Bristol Friends Partners with Redemption Church

In 1701, Bristol Quakers began meeting in various homes until Samuel Carpenter, a wealthy Philadelphia businessman and Quaker, donated the site at Market and Wood Streets for the purpose of erecting a one-story meetinghouse, which was built in 1711. Since that time, Bristol Friends Meeting has had its ups and downs. Once a vibrant Quaker meeting in a bustling river town, their membership has waxed and waned over the years. Because of a steady decline in membership, in November 2017, the Meeting asked to become a preparative meeting under the care of Fallsington Meeting.

Meeting for Worship services are still held, but monthly, rather than weekly. Friends gather in the historic meeting house on the fourth Sunday of each month at 11 am. Over the past few years, attendance has mostly consisted of four stalwart members, including their clerk, Paul Shaffer, who has held that position for almost 20 years.

But there is a new energy in the 310-year-old building. Redemption Church, who is in partnership with the Mosaic Mennonite Conference, has been using the meetinghouse as their home base since June of last year.  It has proved to be a wonderful partnership for Bristol Friends. As tenants, Redemption Church has started to lovingly restore the building, including refinishing the wood floors in the meeting room, adding WIFI, and clearing out the unused second floor balcony to use the space for classrooms, offices, and community outreach.

Paul is very enthusiastic about their new tenant adding that the church has lots of young families and it’s nice to see children running around the building and grounds.

Members of Redemption Church have expressed an interest in attending the monthly Quaker service, so they can experience an unprogrammed meeting for worship.

And it may be that the new energy generated by Redemption Church is beginning to rub off on the Meeting. At the January meeting for worship, there were double the usual four attenders. In addition to the usual Bristol Friends, there was representation from Fallsington Meeting, Redemption Church, and two people who had attended many years before and felt moved to come back and visit.

Help us continue this upward trend; join Bristol Friends on February 26th at 11:00 am. They are located at 235 Market Street in historic Bristol Borough; everyone is welcome.