Anglican priest lives without money for new BBC series

Anglican priest Peter Owen Jones has gone back to basics in the search for a simpler way of living life for a new BBC Two series.

How To Live A Simple Life is inspired by St Francis of Assisi who entered into a life of voluntary poverty after hearing a sermon on Matthew 10, in which Jesus tells his disciples to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God without taking any money or other possessions with them.

The series was filmed over eight months in Jones’ small country village of Firle, in Sussex and sees him grow his own crops and raise chickens.

Taking to the road without any cash, Jones has to barter his skills for scraps of food and throw himself at the mercy of his community as well as strangers.

Jones sees the programme as a personal challenge to discover whether the best things in life are really free after feeling like he had become caught in mindless spending.

"I want to see if there is another way,” he said.

"All the great religions say don't rely on money – it is too much the measure of a life. And I'm addicted to the stuff!

"I want to see if I can wean myself off it and live a different life."

How To Live A Simple Life is due to air in the spring.