In the wake of the civil wars, the counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire were physically battered and spiritually fractured in the early 1650s. In 1654, a new religious movement swept through the area. Driven by intense conviction, early Quaker preachers believed it was their duty to save souls at any cost and frequently clashed with local authorities and confronted Puritan ministers like Kidderminster's Richard Baxter. This talk explores how deep religious zeal, fear, and a desperate search for moral certainty shaped the early Friends in these two counties. Examining local archival records, fiery pamphlets, and the radical actions of figures like Herefordshire-born Humphrey Smith, Dr. Canela challenges the quietist image of later Quakerism. Instead, she reveals a volatile local story of believers whose apocalyptic fervour pushed them to defy magistrates, face harsh imprisonment, and cross the line between steadfast faith and public disruption.

Dr Erica Canela is an early modern social historian with a focus on trauma, fear, and radical ideas. Erica holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, where she serves as an Honorary Research Fellow. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. A frequently requested podcast guest, Erica enjoys making challenging seventeenth-century history accessible for all. She has appeared on Dan Snow's History Hit, American History Hit, Not Just the Tudors, After Dark, On the Record at The National Archives, History with Jackson, History Rage, and many more podcasts.