Visit to Maison Quaker
When my Quaker Friend in Devon suggested an Art Retreat in Maison Quaker in the South of France, I had no hesitation as I was looking for new opportunities due to my upcoming retirement. When it comes to art, I am a complete novice, but the prospect of visiting Maison Quaker was a strong motivation and I found its history fascinating.
During the 17th century in France, Protestants were in the minority and for Louis XIV to become king, he had to convert to Catholicism. He became under the influence of some unscrupulous priests who convinced him that if he removed all Protestants from France, God would forgive him, and he would get into heaven. So, in October 1685 he declared Protestantism illegal with the Edict of Fontainebleau and this resulted in intense persecution of Protestants.
Protestants made up most of the population in the region of the Vaunage, the sunny and fertile valley between Nimes and Montpellier. There was one community within this area known locally as "les Couflaïres" (the inspired ones) who lived in Congénies and the villages nearby.
By 1710 Protestants began to fight back against this persecution. The Couflaïres in Congénies were a pacifist community and they refused to fight.
Meanwhile during the 18th Century, the British government encouraged British ships to seize French ships, as France was supporting the colonists in America. A British Quaker, Joseph Fox (no relation to George Fox) mistakenly obtained permission to gainfully engage in attacking and raiding French ships on the Atlantic. Fox was appalled and offered to compensate all ships and cargo which had been seized. He posted a notice to this effect in the Gazette de France. When the Gazette was published, added to his wording was an introductory paragraph detailing the faith and practice of the Quakers and categorically stating that Quakers did not indulge in piracy.
This was read in Congénies, and five of the "couflaïres" wrote to Joseph Fox explaining that they were impressed by Quaker ideas, which they fully shared, and requested to meet him. They visited Quakers in London and in 1788 founded the first Quaker Meeting in France.
The Meeting House was built in 1822 with the help of funds from American and English Quakers. The Meeting, which through the 19th century numbered some 200 large families, died out following the emigration of the pacifist young men to avoid compulsory military service.
The last Meeting for Worship was held in 1905 and the Meeting house was sold in 1907. It served a wide variety of purposes during the early 20th century before it was renamed Villa Quaker and converted into a private residence by Quakers who retired from the British Consulate in Marseille. It was bought by France Yearly Meeting in 2003. The Maison Quaker reopened in 2004 for Meetings for Worship, retreats, workshops, and discussion groups.
I returned from my time there spiritually refreshed and nourished, but I can’t say my artistic abilities have much improved!
Sue Saunders