Our Vision for Friends House
1. Short version
Our vision is to be

an active spiritual home for Quakers worldwide to work and worship together and share ideas

a showcase for Quakers providing information, history and living examples of Quaker work and thought an accessible, welcoming place that bears witness to the Quaker testimonies to simplicity, integrity, peace and equality

an exemplar of best practice in sustainability

a lively and affordable meeting place for socializing, eating, listening and talking which gives good value for money

a place of safety, a hub for debate for all who want to express their views peaceably and challenge what they feel is wrong in society or government

a recognized meeting place for peace-builders

a practical, efficient, well-equipped space for working or meeting



2. Longer description

Friends House is a prominent and impressive building in central London, which has been the headquarters for Friends in Britain for over 80 years. It has spaces of different sizes, a meeting house for about 1,300 people a pleasant internal courtyard and a renowned Quaker Library and archive. It is a well-known meeting place for many third sector organizations and is well - used for much of the year. It has been reasonably maintained and improved but it somehow lacks some heart and energy. It is tired and in need of rejuvenation. Changes in the way the building is run are making a big impact but that alone cannot overcome the deficiencies in the fabric of the building.

The vision is of a more efficient and sustainable working environment for staff, and a more meaningful and attractive place for Friends from across Britain to gather. It is one where the building is a truly spiritual home for Friends - as part of the development, the new Quaker Centre will provide a venue where Friends can meet, worship, share ideas and work collaboratively. The Centre will also raise the profile of the organization, offering a place to showcase Quaker work, both at home and oversees, and providing the general public with information on Quaker convictions, beliefs, and practices. The large meeting house will be a fitting venue for Yearly Meeting and an appealing letting option for visiting organisations.

Situated on London’s best-connected road, Friends House has enormous potential to attract new visitors and provide services to a range of clients. The area is poised for change, with the recent ambitious redevelopment of King’s Cross and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to Europe. The Society should seize the opportunity for Friends House to play a central role in the redevelopment of the Euston Road. It should build upon its award-winning architectural heritage and seek to exemplify Quaker values for a modern society. Friends House will be characterised by simplicity, accessibility and sustainability.

The building should be recognised as an asset, not a burden - it is an investment, with any profits contributing directly to Quaker work. Moreover Friends should aim to capitalise on its unique offering - this is the Quaker gift to Britain. It is a hospitable, non-judgemental environment, open to all visitors and to new ideas. Friends have never shied away from the uncomfortable and the building will reflect this adventurous and welcoming approach. The building offers affordable space in central London for organisations to meet, particularly those that are non-for-profit. Through reconfiguration, the building has the potential to become a centre for Peace and a forum for exchange for all groups working towards goals shared by Friends.

Environmental considerations will be core to the redevelopment of the building; it will aim to achieve sustainability through innovative methods of minimising energy consumption and harnessing natural resources for heating, cooling and ventilation. It will become an exemplar site, one to which local meeting houses can turn for inspiration and guidance, and beyond the Society.

Through redevelopment, the building will become fully accessible, thereby becoming a physical manifestation of the Quaker Testimony to equality. It will be DDA compliant and meet the needs of all those Friends who visit throughout the year and congregate for Yearly Meeting, as well as those who use the building for meetings and conferences.


BYM Trustees

July 2008