the opening, will give a talk in the Town Hall about why he is a Quaker.

They meet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday lunchtimes fortnightly, but expect to move to weekly Sunday meetings as numbers grow.

They are happy to share their building with community groups. The upper room seats 24 and the building is available for hire on most weekdays and in the evenings.

Enquiries can be made at 01949 20512 or email andrew james.home@btinternet.com