There is that of God in every person

A young man from Leicestershire experiences a direct encounter with God, hearing a voice that says "There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition." This revelation becomes the foundation of the Quaker movement.

George Fox climbs Pendle Hill in Lancashire and has a vision of "a great people to be gathered." In the weeks that follow, he meets Margaret Fell and other seekers, sparking a movement that rapidly grows across northern England.

Quakers issue a declaration to King Charles II, stating "We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatever." This Peace Testimony remains central to Quaker faith today.

William Penn establishes the colony of Pennsylvania as a "Holy Experiment" — a place of religious tolerance, democratic governance, and fair dealing with Indigenous peoples. Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love," becomes its capital.

Quakers in Germantown, Pennsylvania produce the first organised religious protest against slavery in the Americas. This document marks the beginning of a long Quaker tradition of anti-slavery activism that culminates in abolition.

A major division emerges between followers of Elias Hicks, who emphasise the Inner Light and direct experience of God, and Orthodox Quakers, who stress scriptural authority. The split shapes the diverse landscape of Quakerism that exists today.

The American Friends Service Committee and the British Friends Service Council jointly receive the Nobel Peace Prize for their humanitarian relief work during and after both World Wars, including feeding programmes for millions of children.

Britain Yearly Meeting agrees to recognise same-sex marriages within Quaker worship, becoming one of the first religious bodies in Britain to do so. This decision reflects the Quaker commitment to equality and the leading of the Spirit.