The Quaker church that James Dean attended with his aunt and uncle sits just down the road from the Winslow farm Jimmy called home. The Back Creek Friends Church or Meetinghouse was built in 1899. It has been preserved but they have added onto the church. Their website says that addition houses a pastor’s study, classrooms, fellowship hall and restrooms. Their church history also says that the first meetings were held in the log cabin home of Joseph Winslow – I assume a relative of James Dean’s family.
Can we pause a moment to appreciate that James Dean was raised a Quaker?
I have long been interested in the Quaker faith and their beliefs that we all have a unique value and that there is something of God in us all. Quakers seek religious truth from within.
It makes me wonder how faith informed Jimmy’s development. Incidentally, he attended Fairmount High School where the mascot was a Quaker.
To this day, this church holds a memorial service for their most famous friend every September. Want to visit? I’m sure they welcome guests. Learn more about them here.
I know some people who were Quakers. Each church is different but they told me there is no pastor and no sermons. That it’s an hour of complete silence
I have an aunt who attended Quaker meetings for years and she said the same. The idea is that this is your time to communicate with God. If you feel moved to say something, you do so. When you’re done, the silence resumes. After service, they always gathered for a meal in their fellowship hall.
This makes more sense to me than listening to a preacher talk about his beliefs for an hour. But don’t tell all the preachers in my family I said that! Haha.
Silence is golden, right?
I enjoyed reading your post!
There are definitely different types of Quaker services these days. Some are more like other Protestants, with a pastor leading the congregation. I like the idea of the traditional service you mention. My ancestors were more familiar with that.
Time marches on an changes come but I would much appreciate the traditional service.
My mom’s family is Quaker and I grew up in a more traditional silent worship environment. I don’t really practice but have been to several services in churches like this over the years that vary wildly from traditional services like I grew up in and more evangelical ones. It’s interesting.
My stepdad’s mom is from the Fairmount/Jonesboro area and went to grade school with James Dean. The building is still standing. It’s a motorcycle body shop now, of all things!
I have always liked the idea of the Quaker faith and it seems I have some ancestors who were Quaker.
This church has some services listed online- I skimmed through and there was talking but I’m not sure if it was all talking.