By Sarah Newstead

Last updated at 16:24, Friday, 29 January 2010

A Quaker meeting house in Wigton could soon be sold off, ending more than 350 years of Quaker history in the town.

The Quaker Meeting House

Dwindling numbers at the Quaker Meeting House on West Street saw the Wigton meeting officially end in October last year.

Around five people still worship informally at the meeting house on Sundays, but the cost of maintaining the large building has grown too much for the small group. Ian Watson, trustee of the North Cumbria Area Quaker Meeting, told The Cumberland News the 180-year-old building is likely to be put up for sale.

“One or two people were shouldering all of the work. They said: “We are not here to worship the building, we are here to worship God’.

“The building is beautiful and there is a long, long history of Quakers in the area – of course it is sad.

“It is an excellent building in many ways, it is just too big for a small group.”

According to Mr Watson, Quakers moving into the Wigton area often prefer to join larger meetings in Carlisle or Cockermouth.

Quakers were first recorded in Wigton in July 1653 when founder of the movement, George Fox, preached at the Market Cross.

Later that year, William Pearson of Tiffinthwaite Farm gave land for a meeting house and burial ground.

As the numbers of members grew, two cottages were converted in West Street in 1706 and meetings were held there until 1830 when the current meeting house was built on the site.

During the Second World War it was used as a school and a rest room for soldiers. It was also home to Wigton Library from 1949 to 1976.

The building is now home to five community groups including a Tai Chi group and two yoga classes.

Mr Watson said: “We don’t really want to say “stop using it”. But they are aware of the fact that they may have to find a home in the future.”

It is not yet clear when the building will be put up for sale.

“We have yet to sort out the details,” added Mr Watson. “We are bound by the Charity Commission laws about selling buildings.”

Quakers also built the Friend’s School in Wigton in 1815 at Highmoor and later at Brookfield. It was closed in 1984 after pupil numbers fell.

First published at 14:11, Friday, 29 January 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk