6:30pm Thursday 27th November 2008
By Bethany Abbit
THE work of Kendalian astrophysicist Arthur Eddington was celebrated in a BBC television programme last weekend (November 18).
The Kendal born scientist and Quaker was instrumental in bringing Einstein’s general theory of relativity - one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century - to the English-speaking world.
The BBC2 drama, Einstein and Eddington, starred David Tennant and told the story of Eddington’s determined struggle to prove Einstein’s theory of relativity amidst the struggles of the First World War.
“I think it will generate interest in the religion because it portrayed the Quakers in a really good light,” said Sheila Williams at the Friends Meeting House in Kendal, where Eddington is depicted on the famous Quaker tapestry.
The tapestry was embroidered by 4,000 people from 15 countries and depicts Quaker social history from 1652 to the present day.
“He had a very deep faith, which went into all aspects of his life," said Ms Williams. "Quaker’s keep a very low profile but collectively their achievement is enormous.
“I think people rarely understand what Quakers believe in but the programme showed that Eddington was a very sympathetic character and as a conscientious objector, he had other ways of making a contribution,” she said.
“Eddington contributed through his scientific work and The Friends Ambulance Unit were on the front line, obviously not fighting but helping in other ways.”
Arthur Eddington was born in Kendal in 1882 to Quaker parents. His father, Arthur Henry Eddington was headmaster of Stramongate School but the family moved to Weston-super-Mare soon after his death in 1884.
Eddington’s 1923 book, The Mathematical Theory of Relativity is highly regarded as the definitive explanation of the subject and Einstein described it as “the finest presentation of the subject in any language.”
The Quaker tapestry will reopen in April following a showing in Nottingham this winter.
For more information visit: www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk
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