With no idea where they were going to do this, they took a leap of faith, gave up the security of the Methodist church, and started looking for a suitable property to buy. The most suitable one was the only one they could afford – a derelict ten-bedroom farmhouse which they purchased for just £25,000.
‘I remember clearly the discussion that revolved around the naming of this new place,’ Stephen recalls in ‘Making Memory’ ‘Various ideas were discussed that would appeal to what would be a largely Christian clientele… But one option developed which was Hebrew in origin: “Shalom … peace, or … why not House of Peace?” … and so … with no other Hebrew in our lives, we moved into our Beth Shalom.’
