A history of WEAC ...
WEAC began as the Eclectic Wives Society, in early 1970. The Eclectics Society had grown to the point that there was no longer any room for accompanying wives, so some three years earlier, annual residential conferences had been arranged for the wives of Eclectics members, two conferences each year, one north and one south.
Eventually, and after much discussion, the Eclectic Wives Society was founded in it's own right. It's first conference was a day conference in November 1970, and it's first (southern) residential conference was held at High Leigh conference centre the following May. Initially, there were a number of speakers at each conference, and sessions on topics such as counselling, leading women's meetings, banner making and flower arranging (!) … each conference also had a series of bible readings, and plenty of opportunity for prayer.
Discussions about the suitability of the name (and continued confusion with the Eclectics Society itself) eventually led to the society being renamed Wives of Evangelical Anglican Clergy around 1986, and it has been known as WEAC since 1991.
WEAC has has a number of homes; Mabledon (then owned by CPAS) south of Tonbridge, Fairmile Court in Cobham, Sunbury Court (home of the Salvation Army), and Windmill Farm Conference Centre. In 2017 we moved to the beautiful and historic Hothorpe Hall, in Leicestershire. For 2020 we are moving to The House of Bread in Warwickshire.
Eventually, and after much discussion, the Eclectic Wives Society was founded in it's own right. It's first conference was a day conference in November 1970, and it's first (southern) residential conference was held at High Leigh conference centre the following May. Initially, there were a number of speakers at each conference, and sessions on topics such as counselling, leading women's meetings, banner making and flower arranging (!) … each conference also had a series of bible readings, and plenty of opportunity for prayer.
Discussions about the suitability of the name (and continued confusion with the Eclectics Society itself) eventually led to the society being renamed Wives of Evangelical Anglican Clergy around 1986, and it has been known as WEAC since 1991.
WEAC has has a number of homes; Mabledon (then owned by CPAS) south of Tonbridge, Fairmile Court in Cobham, Sunbury Court (home of the Salvation Army), and Windmill Farm Conference Centre. In 2017 we moved to the beautiful and historic Hothorpe Hall, in Leicestershire. For 2020 we are moving to The House of Bread in Warwickshire.