Irish membership of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers, makes up only a tiny proportion of the worldwide community.
But 38 delegates from a total Irish community of 1,600 were the hosts of the society's international conference, which is held every three years and began in Dublin at the weekend.
Some 315 delegates from 40 countries are attending the nine-day conference at King's Hospital School, representing a worldwide membership of 350,000. The conference's theme is Finding the Prophetic Voice for our Times and the conference began discussions on HIV/Aids, violence and climate change.
A church elder, Jonathon Pim, said "there is big diversity" between members across the world and their priority in their conference was to "bring together the different people from around the world to worship and share our experiences". He said such meetings build solidarity between members.
Kenya has the largest community of Quakers, with African membership in total standing at 155,871, compared to 22,723 European and Middle East members. There are almost 170,000 in the Americas and 13,000 in Asia and West Pacific.
Founded in England in the early part of the 17th century, the Quakers, a Christian denomination, held their first meeting in Ireland in 1654 when Englishman William Edmundson moved to Lurgan in Antrim to be a shopkeeper.
The Quakers took a stand against violence during the 1798 uprising, and undertook a lot of relief work during the Famine.
Among the most famous members of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland were the Bewleys, who established the cafes and Jacobs, the biscuit manufacturers.
Pacifism is a major aspect of the society's ethos and the Quakers were involved in mediation efforts in the North throughout the Troubles.
There are 27 meeting houses in Ireland, 13 of them in the North and four in Dublin at Eustace Street, Rathfarnham, Churchtown and Monkstown.
There are also meeting houses in Drogheda, Edenderry, Bray, Enniscorthy, Cork, Killarney, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Ballitore in Kildare. The society is also involved with the Society of St Vincent de Paul in the visitors' centre at Mountjoy prison and Cloverhill.
The society meets weekly. The meeting is usually held in silence, although some people may do readings out loud and, on occasion, a speaker may address members.
There are no leaders in the church. Elders hold positions as clerks of each meeting, but go back to being normal members.
There are no formal prayers and no sacraments as in Catholic and Protestant churches. The Quakers believe in a personal relationship with God and that communion and baptism are an "inward reality".
