A Bristol church is bringing together a group of four Christians to experience a modern monastic lifestyle in the city.
Cotham Church is using a former curate’s house to create Cornerstone, a new community aimed at exploring their faith.
Supported by Foundation, which runs out of Cotham Church, the four will establish a ‘Rule of Life’, a set of core values used in monasteries around the world to help people grow spiritually in their daily lives.
One person has already signed up to Cornerstone with the rest expected to be brought in over the coming weeks.
The four members of Cornerstone will work with members of Cotham Church to find ways of putting their faith into action in the surrounding community.
The number of New Monastic-style communities have been growing in the UK in recent years, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, setting up the Community of St Anselm in 2015.
Revd David Stephenson said: “The New Monastic movement has seen these communities become much more world-facing, which is what we would like to see happen with Cornerstone.
“There is a fantastic opportunity for them to shape this over time, from how they can be more inclusive in their actions to ways in which they can be environmentally aware in their lifestyles.
“This is such an exciting chance for a small group of people to explore community living and to be creative in setting up their own Rule of Life. We want to see the heart of God in the heart of this city.”