QUAKER UNIVERSALIST GROUP NEWSLETTER MARCH 2026
Dear QUG supporter
Our Wednesday evening meetings for worship and sharing
Our next meeting will be on March 18th. Our speaker, Rex Ambler, is unable to attend, but we look forward to hearing him some time in the summer. However, we will be using ‘The Experiment with Light’, founded by Rex, in the meeting (see https://experiment-with-light.org.uk/) as we consider the state of the world today.
On April 15th our speaker will be Linda Murgatroyd.For more about Linda, see her article in issue one 2025 of Friends Quarterly on “Adventures in spiritual accompaniment”.
The meetings start at 7.00 p.m. The Zoom will open at 6.45 p.m. We send out reminders two or three days beforehand to everyone who has registered. If you do not have the joining instructions and would like them please send an email to contact@qug.org.uk
Britain Yearly Meeting
As usual, QUG will be present at Britain Yearly Meeting and one event is very soon.
Our special interest meeting is on the evening of Wednesday 25th March at 7.30 p.m. It will be run through Zoom like our monthly meeting for worship and sharing and the topic, taking up the theme of the whole Yearly Meeting, will be as follows: ‘The Quaker Universalist Group is based on the principle that no one person and no one faith has the final revelation or monopoly of truth. Is this the key to bringing us together in a divided world?’
Three speakers from the UK, Belgium and Canada will speak briefly about their work worldwide as universalists, then the meeting will be open to ministry from participants.
You will have to join this meeting through applying to attend BYM in the usual way. Joining details will be available through Sched. All the details are on https://www.quaker.org.uk/ym. If you have not registered yet please do so as soon as possible since the process may take some days.
We are also at the Groups Fair on Saturday 2nd May between 12.45 and 2.15 p.m. You will be able to meet some of the committee in person and buy our literature. Do come and see us.
QUG Annual Conference – Friday 17th April to Sunday 19th April 2026 – Launde Abbey, Launde Road, Launde, Leicestershire, LE7 9XB and online
SOUND AND SPIRIT – How music and sound connect us to the soul of the universe.
As we said in our last newsletter, we have now filled up all our residential places, but there are still plenty of Zoom places available, so please continue to apply to join us online. We have to have your form and payment at the latest by Wednesday 15th April.
Our speakers will share recordings of how sound and music are used in places of worship of different religions, and explore the effect of music in our lives, including listening and playing/singing. Participants will be able to reflect on their own responses to pieces of music.
A Zoom only application form is at the end of this newsletter or you can go online at https://qug.org.uk/conference-2026-sound-and-spirit/
and open one of the attachments (in Word or PDF). We ask for £40.00 payment (non-returnable) to secure your place.
Please either send the form by email (e.g. as an attachment) to contact@qug.org.uk or by post to QUG Conference, 2 Willow Rise, Haddenham, Aylesbury, HP17 8JR.
Anyone can come to our conference. You do not have to be a Quaker or a member of QUG to attend.
Our two main speakers are Christine Richards and Jennifer Kavanagh. Christine will speak on the Saturday morning about How sounds are used in religions across the world. Jennifer will speak on the Sunday under the title of Being the music – sound and silence.
As usual, there will be breakout groups and time for worship together.
Universalist
To receive Universalist regularly you need to be a member of QUG (see https://qug.org.uk/membership/).
We welcome articles for our Autumn 2026 edition. We would like these by July 31st 2026. Main articles should usually be between 1000-3000 words. We also welcome reviews, normally about 300-500 words, of books, films, plays, etc. Please send any articles to contact@qug.org.uk.
The main criterion for articles and reviews is that they should be of a universalist nature – for more information on this please see our website at https://qug.org.uk/qug-aims/
Quakers and the Afterlife
We have been informed of the following course, which may interest some of you. Please contact Charney Manor if you have questions or wish to apply.
Quakers & the Afterlife – Rhonda Riachi
For almost four centuries, Quakers have collected and shared evidence of what happens at death and before we arrive on earth. This course is for anyone genuinely curious about the afterlife. Through small group sharing and discussion in pairs, reflection and presentation, we’ll explore personal testimonies and inspiring accounts
29-31 May 2026 Charney Manor, Oxfordshire.
Contact: admin@charneymanor.com
Cost: £330 (deposit £170)
Contacting us, questions and unsubscribing
If you have any questions or wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter please reply directly or send an email to contact@qug.org.uk
CONFERENCE BOOKING FORM FOLLOWS BELOW
QUG Annual Conference Booking Form – 2026
SOUND AND SPIRIT
Friday 17th April at 6.00 pm to Sunday 19th April 2026 at 2.00 pm
Launde Abbey, Launde Road, Launde, Leicestershire, LE7 9XB
ZOOM ONLY ATTENDANCE
Zoom Participation: £40 (Please make full payment)
Special Note: If you are unable to attend the conference, having paid, we regret that we will not refund your money.
Attendee Name: ___
Address: ___
Post code: ____
E-mail: ___
Please indicate one payment option below by writing YES against your preference:
A) Bank transfer to: TSB. The Quaker Universalist Group. Sort Code: 30-97-35. Account No: 00016421. Please use Reference ‘QUG26-Your Surname‘ (e.g. QUG26-SMITH) to ease payment tracking.
B) PayPal – Please ensure you provide full contact details so collection by PayPal can be arranged with you.
C) Cheque (payable to The Quaker Universalist Group) and post to 2 Willow Rise, Haddenham, Aylesbury, HP17 8JR.
Please send this booking form by email to contact@qug.org.uk
or by post to: QUG Conference, 2 Willow Rise, Haddenham, Aylesbury, HP17 8JR
If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 7 days, please contact us.