And it all began in a teapot.

The Jesus Army's first 'common purse' started as a voluntary experiment in 1974, with the shared cash kept in a large teapot. A year later, the first official common purse, into which all residents pooled all their personal incomings, was set up at New Creation Hall, Bugbrooke -- the community's first large house, which has a capacity for over forty people.

"We live together because we've all come to faith in Jesus and want to put into practise what He taught about laying down our lives for one another.You can't lay down your life for people unless you're actually with them!

"Without Christian Community, as a celibate, I'd just be lonely and miserable and not doing anything much. With people around me, I can pour out my life through my celibate gift by being available, choosing to be around and digging in people's hearts - challenging and enabling other young people to live out the fullness of their calling in God."

Ruth -- Called as a child