The Friend (Quaker magazine)

Infobox Magazine
title = The Friend


image_caption = "The Friend from 1901"
frequency = Weekly
category = Quaker magazine
firstdate = 1842
finaldate =
company = The Friend Publications Ltd (a registered charity)
country = UK
editor = Judy Kirby
circulation =
ISSN = 0016-1268

"The Friend" is a weekly Quaker magazine published in London, England. It is the only Quaker weekly in the world, and has been published continuously since 1843. It began as a monthly, but after a few years it became a weekly. It is one of the oldest continuously published publications in the world still in operation. Others (e.g. "Punch") which began publication before "The Friend" have had lengthy interruptions in publication and/or have closed down.

"The Friend" is completely independent from Britain Yearly Meeting, although for the past few years it has occupied space in Friends House. It is owned by The Friend Publications Ltd., a trust which also publishes "Friends Quarterly". The Trustees of "The Friend" are appointed from members of Britain Yearly Meeting.

The Trustees appoint the Editor who, along with the other members of staff, is entirely responsible for the day to day management of the magazine, and its content.

As an independent publication, "The Friend" is free to report critically on trends within Quakerism in Britain and around the world, and on the governance of Britain Yearly Meeting. It also reports on the activities of Friends and Friends' groups and it is a forum for theological debate. There is a great deal of opinion in the magazine, and the letters page provides a forum for readers to express their views.

One of the ways "The Friend" exercises its responsibility to give readers an independent viewpoint is by covering Meeting for Sufferings, the standing governing body of Britain Yearly Meeting, which meets eight to nine times a year. Meeting for Sufferings often deals with controversial issues, on which "The Friend" reports and comments.

In recent years, "The Friend" has begun offering all its content online.

"The Friend" is printed by Headley Brothers, of Ashford, Kent, and appears every Friday. Its ISSN is 0016-1268.

In its entire history, "The Friend" has failed to appear twice, due to paper rationing during the second world war.

Recent editors of "The Friend"

Judy Kirby 2004-present

Harry Albright 1997-2004

Deborah Padfield 1993-1997

Sally Juniper 1991-1993

David Firth 1977-1991

External links

* [http://www.thefriend.org/ "The Friend" online]