Our Meeting has been struggling for several years. Our attendance is low, our committees are not able to meet for the most part since we have so few active members and attenders. We still do not have a Clerk and several other positions are unfilled. We are not what we were for so many years – a vibrant Meeting with First Day school classes, adult classes, potluck dinners. Serendipity bazaars etc.
Our new’ building, The Gathering Place, is now 16 years old It is being used by several groups on a regular basis. The AA 12-step recovery group meets there every Thursday and Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 pm. The Kent County Action Group known as “Indivisible” has been meeting monthly on the 3rd First Day of the month from 2-4 p.m. At their first meeting they had 80 people in attendance. Two groups have an annual meeting there, one of which has a catered dinner. “Mom’s Demand Action” is a relatively new group which has been meeting there on a monthly basis.
In the Meetinghouse a choral group meets there on Mondays from 6-7 p.m. Mike Kelly is a member of this group.
For many years beginning in the 1980’s Camden Meeting hosted the Simultaneous World Wide Prayer for Peace on New Year’s Eve (December 31st). As this had fallen by the wayside it was revived last year (2024) and again a few weeks ago (Dec. 31,2025) and there were 4 people in attendance. The newspaper had been asked to include an article about this event – which they did, but had the time as 7 p.m.
A little over a year ago (December 24th – 2024) on Christmas Eve, our HVAC system went out. Fortunately, we were able to have a repair man come to our rescue. He was able to get the heat on – so there were no frozen pipes thank goodness. AS things turned out our 16-year-old system had, in many respects, reached the end of its life. During 2025 numerous repairs were made and a new pump and other equipment was installed. Our insurance company covered nearly all costs except the deductible. The total cost was a little over $23,000. The new company, Envirotech, will be servicing our equipment on a semi-annual basis.
Andrew Bell, one of two members under the age of 40, has been involved in a number of very’ helpful issues. The Meeting purchased a new lap-top computer which Andrew has set up; he does the weekly announcements which are sent out on-line to members and attenders; he has been updating the brochure “Your First Time In Meeting for Worship” as well as another brochure; he has also gotten a new web site set up. It is: camdenfriendsde@yahoo.com. And he cleans the Meetinghouse regularly. He and Gary Heritage are working on updating our landscaping as well.
The two rows of English boxwood that were planted in the 1930’s we think along the front path leading from the street to the Meetinghouse were severely damaged by the new Asian moth, and are in the process of being removed as are others at the corners of the building
In the spring, after much discussion, a ramp at the front door of the Meetinghouse was installed but the threshold is the original from 1805!
In May the meeting’s records were moved back to the office (which for a few years had been used as a childcare room) A Hie cabinet, a storage cupboard and a working space arc now set up and are secured with a locked door.
Since June a digital photo frame has been set up next to the fireplace in The Gathering Place, thanks to Andrew. Photos of Camden Meeting over a period of many years (showing pictures of now deceased members and others) is available and can be viewed during out social times. This is a source of history.
Our member Debbie Ruggles, who for quite a long time served as Recording Secretary and did a superb job, moved last spring to be near her son and his family in Chicago. Debbie was also a Trustee. Eric Boving is now a Trustee of the Meeting. He also oversees the numerous appeals we receive and brings them to Business Meeting to be decided upon. Sue Boving is now Assistant Treasurer. She also mails out birthday cards/greetings to Meeting members and attenders.
Judy Baker, a long time attender, passed away in the spring. She and her husband Mike had moved to the Annapolis area where they had lived previously. There was a gathering at their home there that several Camden members attended.
Services for Lance Billingsley who passed away late in 2024 was held in the spring (2025) and one for Cynthia Johnson, our Treasurer, was held in December (2025).
We have been privileged to have Clinton and Kathryn Pettus from Third Haven Meeting come to Camden to assist with several issues and to also facilitate several or our monthly Business Meetings.
We wish to note that three of our members are centenarians! The most recent is Jane Fox who has been living at Stonegate, a retirement home near Wilmington for nearly 20 years, turned 100 on January 7th. She still drives locally and mentioned getting a new car!’ The Sahwell’s who still reside in their home in Lewes are: Aziz 103 (as of January 15th) and Marie 101 this past November. Not too far behind is Paul Bender at the age of 95.
Reported by: Michael L. Richards Jan. 18, 2026
