Renaissance Community

In existence from 1968 through 1988, its rise and fall mirrored that of its charismatic and mercurial leader, Michael Metelica.

[2] The Brotherhood of the Spirit was reported in the Wall Street Journal, Look, Family Circle, and Mademoiselle magazines.

[2] In 1974, the Brotherhood became the legally-recognized Renaissance Church Community and moved its operations to the mill town of Turners Falls, MA.

Several contracting businesses based in Gill still exist, along with regular seminars dealing with meditation and spiritual practice.

In May 2006, former member Bruce Geisler produced a documentary film about the community entitled Free Spirits: The Birth, Life and Loss of a New Age Dream.