Tangled Roots: Navigating the Complex Legacy of Early Quakers by Stuart Masters.

The annual Swarthmore Lecture has two key purposes: to interpret to Quakers their message and mission and to make the wider public aware of the spirit, the aims, and fundamental principles of Friends.

In the 2026 lecture, Stuart will explore the diverse mix of characteristics visible in the early Quaker movement that produced several creative tensions which subsequent generations have had to navigate. These include the tensions between inward experience and outward tradition, communal order and individual freedom, the quietist and the charismatic, and the new creation and the world.

He will argue that engaging with these issues can help Friends better appreciate the diversity present within the global Quaker family and enable them to discern how to respond to these dilemmas today. Read the full announcement of the lecture.

The lecture will take place on Saturday 2 May at 19:00 (UK time) at Friends House, London and streamed live.

Prepare & Reflect

Get to know the 2026 Swarthmore Lecturer, Stuart Masters, and explore the context behind the lecture through an interview series with Woodbrooke.

Following the lecture, Woodbrooke are offering a range of opportunities to explore its themes in greater depth, together with Stuart, including a day meeting on 11th July in Oxford, and an online book club, where we will read the Swarthmore Lecture book together and share reflections in a supportive group setting.

Watch the interviews and sign up for the post-lecture events on the Woodbrooke website: