FAITH. At some point in everyone’s life we all need a little bit of it. But for some, it’s much more than that.

At Othona, in Burton Bradstock, ‘all faiths and none’ have been welcomed into the community since 1965.

And the community spirit of Othona today is still strong today. We are meeting trustees Ali Tebb and Elizabeth Sayer in the chapel, where they have invited us to learn more about Othona, a Christian-based community, and break down some of the barriers and misconceptions people can have.

There is a real sense of peace and community as you walk around the grounds. Pretty gardens prettily surround the chapel and big house, and as we wander them, the smell of a fresh batch of home-baked scones lingers.

There are people sat reading together in the residents’ part of the grounds while visitors enter the chapel to explore a new art exhibition on display in the chapel as part of Dorset Art Weeks.

Ali has been a part of the Othona community since she was 16 years old.

She said: “I grew up in a church when I was young and Norman Motley, our founder, started a movement mixing churches together.

“In 1946 that was very unusual, but it was about breaking down barriers, and peace and reconciliation during the war.”

Norman Motley was a priest and served as a chaplain in the RAF during the Second World War.

He welcomed open discussion of ‘life, the universe and everything’ and he and his friends found a comradeship in wartime that lowered social and religious barriers.

A gathering each summer soon began at the Chapel of St Peter’s near Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex, and Norman’s fledgling community took the name of an old settlement on the site – the Roman fort of Othona.

It was from there that the pioneers came to West Dorset after land was given as a gift by Adela Curtis, founder of a community of women known as the ‘White Ladies’ who lived on the land before Othona.

Ali said: “She had a teaching community of women who lived together who were attempting to be self-sufficient. They didn’t have electricity or running water and were really very thrifty.

“There were brambles up to the windows and we were given cottages which we sold to pay for renovations and have been building it ever since.”

Elizabeth Sayer’s journey to Othona was very different to Ali’s.

Now a trustee, Elizabeth moved to Dorset after joining Othona.

Elizabeth said: “It was about 1997 and I had been ill and wanted a retreat, and this was the only place who answered the phone.

“I came and it was such a feeling of being at home. I was accepted for who I was and was respected – normally, you have to prove yourself.

“I came back five times the next year, and then became chair of the committee for 15 years.”

Elizabeth said: “We welcome all faiths and none. I practice in the Buddhist tradition, and last week, we had a talk about the Quran.”

Ali said: “Its purpose is to bring people together. Work, study, worship and play together, and to explore different ways to come together.

“It’s about exchanging ideas and learning a lot, opportunities, community and spirituality.”

For the past few weeks, Othona has been exhibiting works of art by Ali and Elizabeth and other members.

Ali said: “This is my first exhibition and I would never have done it if it hadn’t been for Othona.

Elizabeth said: “All of us feel deeply connected to the place because it lets you be who you are – you can come here with whatever you have got. You don’t have to be a Christian.

“The spiritual side is held but it’s not open. You won’t hear any preaching.”

Ali said: “We come twice a day to sit together and reflect. We have 10-15 minutes quiet to reflect in the chapel and meet in a circle.”

Othona has 30 beds and 13 rooms for visitors to come for quiet retreats and activity holidays.

Elizabeth said: “It’s a fabulous place for kids, they can roam around and feel very free.”

Ali said: “Because of our own beliefs, we try to live sustainably and we are mindful of the environment and we try to buy local. My husband manages the grounds to encourage wildlife.

“We have lovely orchids and birds nesting and it’s completely organic and we have a local beekeeper too who collects the hives.”

The community has members who everyday cook simple and fresh food every day. There is a full- time warden, Tony Jaques, who works with a core small group of residents who change over the years and look after the housekeeping.

Elizabeth said: “It is about community but mostly people come here because they have some form of spiritual leaning. All ages come here although it is mostly older people throughout the year.

“We have a monthly service on a Sunday night called One World Worship to welcome people and give them an excuse to come with no pressure at all but to enjoy the place.

“The programme of different activities runs through the year. We have poetry workshops and walking weeks, art weeks and a big range of activities.”

Ali said: “I think it’s an opportunity to talk and understand. You meet such different people, and you have a very deep connection.

“People feel it’s a very safe space. We don’t set out to be therapeutic but we all need it.

“The people who come help with chores and we all work together and roll up our sleeves and work alongside people.”

Elizabeth said: “They come prepared and feel a great sense of achievement, it’s very moving.

“Sometimes people are looking for sanctuary – we only offer support. They know they are always welcome.”

Elizabeth said at Othona they have deep conversations about ‘life, death, and everything’.

She said: “There aren’t that many places you can talk about that.

“We often have a quiet week with a certain amount of silence. I think it gives people space in a busy world.

“People are looking for somewhere to deal with life and this is a good place to just come and be.”