Ann Lee is not a name that appears in most church history textbooks — but she should be. The founder of the Shaker movement, Ann Lee was a working-class woman from Manchester who experienced profound spiritual visions, endured physical and sexual assault, the deaths of her children, and religious persecution — and went on to become one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the eighteenth century.

The Testament of Ann Lee (2025, dir. Mona Fastvold) tells her story with unflinching honesty. Quaker reviewer Rhiannon Grant describes it as "powerful and not for everyone" — a film that depicts spiritual ecstasy, women's leadership, and the attractions of a faith community with genuine depth and authenticity, while also showing the tragic events of Ann Lee's life directly and without softening.

The film uses traditional Shaker melodies throughout, and its focus on the physical, embodied nature of Shaker worship — including choreographed dance — gives it a distinctive and memorable quality. The cinematography reflects the Shaker aesthetic of simplicity and functionality: key images framed plainly and directly.

For Quakers, the film raises questions about the importance of the body in worship — questions that resonate well beyond the Shaker tradition. For any Christian interested in the history of women's spiritual leadership, alternative worship traditions, or the relationship between faith and suffering, this is a film worth seeking out.

Read the full review at quaker.org.uk.