Name: Christine Downes-Grainger

Neither of these last names is the patriarchal name I was registered with at birth. My husband was born as Downes and then adopted by his aunt who had married a Mr Grainger. In some ways I helped him understand his identity. He asked, as he developed contact with his birth parents, if we could change our family’s name to D-G. He felt he was a hybrid of two families.

Role: NE Thames representative to the London Development Group (and NET AM clerk)

Now a member of the QiL Arrangements Committee

Local Meeting: Epping, which I first went to in 2010. I joined the Society at Middlesbrough Meeting (NE England) in the mid 70s. There were six years in the 2000s when I took no interest in Quaker matters as my husband had worked his way out of unwitting dependence on tranquillisers, antidepressants, sleeping pills and painkillers, plus numerous other prescriptions to offset the side effects of the first drugs.

Aside from Quakers, how do you like to spend your time? I was accepted as a member early on, in spite of having very little time and energy to contribute to the meeting, and no money to support it. I applied partly because the identity of being a Quaker seemed very important to me, and because I felt the need for a supportive network. I knew that were I to be left on my own, I could go to a Quaker meeting in any town and be welcomed. This situation happened in 2009. I am glad of the many opportunities for learning and service that my local and area meeting has offered me. I enjoy a weekly U3a singing group and walks in nature.

What aspects of your service are you most looking forward to? Other people finding they can support our structures in large and small helpful ways. I firmly believe we can achieve more harmonious outcomes if we work together. This takes time as we understand where we have made assumptions and are excluding certain people or favouring certain viewpoints. I want to enable the spirit of Quaker meetings to thrive among or alongside the regulations of the 21st Century.

What’s your favourite quote from QF&P?

Seek to know one another in the things which are eternal.

In the 1970s version of A & Q (blue cover) this was the opening sentence of the second paragraph. It disappeared from the green trial of Questions and Counsel and I did not see it in the red version that was issued. I wrote to my LM clerk in dismay. He pointed out it had been retained but had been merged into Number 18. As a young mother when I first attended, the statement told me that I had found an organisation that accepted all the ages and stages of life and what we did not know about anything beyond it. That was anchoring.

To get to know our community better, we are publishing a series of posts introducing Quakers in London including (but by no means limited to) staff members and role holders! If there is someone you would like to learn more about, or you would be interested in introducing yourself, please email us at quill@quakersinlondon.org.