AS SEEN IN THE TIMES

Maria Compton was born and raised in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Encouraged to keep her distance from outsiders, she grew up in a world of Church meetings, banishments and with the fear that the end of the world - known as the Rapture - was nigh. When she was still in her late teens, she married a man she barely knew. To those around her she lived the perfect life; dutiful wife, loving mother, devout Brethren woman. But underneath the surface, this life was far from perfect.

Plagued by spiritual doubts, stuck in an abusive marriage and with her mental health in severe decline, Maria came to realise that she simply could not go on. And so, although knowing everything it would cost, she did the unthinkable: she left her church. Despite her attempts to stay in touch, Maria is no longer seen by her family, her friends or even her own children. But whilst she continues to grieve for everything she has lost, she holds fast to what she has gained: her liberty and her hope for the future.

Out of Faith is testament to the strength of the human spirit even in the darkest of times, and an incredible story exposing the tangled ties between family, faith and freedom.

Maria Compton was born, raised and married within a strict Christian sect. Maria and her husband had six children together and raised them in the teachings of their religion, but theirs was not a happy marriage. Over the course of the more than two decades that they were together, Maria was abused by her husband and felt increasingly trapped within the confines of her religion. After years of unhappiness and declining mental health Maria left her religion and now is no longer acknowledged by her family and friends.

Maria now lives happily with her new partner.