Message from the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (PaCET) for Sunday Meeting 29th June 2025

Dear Friends,

Recently I was in Siena investigating art for a piece I was writing. The fourteenth century in Siena in fact marks a turning point in the development of western art as we see a move from mainly religious to more narrative and secular subjects.

Two great works brought this home to me. The first was the great 1311 Maestà of Duccio, the largest and most lavish altar panel ever painted, which shows the Virgin, the city’s protector, with the infant Jesus on her lap, surrounded by angels and saints. The second was the fascinating series of frescoes, Allegories of Good and Bad Government, painted around 1338 by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. They covered the walls of the town hall to remind citizens of the importance of good governance and the potential consequences of bad decisions – with never a saint in sight.

A change had occurred and changes continued over the years, not only in the world of art but also in that of churches, including our own Religious Society of Friends. Early Friends would be surprised that now it is not even considered essential to embrace Christianity or even to believe in God to be accepted by the community. But it is worth remembering that from the outset Friends espoused some concepts considered radical such as having no creed, no sacraments, no ordained ministers, believing in the equality of individuals and refusing a to swear oaths and take up arms. Some Friends suffered persecution for these views but they never stopped trying to change the system to make things more peaceful, equal and fair.

So now, when so much of the world seem in such a dire state and we often feel powerless, it is worth remembering that it takes time and persistence to bring about change and that all we can do is our best to follow the Quaker Way steadfastly with hope that change for the better will be brought about.

Patricia Cleveland-Peck