April 27, 2025, 11:30 AM - April 26, 2026, 12 PM US/Pacific
San Jose Quakers Open their Doors for Yearlong Celebration
140th anniversary of oldest Quaker meeting house in the West begins April 27, 2025. They will be welcoming the public to 13 monthly events.
What: Open house, potluck meal, and special events every month on 4th Sundays (details below) to celebrate the 140th anniversary of our historic Friends (Quaker) meeting house, the oldest west of Iowa. Free activities for nine months, followed by three fundraising performances, then a grand finale celebration on April 26, 2026.
When: April 27, 2025, then 4th Sunday every month, concludes April 26, 2026.
Where: San Jose Friends’ historic 1885 Quaker meetinghouse, at 1041 Morse St, San Jose, CA 95126 and adjoining property
Why: To build community, raise awareness and funds to make our historic building wheelchair accessible, and better serve the groups that use our facilities — and share our “secret society hiding in plain sight”*
Who: The public is invited. We welcome people of all faiths or none. Organized by the Religious Society of Friends in San Jose — informally known as “Quakers”
Details: See sanjosefriends.org for info about San Jose Quakers. Proceeds from select events fund wheelchair accessibility renovations for our 1885 meeting house.
Contact: [email protected]
Core Values: Community, simplicity, peace, integrity, equality, and sustainability; these Quaker “testimonies,” inform our celebration-year activities
Wheelchair Accessibility Plans: www.sanjosefriends.org/wheelchair-accessibility/
History: Quakers worshiping in San Jose since 1861, in our building since 1885
Schedule: Monthly open house with potluck meal at 11:30 and special events, optional traditional “silent” Quaker worship at 10 am. Events follow the potluck meal. Visitors may attend one or all activities any 4th Sunday. Many will include an opportunity to write get-out-the-vote postcards for the nonpartisan Center for Common Ground.
Special event schedule is subject to change:
April 27: 140th anniversary celebration with cake!
May 25: Upcycling, embroidery, bicycle maintenance
June 22: Time Capsule burial ceremony
July 27: Friendship Festival noon-3:30; no potluck but live music, fun activities, food and baked goods for sale
August 24: Storytelling
September 28: Seed swap
October 26: Spotlight on community groups
November 23: Crafting gifts, cards, decorations
December 28: Unwanted gift swap
In 2026
January 25: Song Circle with Karenna Slade, full performance series info to come (donations requested)
February 22: Scott T. Miller performs, full series to be announced (donations requested)
March 22: “Friends of Friends” performance series to be announced (donations requested)
April 26: Grand Finale of our celebration year, details to be announced
140th Celebration Apple Calendar
140th Celebration Google Calendar
*Recent visitor Kelsey Miller described Quakers as “a secret society hiding in plain sight” after learning of the Society of Friends on Reddit and attending San Jose Friends Meeting.