Teaching
Exploring Quaker Spirituality
Oceans of Darkness and Light: Finding Hope in Difficult Times
Understanding Global Quaker Diversity
Tangled Roots: Navigating the Complex Legacy of Early Quakers
The Quaker Spiritual Path: From Discomfort to New Life
The Roots of the Quaker way: Medieval Piety to Radical Puritanism
Margaret Fell: The Mother of Quakerism
Reading the Bible with Early Friends
Quaker Roots in Advices and Queries
Silence and Witness: The Roots of Quaker Spirituality and Testimony
George Fox on Spirituality, Community, Witness, and Hope
The Light in their Consciences: The Early Quakers in Britain, 1646-1666
The Meaning of the Cross: Restoration or Retribution?
Responding to Ecological Crisis: Quaker Spiritual Insights
The Rule of Christ: Themes in the Theology of James Nayler
The Digger and the Quaker: Gerrard Winstanley and James Nayler
Handmaidens of the Lord: Early Quaker Women and their Writings
Courses and Events
Stuart Masters is a teacher and facilitator specialising in the Quaker way, its history, theology and spirituality, and its relationship to other traditions.
He is an Associate Tutor for Woodbrooke, the international Quaker learning and research organization based in the United Kingdom.
Have a look at the Woodbrooke Website.
Stuart offers a wide range of learning opportunities including: online courses and live sessions, on-site short courses, and local day events. If you have a query about Woodbrooke courses, please email the Woodbrooke Learning team.
Courses and Events Offered
Other Upcoming Events
"Very well presented by Stuart, materials well prepared, both challenging and reassuring. Good balance of whole group and small group/active participation. Learnt things about early Quakers and about myself. It was a good morning."
Participant on Oceans of Darkness and Light: Finding Hope in Difficult Times, Central England Area Meeting (October 2026)
"Stuart Masters was so welcoming and encouraging, taking time to create a true community of learners, and speaking to us individually before and after sessions and during meals. Much appreciated. It has deepened my personal as well as my Quaker faith. Thank you."
Participant from Margaret Fell: The Mother of Quakerism, Glenthorne Quaker Centre (September 2026)
"Stuart Masters was an outstanding presenter and communicator well in command of his material."
Participant from Tangled Roots: Engaging with the 2026 Swarthmore Lecture, Edinburgh (July 2026)
"Even having been with Quakers for over 25 years, this has been inspiring and educational . Stuart is a very clear and knowledgeable facilitator."
Participant from The Shape of Quaker Spirituality, workshop for Central England Area Meeting (March 2026)
"The day was interesting and inspiring; Stuart is a clear and enthusiastic communicator who left me wanting to learn more.
Participant from Quaker Spirituality in a Day, Woodbrooke-Where-You-Are event with Chesterfield Quaker Meeting (November 2025)
"Stuart is such a good communicator and so empathetic and tender in his approach. I really enjoyed listening to his prerecorded material/slides and I think this was balanced nicely with the two live open discussion Zoom sessions."
Participant from the online course, The Quaker Spiritual Path: From Discomfort to new Life (September-October 2025)
"Stuart is a wonderful tutor. This course has enabled me to more fully understand the roots and beliefs of early Quakerism and Margaret Fell. I now feel more confident locating the path of Quakerism in the present and future. Stuart was also excellent in bringing out the views of fellow participants."
Participant from Margaret Fell: The Mother of Quakerism, at Glenthorne Quaker Centre (April, 2025)
"This was pitched at the right level and has provided me the scaffolding needed to nudge myself forward. As a black person, it was warming to have someone address the Quakers reckoning with slavery/racism and the wider world with a steadiness and confidence that isn't always easy for some. The subject of today's meeting rightly meant it wasn't the focus, but it engendered a sense of safety."
Participant from Quaker Spirituality in a Day, Woodbrooke-Where-You-Are event with Warwick Quaker Meeting (May, 2025)
"I find Stuart's teaching very clear and this opportunity was very helpful for me at this time. I found the contributions from attendees enhanced the content and Stuart's responses to these demonstrated his knowledge, wisdom and own experiences (about some of which his honesty was appreciated!)"
Participant from the single live session, Exploring the Quaker Spiritual Path (June 2025)
Woodbrooke Where You Are Events
Tangled Roots: Engaging with the 2026 Swarthmore Lecture
In the 2026 Swarthmore Lecture, Stuart Masters focused on the faith and practice of the first Friends and explored how their complex legacy presents Quakers today with a range of challenging choices and dilemmas. During this day, we will explore the main lecture themes in more detail.
Together, we will consider how to balance:
1. the inward guidance received in the present with the beliefs and practices inherited from the past.
2. the need for a cohesive community and a clear identity with the need for a culture that values and encourages each individual member.
3. a quiet, inward, and contemplative spiritual practice with a powerfully active and embodied life within the world.
4. the desire to play a constructive role within wider society with the need to resist its violent, unjust, and destructive ways.
By grappling with these issues, we can develop a deeper appreciation of the roots of global Quaker diversity and become better able to navigate important choices and dilemmas as we encounter them in our communities today.
For more information and to book an event visit the Woodbrooke website.
Recent Evaluation Feedback
Saturday 7th November - Quaker Spirituality in a Day (Leicester Quaker Meeting)
Wednesday 18th November - The Quaker Way: Christian and Universalist (Quaker Universalist Group)
Saturday 28th November - Tangled Roots: Engaging with the 2026 Swarthmore Lecture (Sussex/Surrey Regional Meeting)