Visit to Bruderhof Community

Angela, Frances, Heather and myself from St Richard’s Mothers’ Union recently visited to the Bruderhof Christian Community at their Darvell village near Robertsbridge. On arrival the first thing we noticed was the peacefulness despite there being some 300 men, women and children living and working there. Darvell stands in a beautiful rural setting of rolling hills on one side and woodlands on the other. It was a TB isolation hospital until its closure in 1971 when it was bought by the Bruderhof. Inside the buildings have been converted into different sized apartments to accommodate their families, single people and elderly but they have retained the character of the buildings by keeping many of the original features where possible.
    

We were greeted with a warm welcome by Natalie and had coffee with some delicious home-made biscuits before our guided tour. As we strolled through the well tended colourful gardens Natalie chatted easily to us explaining how everyone at Darvell, apart from the elderly, has a job to do to help to support their community. There are many different roles at Darvell including design engineers, solicitors, accountants, teachers, a resident doctor and there are jobs in the factory, offices, publications, communal kitchen, communal laundry and on the farm where they grow their own vegetables and salad produce so they always have fresh food available. They also keep two ponies and several pigs which all the children help to look after. No job is considered higher or lower than any other; they work where ever they are needed and they regularly rotate around different jobs in order to avoid complacency.

We were shown around the factory where they manufacture beautiful wooden nursery and classroom play equipment and where they make children’s coverall aprons in bright nylon material using industrial sewing machines which attracted the attention of Heather and Angela who are both keen on sewing! All the products made in the factory are sold to generate an income to supports the community. The play equipment is all hand-crafted so this was the quietest factory I have ever been in! 

We also visited the communal laundry equipped with commercial washing machines and driers and heard how family laundry dropped off in the morning is washed, dried and folded ready for collection the same day – quite a service! Just before lunch we made a quick visit to the communal kitchen, with its catering sized ovens and equipment, but could only pop our heads around the door as they were busy preparing lunch for around 300 people in one sitting as everyone eats together at meal times. We were invited to join them and made to feel very welcome chatting to those around us including children and two adult Korean men who had both decided to join the Bruderhof later in life. Even though we all ate the same meal I didn’t hear any complaints even from the children! After lunch parents spend an hour together with their children before everyone returns to work or school for the afternoon. 

We saw the crèche and kindergarten where mothers take turns looking after the youngsters whilst they are asleep and the school which is attended by all their children and run by qualified teachers following the national education curriculum. On leaving school some children go on to university whilst others stay to work at Darvell. At the age of 21 they decide whether or not they wish to become a member of the Bruderhof - some do including those who have been to university having lived a very different life style and some decide to leave. We also visited their cemetery, a beautifully kept area set in a tranquil corner of the site. Each grave has a simple name plaque and everyone shares responsibility in maintaining the area and the graves if there are no family members around.

Natalie told us that the Bruderhof principles are those of ‘simplicity and responsibility’ in order to live their lives as close to the teachings of Jesus as possible. No-one receives a wage and all income goes into a ‘common purse’ which pays for everything they need; individuals do not have any worldly possessions; they worship, eat meals and meet together in the open air whenever possible; they care for their elderly and include single people at all times so no-one feels left out. They dress modestly and respectfully avoiding clothes that indicate status or wealth, women wear plain headscarves and traditional longer length dresses and men wear trousers/jeans with a shirt or t-shirt. Their accommodation is adequately but simply furnished and Natalie explained that when anyone moves they take only their personal belongings leaving the furniture behind for the next family so there are no expensive removal costs – perhaps just as well as Natalie and her husband came to Darvell from America! Leisure time is spent with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, walking or picnicking in the surrounding woodlands and they often have days out together. They gladly share what they do have with those around them and welcome anyone to join them for communal dinner on Saturday evenings but call them beforehand.

Finally, we had tea and biscuits in Natalie’s apartment and we were each given a farewell gift of their Plough magazine and a loaf of home-made bread which, to us, was a very significant gesture as the Mothers’ Union provide home-made cakes and biscuits to ‘share’ at many events. All in all it was a very warm, welcoming and enjoyable experience giving us an insight into their caring and sharing way of life.

Nora Millward

St Richard’s Mothers’ Union

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