Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, are a Christian-rooted faith community that began in England in the 17th century.
Rather than relying on formal creeds or hierarchy, Quakers gather in stillness, waiting in silence to be led by the Spirit. Anyone may speak if they feel moved to do so, but often the hour passes in quiet reflection.
At the heart of Quaker faith is a simple but radical belief: that there is “that of God” in everyone. This shapes how Friends relate to one another and to the world—with care, equality, and a commitment to peace.
Yes—Quakers emerged from Christianity, and many Friends consider themselves Christian.
At the same time, Quaker communities today are diverse. Some are explicitly Christian, while others are more open in language and welcome people from different spiritual backgrounds, or none.
What tends to unite Quakers is not a shared doctrine, but a shared practice: gathering in silence, listening deeply, and seeking to live truthfully and compassionately.
Quakers don’t follow a fixed creed or political line. Instead, they are guided by a set of lived values often referred to as SPICES:
Simplicity – living with intention and resisting excess
Peace – a commitment to nonviolence and reconciliation
Integrity – speaking and acting truthfully
Community – supporting and caring for one another
Equality – recognizing the inherent worth of every person
Stewardship (Sustainability) – caring for the earth and using resources responsibly
These values shape how many Quakers engage with the world. Historically and today, Friends have been active in movements for abolition, prison reform, humanitarian aid, and social justice.
Rather than aligning with a political party, Quakers tend to ask: What does it mean to live these values, here and now?
Quakers have a long, often quiet history of humanitarian work in France—especially in times of war and displacement.
During the First World War, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) sent volunteers to France to provide relief in devastated regions. Alongside British Quakers, they supported civilians by feeding children, repairing homes, and helping displaced families rebuild their lives.
Quaker efforts continued in the years that followed, and during the Second World War they again worked across France—running feeding programs, supporting refugees, and assisting those fleeing persecution, including people escaping Nazi-occupied territories.
In recognition of this work, the AFSC and the Friends Service Council were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.
Across both wars, Quaker action in France often took the form of practical, grounded care: opening homes, creating places of refuge, and accompanying people through displacement and uncertainty.
Sojourner Truth House stands within this tradition. In the 1940s, Quaker groups such as the Friends Ambulance Unit and the Friends Relief Service—both pacifist, civilian organizations—were among the first to provide aid in France following the Liberation. They offered practical care to those displaced by war, helping to rebuild lives and communities.
In the years that followed, Quakers continued this work across France, including supporting the reconstruction of towns such as Saint-Nazaire, where they helped rebuild homes and restore community life after widespread destruction.
In Calais today, Sojourner Truth House continues this work of accompaniment. Like the safe houses and relief efforts that came before, it is rooted in the conviction that care, dignity, and solidarity are not abstract ideals, but something to be lived—daily, and together.
Yes. Sojourner Truth House is supported by the French Quaker community, the Assemblée annuelle de France (Quakers France Yearly Meeting).
At their Yearly Meeting in 2025, Friends discerned that they were called to support the creation of a Quaker welcome house in Calais. This support includes ongoing accompaniment through a dedicated working group in relationship with the house.