History of The Religious Society of Friends in Lurgan

CHAPTER ONE

Lurgan has the distinction of being the first Quaker settlement in Ireland, having had regular meetings in the district from 1654. Its central position has also guaranteed for it an important role in the religious life of Friends in Ulster and Ireland. In addition, its members have exercised a powerful formative influence upon the social and economic life of the local community, while those who have emigrated from the meeting have contributed significantly to the development of North America and other overseas territories.

Map of Townlands in the Lurgan area

BEGINNINGS

The 17th century when our history begins was an age of great political, social and religious ferment in Ireland, as in many other parts of Europe. Unlike recent times when emigration has been such a feature of life, Ireland was viewed by many in England as a land of opportunity. After the Flight of the Earls in 1607 their lands were declared forfeit and settlers were sought to develop these territories. The area now known as Lurgan was acquired by the Brownlow family from Nottingham. Brownlow immediately sought to develop its potential and to do so recruited English settlers. One of the great assets of the district was the expanse of oak woods, memory of which is preserved in the place names with the prefix Derry (Irish = oak grove). These settlers came mostly from the North and Midlands of England and brought with them skills such as tanning and weaving to promote the economic prosperity of the settlement. For the landlord their presence in the proximity of his fortified house brought a sense of reassurance and all these tenants were required to defend the settlement in times of unrest. In 1641, when a major rebellion occurred in Ulster, the town was engulfed in flames and Brownlow's castle destroyed. The Civil War not only affected England but brought waves of young men in Cromwell's army over to Ireland and gave them new insight into the possibilities of life in this part of the realm.

WILLIAM EDMONDSON

One soldier who was attracted to this area was William Edmondson, a man who had a powerful and lasting influence on Quakerism in Ireland. Born in 1627, he was a native of Westmoreland and had served in the Parliamentary army in Scotland and at the Battle of Worcester. His brother John, also in the army, had been serving in Ireland and he spoke so enthusiastically about the prospects for trade in that country that William decided to settle in Ireland and engage in the business of shopkeeping. Originally he hoped to start his business in the south of the country near his brother who was stationed in Waterford, but on hearing that John's regiment had been transferred to Antrim his plans changed. He crossed from Whitehaven to Dublin with supplies for his business, but although prospects in the city were good, he writes: "I was prevented by a secret hand, that I did not then know, which preserved me from the deceitfulness of riches, which according to all probability I should have been laden with, as with thick clay, and thereby been hindered from the Lord's service."

Thus William Edmondson decided to abandon Dublin and establish his business in the more remote province of Ulster in the town of Antrim near his brother. He found trade so brisk that he disposed of his stock in a short time. He therefore had to return home to England to replenish his supplies. On this visit he heard that the Quaker minister, James Nayler, was having a meeting in the locality. Previous contacts had aroused his sympathy and interest in this new and dynamic group of Christian men and women. His older brother, another relative and William decided to attend the gathering. All three were convinced of the message, as William Edmondson records in his Journal: "God's witness in our hearts answered to the truth of what was spoken, and the Lord's former dealings with me came fresh into my remembrance. Then I knew that it had been the Lord's hand that had been striving with me for a long time."


He did not have long to wait for an opportunity to witness to his new faith and way of life. He returned home to Antrim through the port of Carrickfergus with his new supplies. Here he was tempted to avoid paying duty on his purchases by using the influence of his brother's army contacts. However he declared his goods and was asked to swear an oath to the accuracy of his statement. He explained that he could not take such an oath, as it was contrary to Christ's command. The officials were surprised by his attitude, but he adds: "The Lord's truth and testimony were precious to me and after some time, with much difficulty, I got an order to bring my goods to the customs-house; my deportment to the officers and others was a wonder to them and caused much discourse, and various rumours to be spread of the Quakers and me in particular."

