 November/December 2000 (XXXVIII 5) |
early every Quaker knows that we have been a persecuted religious group. At one point in the developing years of Quakerism there were as many Quakers in jail in England as there are members today in the entire Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. For the founder of Woodbury Meeting and the City of Woodbury, New Jersey, there was no exception.
Henry Wood (1603-1686) joined Quakerism when three Quaker preachers came through the Bury area of Lancashire, England, about 1655. Subsequently Wood and his family were beaten by mobs and local authorities, fined heavily, had their property confiscated, were jailed for many years, and finally chose to embark upon a perilous voyage, costing the life of their grandson, to come to the Delaware Valley and settle what became Woodbury, New Jersey.
Who would think that this story would so inspire a British stone mason that he would sell his house to purchase a ship to retrace the voyage of Henry Wood to the New World? A British citizen of the Bury area, Melvin Magnall, did just that. With his persistent efforts he convinced the people of Bury and Tottington (the birthplace of Henry Wood) to organize a nine-day visit to Woodbury this year by nearly 400 Britons in honor of the founding of the city by Quakers.
Raising thousands of dollars, inspiring hundreds of people, spending several years, the citizens of Bury and Woodbury organized an event that took place between July 1 and July 9 of this year. It was covered by the local and state news media and British Broadcasting (BBC). It was not just an international mission of good will, but, for Quaker and non-Quaker alike, a deeply spiritual event honoring the religious conviction of early Quaker settlers, and the spiritual search that may be seen in all true seekers.
The result of this visit was a week of unparalleled inspiration and friendship-forming. Melvin Magnall even retraced Wood’s canoe trip up the Woodbury Creek to where the creek met an Indian trail, today known as King’s Highway, where Woodbury was founded. With him he brought a stone lintel from the doorway of the English farmhouse of Henry Wood. At an inspiring ecumenical service with 500 people on the Woodbury Meeting grounds, our hearts were uplifted in unity as the citizens of Bury presented half of the lintel to Woodbury Meeting and the other half to the City of Woodbury.
For over a week Woodbury Meeting was the focal point of interest for our visitors and local citizens, many of whom never knew that our meetinghouse was the home of a religious group. One of our members was chosen to speak at the opening ceremonies, lead the prayers at the dedication of the mural commemorating the event, and orchestrate the ecumenical service at which a variety of denominations were present.
At a special gathering in the meetinghouse, an Anglican-Quaker service was held. The Rev. Hugh Bearn of the Parish Church of St. Anne in Tottington expressed regret over the persecution of the Quakers in the 1600s and presented the Meeting with an inscribed gift celebrating our present friendship. This came along with an invitation for Meeting members to visit Tottington.
Through the week there were athletic matches between high school teams, historic tours, and a vast picnic on 10 acres on the shore of the Delaware River. With little intention or initial effort from us, Woodbury Meeting was the recipient of more attention in the first nine days of July than in all the 50 years preceding. In this short period of time, enduring friendships were made. Today we correspond by letter, phone and e-mail. A return visit to Bury, England, is planned for 2002.
For us at Woodbury Meeting, perhaps the most moving result is that the Tottington church is placing a stained glass window recognizing the contributions of Henry Wood and the Quakers of that area and their voyage to America. Our Meeting is invited to go to Tottington, be housed by citizens in Tottington, and be present at its blessing in March 2001. This may be our truest blessing of all.
George A. Crispin
Woodbury Meeting (NJ)
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM