South East London Area meeting

From January 2027, all existing London Area Meetings will merge into a single charity and Area Meeting: Quakers in London

We are South-East London Area Quaker Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, commonly abbreviated to SELAM. Area Meetings are part of Britain Yearly Meeting, the national organisation of Quakers 

Quakers are a faith group committed to working for equality and peace. We invite you to read more about our faith, values and history.

SELAM comprises three local Quaker Meetings:

This page covers just the information that is common across these local meetings, plus specific positions and meetings that are held at area level.

South East London Area Meeting Charity

SELAM is a charity but is not registered. Registration is on hold, pending the Joint London Area Meeting. exploration of whether it is viable to create a Pan-London Area Meeting. Meanwhile we act in accordance with requirements to prepare for registration.

SELAM appoints between 5-15 Trustees.  Area Meeting Trustees are responsible for the rest of the work of Trustees as laid out by the Charity Commission. We meet prior to Area Meetings six times a year and the Meetings are generally experienced as productive and positive. We aim to complete meetings in 90 minutes. The work of Trustees supports and upholds Area Meeting and can efficiently deal with matters which do not require wider discernment. Ideally we strike a balance between Trustees and AM Clerk with input from Elders and Overseers to manage administration and decision making appropriately and simply.

It is Trustees' responsibility to produce the Annual Report and Accounts and we have established a calendar to do this in the necessary time frame. Whilst AM still receives and accepts the Accounts it is Trustees' work to check them and submit them to AM as theirs. This greatly simplifies the work of AM. The Report has to show how we function as a charitable organisation. We now have a format which makes the writing of the report simpler but its production is still time consuming. Many Friends have found the Reports interesting, informative and a good representation of the work and life of SELAM so we consider the time spent worthwhile. 

In London, the work of Trustees is split. Meeting Houses and property are managed by London Quaker Property Trust (LQPT).

Trustees

  • Beth Allen
  • Beth Follini
  • Michael Gamlen
  • Frances High
  • Trottie Kirwan
  • Cherry Simpkin
  • Mary Stiasny.

Other roles

The officers of SELAM are:

  • Clerk: Trottie Kirwan
  • Treasurer: Cherry Simpkin
  • Registering Officer: Linda Craig.

 
Contact

Please contact the Clerk of the meeting initially: clerk@selamquakers.org

Upcoming SELAM Area Meetings

date

location

March 15th

In person at 1400 following lunch at Bromley meeting house

May 17th

Zoom Meeting in the evening

July 19th

In person meeting at 2PM following lunch at Forest Hill

Sep 20th

Zoom meeting in the evening

Nov 22nd

In person meeting at 2PM following lunch at Blackheath meeting house

Meetings often alternate between evenings (online) and afternoons (in person, possibly blended), but it is best to check back here nearer the time. For zoom details please contact the clerk.

SELAM documents and policies

Governing document

Safeguarding

Data protection policies

Annual Reports