LURGAN MEETING

In the following spring (1654) he moved from Antrim to Lurgan. Here he took a house and grazing for his cattle and also opened a shop in his premises. His property has been identified as being in Church Place close to the Parish Church. This strongly-principled and original man created quite an impression in the small community of Lurgan. In his Journal he writes: "I became the talk and gazing-stock of the people; professors (i.e. professing Christians) watched me narrowly to get occasion against me and the principles of truth I professed, but the Lord strengthened me in my watch over my words and deeds, so cut off from them that sought occasion against truth and against me. In those days to use the plain and proper speech, as 'thee' and 'thou' to a single person, and keeping on the hat, were strange things to people and few could suffer them to be used on occasion; but would reflect in abusive words, and sometimes use blows or throw stones. The keeping to one price in selling goods and the first asking without abatement was a great stumbling-block to most sorts of people and made them stand at a distance from buying for some time, until they saw further into the justice of the manner thereof. All things were rough and rugged in the world and the cross of Christ was foolishness and a stumbling-block to them."

William Edmondson tells that when they arrived in Lurgan his wife and his brother and he met together for worship twice a week in his house, but after a while they were joined by four more from the district who were 'convinced of the truth'. These are identified in Thomas Wight's 'History of the People called Quakers in Ireland' as William Soulden and his wife, John Hendryn and William Lynas. Thus in 1654 the first Friends Meeting in Ireland was established in a simple but genuine way and it is described in Edmondson's Journal that they "met together to wait upon God and to worship Him in spirit and truth. The Lord's mercy and goodness were often extended to us to our comfort and confirmation in the appearance of His blessed truth received in our hearts."

MEETING WITH GEORGE FOX

After some time William Edmondson had a great desire to meet other English Quakers, especially the founder of the movement, George Fox. He tells how he went to Badgley in Leicestershire where there was a great meeting of Friends from various places. "When the meeting ended I went to George Fox and he took notice of me; we went into the orchard and kneeling down he prayed; the Lord's heavenly power and presence were there; he was tender over me. I told him where I lived, of several being convinced in Ireland, of the openness among people in the North of that nation to hear the truth declared and the want of ministering Friends in the Gospel there: he wrote the following epistle to Friends which he sent with me, viz.

Friends,
In that which convinced you, wait, that you may have that removed you are convinced of; and all, my dear Friends, dwell in the life, and love, and power and wisdom of God, in unity one with another and with God; and the peace and wisdom of God fill all your hearts, that nothing may rule in you but the life, which stands in the Lord God."

One can imagine how encouraged the small Lurgan group was when William returned and read the letter to them. They were now recognised as part of a movement which was bringing a new understanding of Christian truth to men and women in all parts of the world. The early Quaker movement was characterised by great evangelistic zeal. In England, George Fox was joined by a band of travelling preachers who brought this message of a free gospel and direct ministry from Christ Himself to the individual. It was not long before some Friends found their way to Ireland also. John Tiffin spent five or six weeks in 1654, encouraging the meeting at Lurgan and preaching with William Edmondson at fairs and other open-air gatherings. The following year Richard Clayton came and with William Edmondson travelled on foot on a wide-ranging circuit to Coleraine, Londonderry, Strabane, Omagh, Dungannon and finally Kilmore, Co. Armagh, where a permanent meeting was established -Ballyhagan - which later became Richhill. A letter exists, dating from the summer of 1656, written in Lurgan by William Edmondson and addressed to Margaret Fell of Swarthmore Hall in Cumberland, which was the nerve centre of Quaker activity at the time. In it he writes:

"Pray for me that I may be kept single to the Lord, and that all may be overthrown and dashed to pieces that would exalt itself - that I may pass on my journey with boldness, not fainting in the way. I desire my dear love to Richard Waller, James Lancaster, Richard Clayton and to thy precious family with thee, desiring if the Lord will, that I may have an opportunity of seeing your faces."

