Building maintenance

Maintenance of our Grade 2* listed building is an ongoing concern. It is a heritage asset with a unique history as well as being a wonderful venue for creative, spiritual and recreational activities as well as holiday breaks. This year, we are spending significant funds on repairing the outside rendee of the building and applying the required limewash finish. We also need some repairs to make the rooves of the main building and the barn waterproof after strong winds and rain. 

We are grateful for grant received from the Benefact Trust towards our recent building maintenance work. The Benefact Trust is a Christian charity which aims to help churches and Christian organisations to continue their work and benefit their community.

Resident Friend

Michael Loader and Gail Mason served as resident part-time wardens for fourteen years from 2000 and we were very grateful for their service. Fortunately, we didn't have to say 'goodbye' to them as they moved next door to Green Farm Cottage, which they bought and refurbished. Following a recruitment process and interviews, the Trustees and Management Committee appointed Lizi Phippen in July 2014 to be the Resident Friend at Claverham. Lizi is a part-time teacher in a primary school in Portishead and has her roots and connections in the local community. Lizi has a degree in Design & Photography and she brings a range of practical skills to the position at Claverham. 

North Somerset Arts Week

Claverham Meeting House hosts two of the venues for North Somerset Arts Week, held every two years. The exhibitions in the Barn are organised by Claverham artist Gail Mason with two fellow artists and an exhibition in the Meeting Room is organised by Margaret Micklewright. In 2023, North the total number visiting was over 800. This year (2025) North Somerset Arts Week will be held from Saturday 3rd May to Sunday 11th May and we again look forward to welcoming a large number of visitors. 

Quaker Area Meeting meets at Claverham

History was made as the newly established North Somerset Area Meeting met for the first time in 2011. The chosen venue was our historic meeting house at Claverham. There was a short time of deep shared worship, followed by some necessary routine business. Formal minutes were passed, appointments made and a Governing Document adopted. There followed some free sharing of ideas and hopes for our new Area Meeting. Since then, the quarterly held Area Meeting has met at Claverham once a year and meets at Clevedon, Sidcot and Weston-super-Mare Quaker Meeting Houses for the other three meetings.  

The next meeting of Area Meeting at Claverham will take place on Saturday 8th November 2025.

Metfords of Claverham Meeting

Joseph Metford 1776-1863We are grateful to Peter Robson from Scarborough for getting in touch through our website and for sending archive material of his ancestors, Joseph and Elizabeth Metford, who attended Claverham Meeting in the mid-nineteenth century. Joseph had been a business man in Glastonbury and Bath who retired to live at Bickley (Cleeve side of Rhodyate Hill) in 1846 and then to Cypress Lodge (now the Old Malt House) in Kent Road, Congresbury. Elizabeth died in 1855 and Joseph became increasingly blind. His son Samuel returned from the United States to care for him and accompanied him on Sundays to Claverham Meeting. 

Elizabeth (Rawes) Metford 1779-1855Joseph held radical political views which embarrassed some more conservative Quakers at the time. He had been a recognised Quaker 'minister', but this recognition was formally withdrawn at a Monthly Meeting held at Sidcot, even though the the younger members presented him with a gift of specially bound Bible in recognition of his service. Claverham Friends seemed to be tolerant of  his egalitarian and anti-imperialist views, which included opposition to the occupation of India and advocating electoral reform.

Sameul Metford 1810-1896Joseph died in 1863 and both he and Elizabeth have grave stones in the burial ground at Claverham. Samuel died in 1896 in Weston-super-Mare.

In 2017, Georgina and Polly Thompson, descendants of Joseph Metford, presented to Claverham Meeting House the specially bound Bible, with a cover beautifully embroidered by members of the Metford family.