Description

Much Ado About Something by Canon Norman Motley is both a memoir and the definitive first-hand account of the founding and early development of the Othona Community, one of Britain’s more distinctive Christian communities. Written by Othona’s founder, the book recounts how the experience of serving as an RAF chaplain during the Second World War inspired Motley to create a community where people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions could meet in a spirit of openness, friendship, and reconciliation.

The narrative begins with Motley’s wartime experiences, particularly the informal discussion groups he encouraged among service personnel, where difficult questions about faith, suffering, peace, and human relationships could be explored freely. Determined to preserve this spirit after the war, he established the first Othona gathering in 1946 beside the ancient Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex.

From humble beginnings in tents and converted army huts, with little more than a standpipe for water, the fledgling community welcomed an extraordinary mix of people, including students, clergy, local residents, German prisoners of war, refugees, and international volunteers, all sharing in the principles of ‘work, worship, study and play.’ Eventually in 1965 a second centre was opened near Burton Bradstock in Dorset, on a site formerly occupied by the Community of Christian Contemplatives.

More than a chronological history, the book captures the vision and ethos that shaped Othona in its formative years. Motley describes the practical challenges of establishing the community, the lively debates that characterised its life together, and the deep friendships that emerged across social, national, and religious boundaries.

His account conveys a pioneering experiment in post-war Christian hospitality and reconciliation, showing how Othona became a place where honest questioning was encouraged and community life itself was seen as a witness to hope and peace. Rich in anecdote, humour, and reflection, Much Ado About Something remains an invaluable record of the ideals and experiences that laid the foundations of the Othona Community and continue to inspire its life today.