The Community at Stentwood Farm

Dunkeswell, Honiton

Devon EX14 4RW
(44) 1823-681155 or (from the UK only) 0800-0743267

We are here as a little light in the darkness, just beginning to shine here in Britain, a demonstration of God's Kingdom on the earth, as a witness of the resurrection of his Son. We have been in Britain for a few years now, searching for those who are not satisfied with their life, who know that the life they have been living is only vanity, and who long to be able to live a new, clean life, free from the corruption they see inside of them.

So we are learning to judge ourselves, and to begin to come back to being like we were created to be, to bear the likeness of our loving creator, to love like He loves. Before, we could be compared to a fruit that was rotten on the inside, and going to perish. Some of us might have looked a little shiny on the outside, others looked as rotten on the outside as they were on the inside. But when we met the light of this Kingdom coming on the earth, it was obvious how rotten we were, and we saw how we were going to perish. We received the promise of a new life and we were willing to give up our old rotten life to gain this new one.

So now we live as a little community, laying down our lives daily to meet the pressing needs, and doing what we can to reach out to any who might desire to find the same hope that we have found. Now, we live a life free from the stranglehold that life in society had on us. Through daily circumstances that expose our weakness, we are learning to trust one another and be vulnerable, to share our hearts with one another and be personal. This is salvation to those of us who grew up in such a closed and hostile society, as Britain is. We are thankful that we are being healed of our hardness, that we can be as loving and compassionate as God is.

Our farm here in Dunkeswell is not far from anywhere, neither is it really close to anything. Except to the sheep paddock across the fence… We live in a very beautiful place, surrounded by rolling hills and covered in a patchwork of little hedged-in fields that is typical of this region.

Our little farm here needs a lot of restoration, just like our lives, which keeps us all very busy. This big old farmstead and a few acres of land affords us lots of space for the few families and other single people that make up our community, as well as the chickens roaming around that faithfully give us eggs. There are always a lot of things to involve our children in as we work around here. We make a living by selling wholesome breads and cakes that we make at the farm. You might see us at some of the markets in the towns and cities in this region which we attend regularly. There's a lot to do here before we'll be growing our own food, but we would like to eventually be growing as many of our vegetables as possible.

In the summer we join together with our friends from the other communities we have around Europe to run our big "COMMON GROUND CAFE" at music festivals in England, notably Glastonbury, Reading Rock Festival, and a few other events in London. In fact we might be going to other festivals in the years to come. Many people are coming to know about us through our café.

So if you would like to get to know us a little bit better, we would love to have you come by any time for as long as you wish.

 

How to Get to Stentwood Farm:

Coming from the M5, leave at junction 26 to Wellington. At the first roundabout go left on the A38 towards Exeter. After a couple of miles, take the first left turn signed to Hemyock. Once in Hemyock take a left turn at the Catherine Wheel pub which is signed to Dunkeswell (if you can find the sign — it's a bit hard to see!). From there drive up the hill about 2 miles until you see a nice wooden sign on the left hand side that says "Stentwood Farm", take a left turn down the lane and you will see our farm on the right hand side.

Or coming from the A30 at Honiton, from the East end of the High Street, go towards the A30, direction Andover, London. Before you get onto the A30, take the left turn signed to Dunkeswell. Drive all the way to Dunkeswell, through the village, past the little airport, continue on another mile, until you see a nice little wooden sign on the right hand side saying "Stentwood Farm". Turn right there. Our farm is down the lane on the right.

If you don't have a car, there are train services and National Express buses to Taunton (30 mins. drive from our house) or to Honiton also. We would be happy to come and pick you up from either of those places.