Our Story
Simple Beginnings & The Community Today
Our Origins
The Community began when Lilah and Benedict inspired in part by the 17th Century Little Gidding community began what was really a religious experiment in their own home. Almost at once people came and joined us and there soon began a process that was to lead to work with the seriously mentally ill. In 1973 when Benedict was ordained a Priest of the Russian Orthodox church and moved to serve a parish in Devon, the Community began to have a visible form with formal referrals.
Father Benedict is very proud that modern descriptions of the Community refer to it as ‘entirely secular’ and that it has come to be recognised as a meaningful and very successful demonstration of what community care can make possible. We do not represent any alternative treatment of mental illness but rather a new setting in which conventional medical treatment can achieve vastly improved results.
The original setting of our work in a family, a large one with lots of children is now replaced by a collection of households on various models such as for example a group of students living together and there is still an emphasis on domesticity and enjoyment which we think is of enormous importance.
I had the very happy experience of working closely with the staff at the Community of St Antony and St Elias to look after a patient of mine with a severe and enduring mental illness…I was always very impressed with the positive attitude that the staff adopted which helped us all to see beyond the illness to the person underneath and their potential. They were informed and vigilant in terms of managing risk. They were caring and supportive whilst respecting the patient’s independence and wishes. They were respectful of the role of the various statutory organisations involved and committed to working collaboratively. I was confident that my patient was given the best possible opportunities to recover from their illness as a result.
The Community Today
The Community now has many houses in rural and urban settings, where people live and make their home, a large staff team dedicated to working alongside and supporting individuals as well as an administrative support team. The family has grown up but it is still very much involved in the life of the Community.
Through the years the Community has grown and developed, but it has remained our consistent aim to preserve its sense of domesticity, sanctuary and belonging, enabling those living with us to find a place in the wider community.