cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/10034679
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a millenarian restorationist Christian sect founded c. 1747 in England and then organized in the United States in the 1780s. They were initially known as “Shaking Quakers” because of their ecstatic behavior during worship services.
Espousing egalitarian ideals, the Shakers practice a celibate and communal utopian lifestyle, pacifism, uniform charismatic worship, and their model of equality of the sexes, which they institutionalized in their society in the 1780s. They are known for their simple living, architecture, technological innovation, music, and furniture. Women took on spiritual leadership roles alongside men, including founding leaders such as Jane Wardley, Ann Lee, and Lucy Wright. The Shakers emigrated from England and settled in British North America, with an initial settlement at Watervliet, New York (present-day Colonie) in 1774.
During the mid-19th century, an Era of Manifestations resulted in a period of dances, gift drawings, and gift songs inspired by spiritual revelations. At its peak in the mid-19th century, there were 2,000–4,000 Shaker believers living in 18 major communities and numerous smaller, often short-lived communities. External and internal societal changes in the mid- and late 19th century resulted in the thinning of the Shaker community as members left or died with few converts to the faith to replace them.
By 1920, there were only 12 Shaker communities remaining in the United States. Since 2019, there has only been one active Shaker village: Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, in Maine. Consequently, many of the other Shaker settlements are now museums. As of November 3, 2026, there were two remaining members.
An obit from today
Sister June Carpenter, the Oldest Shaker, Has Died
Now there are only two practicing members of the last active Shaker community in the United States. Sister June was 88.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/13/us/june-carpenter-dead.html
I’m not religious myself, but stories like this inevitably make me a bit sad. These groups played such a huge role in shaping the history of our country and the identity of their congregants. The Shakers in particular were known for preaching about gender and racial equality, abolition, pacifism, etc. They were an example of organized religion done right. As an outsider looking in, it’s a shame to see these progressive Christian sects fall by the wayside while evangelicalism and mormonism continue to thrive and weasel their way into our institutions.
Anyway, if folks are curious to learn more about the Shakers, I highly recommend the film The Testament of Ann Lee starring the incredible Amanda Seyfried.
