The Shakers were one of a few religious groups formed in 18th century in the Northwest of England;[1] they branched off from a group of Quakers in England. James and Jane Wardley and others left[2][3] at a time when the Quakers were weaning themselves away from frenetic spiritual expression.[4] The Wardleys formed the Wardley Society, which was also known as the "Shaking Quakers".[5] Future leader Ann Lee and her parents were early members of the sect. This group of "charismatic" Christians became the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (USBCSA), or the Shakers. Their belief was based upon spiritualism and included the notion that they received messages from the spirit of God which were expressed during religious revivals. They also experienced what they interpreted as messages from God during silent meditations and became known as "Shaking Quakers" because of the ecstatic nature of their worship services. They believed in the renunciation of sinful acts and that the end of the world was near.[3][6]
Meetings were first held in Bolton,[6] where the articulate preacher Jane Wardley, urged her followers to:
Repent. For the kingdom of God is at hand. The new heaven and new earth prophesied of old is about to come. The marriage of the Lamb, the first resurrection, the new Jerusalem descended from above, these are even now at the door. And when Christ appears again, and the true church rises in full and transcendent glory, then all anti-Christian denominations—the priests, the Church, the pope—will be swept away.[7]
Other meetings were then held in Manchester, Meretown (also spelled Mayortown), Chester and other places near Manchester. As their numbers grew, members began to be persecuted,[6] mobbed, and stoned; Lee was imprisoned in Manchester.[8] The members looked to women for leadership, believing that the second coming of Christ would be through a woman. In 1770, Ann Lee was revealed in "manifestation of Divine light" to be the second coming of Christ and was called Mother Ann.[6