You are invited to register for this weekend of activities, worship and companionship with Friends of all ages from across Bristol Area Meeting. We have capacity for 70 participants – please book early to avoid disapointment. We will share Meeting for Worship on Sunday morning with Friends from Street meeting, who are kindly letting us use their lovely meeting house and neighbouring orchard for the event. It’s the first opportunity in over 3 years for us to come together in this way to make new connections with each other and to deepen existing ones, an opportunity to experience community for a weekend.
Activities include: walking, crafting, local trips, music, eating and socialising together. On Saturday evening we’ll have a firepit in the orchard with singing. One possibility on the Saturday afternoon is a guided tour of Shoemakers, the new museum at Clarks. Others have the opportunity to walk the two miles to Glastonbury Tor. Meeting for Worship on Sunday morning will be shared with Friends from Street Meeting who’ll be joining us for a Sunday roast afterwards. The orchard is big enough to play rounders and frisbee.
The detailed schedule is still being put together and the organisers welcome offers and suggestions for other activities. Please email ideas to friendshipweekend@bristolquakers.org.uk
Vegan/vegetarian meals will be prepared onsite by Julia Bedford, a skilled local caterer, using organic locally-sourced ingredients. A small amount of assistance with food prep from a few Quaker volunteers will be welcome!
A rough timetable for the weekend is as follows:
| Saturday | |
|---|---|
| 10am onwards | Arrival & Activities |
| 12.30pm | Lunch |
| 2 - 6pm | Choice of activities |
| 6.30pm | Supper |
| 7.30pm | Evening entertainment |
| 9 – 9.30pm | Epilogue; Bed (under canvas, in a hotel or lodging with Street Friends) |
| Sunday | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8.30am | Breakfast | |
| 10.30am | Meeting for worship | |
| 12.30pm | Lunch with Street Friends | |
| 2pm | Activities | |
| 5pm | Departure |
We have tried to keep the cost to a minimum, and to provide a model which will, overall, make the event cost-neutral to Area Meeting.
(Please be generous when deciding which type of payment you can make. We need as many Friends in the “supporter” bracket as in the “subsidised”. This information will remain confidential with the treasurer, but the numbers need to add up.)
(children under 2 years old are free)
Booking will open on Sunday 7th June. A deposit of 30% per booking is required.
Booking will close on Tuesday 21st July.
Balance payments are required by Saturday 29th August.
What if I can’t afford to come?
If it is going to be difficult for you to manage to pay the subsidised rate above, we suggest you speak with one of the elders or pastoral support Friends at your local meeting. They can help you put in a request to weekly committee for financial assistance.
What if I can’t stay for the whole weekend?
Although preferable to come for the entire weekend, those that can only make one day are very welcome.
Booking specifically for single day visits is available at a small discount*. Click here for the single day booking prices.
*Sadly, the overall organisational costs remain the same whether people come for one day or two so we’re only able to offer a very small reduction to Friends who can’t stay for the whole weekend – but we hope that you will join us for as long as possible.
What if not enough people sign up?
Because this is a self-funded event, should the finances not add up when booking closes, the event may need to be cancelled. We do not think this is likely but would inform people of any cancellation as early as possible in August.
Overnight accommodation is not included in your booking but there are a couple of free options:
Camping
There is space for up to 30 people to camp onsite, with toilets and showers available at no extra charge on the Saturday night. You will be able to register your interest on the booking form and spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
(If you would like to extend your stay, you would be most welcome to book direct with Street Quakers. See: Camping at Street Quaker Meeting House. This would be charged at their usual Orchard Campsite rate of £10 a head, under 13’s free.)
Staying with local Friends (sorry, this option is now fully subscribed)
Several Street Friends have generously offered to put up one or more Friends for no cost, and you will be able to register your interest on the booking form. Spaces will be allocated by need as we cannot guarantee this option for everyone if demand outstrips accommodation offered.
Other overnight options
There are several hotels in the area. (Premier Inn, Travelodge, Mullions 51, Wessex Hotel, Bear Inn – you can find more info here) and a number of options on Airbnb. When booking your accommodation, bear in mind the possibility of the event having to be cancelled. We obviously hope this won’t be the case, though.
Overnight accommodation is not included in your booking but there are a couple of free options:
Camping
There is space for up to 30 people to camp onsite, with toilets and showers available at no extra charge on the Saturday night. You will be able to register your interest on the booking form and spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
(If you would like to extend your stay, you would be most welcome to book direct with Street Quakers. See: Camping at Street Quaker Meeting House. This would be charged at their usual Orchard Campsite rate of £10 a head, under 13’s free.)
Staying with local Friends (sorry, this option is now fully subscribed)
Several Street Friends have generously offered to put up one or more Friends for no cost, and you will be able to register your interest on the booking form. Spaces will be allocated by need as we cannot guarantee this option for everyone if demand outstrips accommodation offered.
Other overnight options
There are several hotels in the area. (Premier Inn, Travelodge, Mullions 51, Wessex Hotel, Bear Inn – you can find more info here) and a number of options on Airbnb. When booking your accommodation, bear in mind the possibility of the event having to be cancelled. We obviously hope this won’t be the case, though.
There are boxes to tick on the booking form to indicate if you can offer or would like to request a lift.
You can email friendshipweekend@bristolquakers.org.uk and we will respond as quickly as we can.
For more, click on the titles below:
Street Quaker Meeting House information and photos
Shoemakers Museum, Street
For information, click on the titles below:
Mullions 51 High Street, Street, Somerset, BA16 0EF – literally across the road from Street Meeting House. 16 bedrooms
Bear Inn High Street, Street, Somerset, BA16 0EF – likewise, close to Street Meeting House. 24 bedrooms
Hygge Somerset 12 Wraxhill Road, Street, BA16 0HE, 5 bedrooms, 0.6 miles from Meeting House
Premier Inn Glastonbury Morland Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9FW – 60 bedrooms, on the Street side of Glastonbury, 1 mile from the Meeting House.
These & other places are also available on booking.com and there are a number of options on Airbnb.
Email us at
friendshipweekend@bristolquakers.org.uk and we will see what we can do…
For more, click on the titles below:
Street Quaker Meeting House information and photos
Shoemakers Museum, Street
For information, click on the titles below:
Mullions 51 High Street, Street, Somerset, BA16 0EF – literally across the road from Street Meeting House. 16 bedrooms
Bear Inn High Street, Street, Somerset, BA16 0EF – likewise, close to Street Meeting House. 24 bedrooms
Hygge Somerset 12 Wraxhill Road, Street, BA16 0HE, 5 bedrooms, 0.6 miles from Meeting House
Premier Inn Glastonbury Morland Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9FW – 60 bedrooms, on the Street side of Glastonbury, 1 mile from the Meeting House.
These & other places are also available on booking.com and there are a number of options on Airbnb.
