Believing and Belonging in Britain Yearly Meeting
Many of us are very interested in where British Quakerism is at present and what its future may hold but we often lack very basic information about who we are and what we believe. This survey, following one we ran in 1990, 2003 and 2013, is a vital piece of that information-gathering.
About the Survey
The survey, which was open to responses in October and November 2023, consisted of five sections. In the first, we asked participants about their religious background and upbringing, and their introduction to Quakerism. In the second, we asked about their religious beliefs. The third section explored attitudes to Quaker practice, the fourth ideas about the world. The fifth section asked basic questions about the participants. Some questions have been borrowed from other surveys so we can compare Friends’ responses with the wider population.
Over 4700 Quakers completed the survey. This was an excellent response rate, representing around 27% of all British Quakers. The data from the survey is currently being analysed as part of a CRQS PhD project and the results will be made available in due course as a completed PhD, through Woodbrooke courses, and in academic and accessible publications.
Some preliminary results have been shared in a Friends Quarterly article and at the Future of British Quakerism conference held in October 2024.
We also designed a survey used by participants at the FWCC World Plenary in August 2024 to begin work on Quakerism globally. We are very grateful to everyone who completed the survey and to those who sent in comments in its design.
