In Search of Adela Curtis, a Modern Mystic | Session 1: a fractured childhood

Who was Adela Curtis? She was a mystic, a teacher, a healer, a prolific writer, an advocate for self-sufficiency, the joint owner of a pioneering bookshop, and the founder of religious communities. In 1921 she bought 17 acres of land on the Dorset coast and established the Christian Contemplatives Charity. In 1965, five years after her death, the buildings and land were passed on to the Othona Community.
In October 2023, Liz Howlett, who has been Office Co-ordinator at Othona West Dorset for over 4 years, went on a trip to the USA. She hoped the time she spent in the States would contribute towards the research she was doing into the life and work of Adela Curtis - and the trip exceeded her expectations! In June 2024 Liz shared the findings of her trip in a series of presentations given at Othona at an event called In Search of Adela Curtis, a Modern Mystic.
This first talk looks at Adela's childhood and considers how the upheaval of the family's relocation to Yokohama, Japan might have impacted her developing personality.
As well as being a key member of the core community at Othona, Liz Howlett is ordained in the Church of England. Most of her ministry has been focussed on training and empowering lay people to play the fullest part in their churches and communities. She has been keen on genealogical research for most of her life.
Follow Liz's blog "In Search of Adela Curtis, a Modern Mystic" for the continuing story: lizhowlett.sub...
www.othonawestdorset.org.uk