Know Christ & make him known

Cloistered in Simplicity

Our retreat center,

St. Mary Magdalene's,

Yreka California

Our English Roots

Email: Info@ChristTheSower.org

Our Community was originally begun by Deacon Nicholas Ferrar at Little Gidding in England in 1626, and it lasted until    1646 when the Puritans broke up the Community or until 1657 when the last two members died, depending on how you prefer to date its dissolution . The community was always small and never had more than a few members, most of which were part of Ferrar’s own family. It was revived in the 1970’s and that community ended in the 1990’s. There is still a group in England called ‘The Friends of Little Gidding’ that look after the historic site and publish books relevant to both the community and the site.

Although small and short-lived, the Community of Christ the Sower is significant in Anglican history and spirituality. It was the first community founded after the dissolution of the monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII, and was founded specifically for ‘persons of regular station in life’ - folks who worked for a living and believed that the grace of the Holy Spirit could mold them in monastic community despite the secular demands made on their time.

This idea that average people could form a community based on religious principles and fellowship was considered revolutionary in its day. Up until then the only people thought competent to study Sacred Scripture and share monastic fellowship were the monks and nuns who lived in monasteries and convents.

Members were known throughout the land for their piety and profound commitment to both regular prayer and to the Bible. They produced harmonies of the Gospels that survive today as a testament to their fine work and dedication to the preservation and study of holy writ.

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