360-year-old writing by woman jailed in Lancaster 'goes viral'
A 360-year-old pamphlet by a Lancaster woman has 'gone viral'.
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.
She used the time to work through the entire Bible, showing how there are examples of female leadership throughout it.
A photo of the original document was posted on Facebook in the lead-up to International Women's Day earlier this month, accompanied by a summary of her argument, reaching 10,000 people within 36 hours, far outstripping the original circulation.
Updated in a modern English edition, it will now be gifted to all clergy training colleges in Britain.
Although there were examples of other female preachers both in the 17th century and before, Margaret Fell’s tract was the first full-length treatment of the subject in English.
Despite her vocation, Fell was never formally ordained as a minister, as this is not a practice Quakers have.
Fellow nonconformist Constance Coltman became the first woman to be ordained into a British mainstream Christian denomination in 1917 as a Congregationalist minister.
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.
Welcoming the publication, University of Edinburgh Professor of Divinity Rachel Muers said: “Fell is an ‘elder sister’ whom today’s female Christian leaders need, as they pursue their vocations in the face of resurgent global patriarchy. Paul Anderson’s new translation brings her insights to a contemporary audience.”
Quakers continue to gather for worship every Sunday Morning at 10.30am on Meeting House Lane next to Lancaster Railway Station.