OPPOSITION

This forthright ministry which implied criticism of the Establishment brought upon these 'Publishers of Truth' much opposition. Through his denial of the special position of the clergy and his refusal to pay tithes William Edmondson incurred the wrath of the Church. Opposition from the Law was caused by his refusal to take an oath or recognise the legal authority by removing his hat in the presence of a magistrate. In 1655 he was committed to Armagh gaol for 'the Testimony of Truth' as he quaintly puts it. In Armagh he had many opportunities to put forward the Quaker message and to contend with Scottish Presbyterians who were influential in that area in the years of the Commonwealth. He successfully appealed against imprisonment and was set at liberty in a short time. The common people were, however, often warned by religious and civil authorities against the Quakers because of their allegedly subversive ways, and Friends encountered much suspicion and, at times, persecution. When William Edmondson was on one preaching tour he found on his return that his shop had been broken into, but as the window had fallen on the counter and caused much noise the thieves had run away without taking anything.

The opportunity of speaking to the assembled congregation in a church building was a practice which was often availed of by George Fox and was used by William Edmondson also. However, we read that on one occasion in Lurgan Church a fracas ensued after William had spoken at the end of a service. He was beaten by a Colonel Stewart, but evidently this incident had a powerful effect on the worshippers, for the Quaker historian Rutty tells us that 'his testimony reached the hearts of some, particularly Mark Wright and Mark Sawyer who followed him out of the worship-house and joined with Friends'. One year later when Edmondson and other Friends from England were preaching on the Green in Lurgan they were attacked and beaten. They were forced to flee to the outskirts of the town, but "the more sober sort of people rose up against" the attackers and came to the aid of the Quakers.

ORIGINAL MEMBERS

Who were these people who formed the core of the original Quaker community in Lurgan? They were almost exclusively English and Scottish settlers who were arriving in a new environment. During the 17th century the Brownlows, as landlords, were seeking enterprising men to develop the estate and bring new skills and trades to the district. These were people who did not have roots in Ireland; they had no strong family or church attachments to a local parish tradition. They had shown a hardy independence in opting for a new life in an often hostile environment. Some of the settlers may have been adherents of the Quaker faith before they reached Ulster, but many must have joined the group which was established in 1654 after they came to take up their tenancies in the Lurgan area.

During the years of upheaval caused by the Civil War and Commonwealth established values in Church and State were being questioned. These new radical principles of individual responsibility towards God and man were undoubtedly attractive to the new settlers from England. George Fox's powerful message that 'there is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition' and that this 'Christ has come to teach His people, Himself was well received by many who were disillusioned with the form of religion offered by the existing churches and were seeking a faith characterised by reality and integrity. They were attracted by a religion which was not to be practiced on Sundays only, but was to be brought into every aspect of daily life. Truth was to be spoken on every occasion and not merely when one was bound by an oath. Social divisions were considered of little importance and no special outward honour was offered to those holding man-given authority by way of titles or by the doffing of the hat. Barriers between races and an inferior position allotted to women were abolished because all were considered equal before God. The scourge of war was to be taken away between individuals and nations, for all were enjoined to live in Virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all war.'

In view of the Quaker Peace Testimony against all war it is surprising how many of those who became leading Friends in Ireland originated from army families.

They may have been disillusioned by the harsh measures used during the Cromwellian campaigns in Ireland and perceived the need to establish the Kingdom of God in terms of justice and love. At any rate many settled in Ireland on leaving the army and it was clear that William Edmondson had a special gift in communicating his message to such individuals. Irish Quaker families which are descended from such origins are the Richardsons, Bradshaws, Clibborns and Fennells.

DEPARTURE OF THE EDMONDSONS

After just two years the Quaker meeting in Lurgan suffered a severe shock when William Edmondson announced his intention to move to a more remote area, namely Belturbet, Co. Cavan. He was restless by nature, a pioneer who always longed for the challenge of a new situation. Perhaps life in Lurgan was too comfortable, relatively speaking, for he writes: 'Now about this time (1656) it came weightily upon me to leave shopkeeping and take a farm to be an example in the testimony against tithes; for as yet that was not broken through, few, if any, stood in that testimony in the nation'. Not only did he and his family go, but he took with him a number of other Lurgan Friends, his brother John, John Thompson, Richard Fayle, William Moon and the brothers Richard and Anthony Jackson. These all settled with their families on land in Co. Cavan. It is a tribute to the remaining members that they continued to keep their meeting intact and to add to their numbers steadily in the following years.