How the Truth has prospered at Solihull Meeting.

The New Year began with Friends searching for a new venue in which to hold our Meetings. With great co-operation and compromise, it was settled and on 18^th February our first Meeting was held at Shirley Methodist Church. Our sign up to the new scheme has meant there have been a number of new enquirers throughout the year, enabling us to give a warm welcome to new faces and give them a taste of the Quaker way.

The year of George Fox’s 400^th birthday celebrations has provided a good excuse for outings for the Meeting. There was Hartshill’s exhibition in May and Selly Oak’s mini pilgrimage in August. Area Meetings have been well represented by Solihull. Friends especially enjoyed Devotional Meetings in Stourbridge and Hartshill, providing us with wonderful opportunities to visit our more far flung Meeting Houses, share spiritual companionship and to socialise with those we rarely get to see. Since moving to Shirley, we have become more aware of our proximity to Hall Green Meeting, prompting an invitation from them to join in with their shared lunches and culminating this year with a Kindlers Event, held between the two Meetings. The experience of mixing has been very positive and we look forward to many more opportunities like this.

Friends within the Meeting have voiced concerns relating to the Testimonies of Peace and Sustainability and have taken this message in outward support of Climate Justice and opposition to the Arms Trade.

Solihull Meeting is pleased to be able to help those of us who are incapacitated by illness or age to continue to be a part of the whole. Friends are continually working to adapt ourselves to be inclusive of those finding things difficult. There is always a way and Solihull are determined to find it.

Whilst we currently have no provision for a children’s meeting, enquires are welcome.

Shirley Methodist Church is on Shirley’s high st (Stratford Rd), opposite Aldi. Bus nos 4A, 5, 6, 49 & 76 stop nearby. There is a large car park at the rear and easy access to the front of the church.

Shirley Methodist Church states that “all rooms are accessible by wheelchair and a disabled toilet is available.”