Teaching
Exploring Quaker Spirituality
Understanding 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
Margaret Fell: The Mother of Quakerism
Friday 18 September - Sunday 20 September 2026
Glenthorne Guest House, Grasmere
This course will explore the life, writings and legacy of Margaret Fell, the ‘Mother of Quakerism’.
We will consider the contribution she made to the formation of the early Quaker movement as an organiser, counsellor, lobbyist and writer, and look at a selection of her works, including epistles, disputations, political addresses, and theological tracts. This material will help you gain a deeper understanding of early Friends, and Fell’s vital role in ensuring the movement’s survival.
https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/margaret-fell-the-mother-of-quakerism/
Stuart Masters is a teacher and facilitator specialising in the Quaker way, its history, theology and spirituality, and its relationship to other Christian 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
Recent Evaluation Feedback
"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)
Book Club – Tangled Roots: Navigating the Complex Legacy of Early Quakers
Thursday 1 October 2026 - Thursday 25 February 2027
The 2026 Swarthmore Lecture book explores the faith and practice of the first Friends and how their complex legacy presents Quakers today with a range of challenging choices and dilemmas.
In this online book club, we will read the book together and share our responses and insights.
Over a four-month period, we will engage with the key themes in each of the book’s four chapters
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.
Learning materials and a discussion forum will be made available online, and there will be four live sessions on Zoom, providing opportunities for discussion and sharing.
For more information and to book a place visit the Woodbrooke website.
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.