When I first arrived at Taunton Quaker Meeting, John and his wife Andy invited myself and my new husband John to their home for refreshments and conversation.
John asked me about my career and about my beliefs. I was and am a Universalist. I attended the first meeting of Universalism at Woodbrooke. John and I were friendly with Jean Hardy. I also worked and belonged to Green Spirit.
The problem was that John didn't like my belief system. It was perhaps more common in London where we lived previously than in Somerset. He told me his beliefs briefly. I answered in Quaker Speak, something I now regret, I said,
" I thank you for sharing this with me, I fully respect and accept your beliefs Friend, but I am sorry they are not mine."
I am still grateful that he did ask me about myself and my beliefs, he was the only Quaker from Taunton Meeting to do so. I have been told by some that my ministry was "Quirky".
I also respected him, whatever he may have thought. Many people in Taunton told me what a sympathetic doctor he was. I also respected that Andy was a quite different person to her husband. So it should be in my opinion. As two trees.
I admire his death, he told me he had signed a form to not resuscitate. I admired them both.
However, I shall not be at his funeral. Instead I will keep a vigil outside.
I hope that soon I will be understood.
I now attend Taunton Unitarian Meeting and have resigned my Membership of Quakers.
