Coventry Quaker Meeting House is currently undergoing works to upgrade the building and make it fully accessible. Coventry Quakers’ clerking team share an update on the refurbishment, which has required archaeological works.

The archaeologists have found the remains of around 30 people buried where our building work is taking place. Some broken roof and floor tiles have been found and stones from barn walls built in the 1600s have been unearthed. We plan to keep these on site and use them in the retaining wall on the patio.

As the archaeological work has been far more extensive than anticipated the project is running about 10 weeks late with some unforeseen extra costs. In addition, as a result of deeper digging, the original plans for the foundations needed to be amended. The advice of a second structural engineer was sought and an acceptable plan agreed.

Currently the foundations have been built and the skeletal remains reinterred in a short Quaker ceremony.

The Building Liaison group continues to meet with the builder and project manager, and our convenor and treasurer meet monthly with the trustees’ oversight group. We are very grateful for the support of Friends in Area Meeting and, in particular, the trustees oversight group.

Since September the meeting house has been closed, and Coventry Quakers have been holding Meeting for Worship at Guide HQ, 64 Grosvenor Road, Coventry, CV1 3FZ. This arrangement will continue until at least the end of 2026, to accommodate the building works.