‘As we travelled we came near a very great hill, called Pendle Hill, and I was moved of the Lord to go up to the top of it; which I did with difficulty, it was so very steep and high. When I was come to the top, I saw the sea bordering upon Lancashire. From the top of this hill the Lord let me see in what places he had a great people to be gathered.’
This itinerant preacher from Leicestershire showed extraordinary courage of conviction in dangerous times. His vision on Pendle Hill led to the founding of the Quakers. The word spread swiftly through England and the American colonies during the Civil War, and today the Quakers are a global movement.
Read more
Information about George Fox on Wikipedia and Quakers in the World
Watch an introduction to George Fox from Lancaster University.
If you would like to learn more about George Fox and the early history of the Quakers, Lancaster University offers a free online course via Future Learn – Radical Spirituality: the Early History of the Quakers
For Pendle Radicals
Three locations are highlighted as a part of the Radicals Trail. All three are fundamental to the story of Fox and his profound engagement with this landscape.
Information Barn, Downham
Pendle Hill Summit
Fox’s Well, Pendle Hill
In 2019, our local council partners hosted a visit by best-selling author Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring), who is a Quaker herself and was keen to explore this terrain. Tracy’s walk in the footsteps of Fox was captured in film and photography, and the short film by Fully Formed Films will be published shortly.
Explore further
The Journal of George Fox is still widely available.
The local Quaker community, based at the new Meeting House in Clitheroe, welcome Quaker visitors from around the world and are happy to advise on arrangements.