Thirsk Monthly Meeting was formed in 1669 and centred on Thirsk because it was the only urban centre and had the only Meeting House in the area, purchased by Thomas Pratt in 1647. At this point its constituent Meetings were Craike (later Huby) (c.1654-1827), Wilden (later Thirsk) (c.1662-1827), Borrowby (c.1652-1827) and Bilsdale (c.1663-1827). Helmsley Meeting formed at some point after 1669. A letter addressed by Quarterly Meeting in 1672 "to the apostates belonging to Thirsk Monthly Meeting" makes this the first case of Separatism amongst Yorkshire Quakers. The Monthly Meeting was historically weak and the Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders reported "a want of love and unity" amongst its members in 1789. Quarterly Meeting reviewed its boundaries in 1825 and proposed its dissolution. This was carried out in 1827, with the constituent Meetings allocated as follows: Borrowby joined Darlington Monthly Meeting within Durham Quarterly Meeting; Bilsdale and Helmsley joined Guisborough Monthly Meeting; and Huby and Thirsk joined York Monthly Meeting. Northallerton Meeting had already closed in 1793.
From the guide to the Records of Thirsk Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1660-1839, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)
