360-year-old writing by Lancashire Woman 'goes viral'
A 360-year-old pamphlet by a Lancashire woman has 'gone viral' ahead of International Women's Day.
Born in historic Lancashire, Margaret Fell was a leading figure in the early Quaker movement. Her best known work 'Women's Speaking Justified' - written whilst incarcerated for her beliefs at Lancaster Castle - is considered the first full-length defence of women's public ministry in the English language.
In preparation for International Women's Day (8 March) a photo of the original document was posted on Facebook last week, accompanied by a summary of her argument, reaching 10,000 people within 36 hours, far outstripping the original circulation.
Women's religious leadership has been in focus recently, since the appointment of the first ever female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, and the release of a new film exploring the life of Shaker leader Ann Lee.
A new version of Fell's pamphlet is also about to be republished in modern English followed by a scholarly collection of her works by the end of the year.
There are also plans afoot for a gathering in Grasmere at the Glenthorne guesthouse in September for people who are interested in finding out more.
Quakers meet across Lancashire, including in Bailrigg, Garstang, Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton, Chorley, Clitheroe, Crawshawbooth and Marsden.