General Chat

It's been bugging me for ages. There are a whole bunch of people who live in my area of Bristol, where the girls all wear triangular hankerchiefs (more like similar to) on their heads. Are they Jehovah's Witnesses? I feel really ignorant for asking this question, but I just want to know what religion/organisation they belong to. Chloe

I think they might be quakers! Pam

Thank you!! There is actually a lot of Quaker places around where I am! Makes sense now! I don't feel so ignorant anymore!! LOL, Chloe

Chloe, I think you'll find they're Plymouth Brethren, a fundamentalist Protestant sect. Maggie

I think they sound like brethren too. But some are not so strict as Plymouth Brethren. I have a friend who is brethren who does have a TV (but picks carefully what he watches) - sounds good to me. Surely if a group of female brethen are together, they are sethren or something? Nigel

There's an offshoot called the Exclusive Brethren, otherwise known as the Open Brethren who, as the name suggests are less fundamentalist. Maggie

Thanks for that. Yeah, the girls do all have mega long hair.... are they even allowed to have it trimmed to get rid of split ends? Chloe

they are the plymouth brethren mums got some next door to her its a strange religion they arent allowed to mix witjh people ,listen to the radio or watch tv susie

Hi Chloe, Which area of Bristol have you seen them in ? George Muller (Muller Road in Horfield is named after him) was a leading figure in the Brethren and he founded an orhpanage in what is now Brunel College in Ashley Down. I used to live on Ashley Down Road, but never saw women dressed like that. Rick.

I live in Fishponds. Muller Road ends up at the bottom of Fishponds road before you go on the motorway, right inbetween Fishponds and Easton. I live close to the high street.

Chloe, I'm in Bishopston now. I think there are a couple of others from Bristol on here too. I must keep my eyes peeled for the women in headscarves ! Rick.

The brethren ladies always have to cover their hair in public, and keep it long. A girl at uni, who wasn't very strict (never wore headscarves etc) still kep her hair long enough so that it crossed over at the mouth. A mate of mine had heard that brethren women were taught to be submissive and good home makers, so he thinks he wants to look for a brethren wife! I think he should look elsewhere, because it will mean his poor wife has to come out from the brethren and perhaps be cut off from her family. Besides, I also pointed out that if she discovered the big bad world outside, she might not be so submissive! (no offence intended to anyone)