Battlecentre: The Jesus Army TV - Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army TV -
[members on night bus]: ‘Cause them to come to this bus, Lord Jesus.’ Battlecentre: The Jesus Army, Channel 4 2001
These people have given their lives for this church. They’ve handed over all possessions and income, relinquished sex … a strict set of rules that separates them from anything seen as worldly. ibid.
The Jesus Army has suffered at the hands of the media. ibid.
I worry this is the wrong place for someone so vulnerable. ibid.
Battlecentre has opened its doors to muggers, drug dealers and murderers. ibid.
The power this church has to change individual lives has shocked me. ibid.
These people were members of one of Britain’s most controversial religious organisations. The Jesus Army was born of one man’s vision. Over 50 years it amassed millions of pounds and thousands of converts. But behind closed doors lay abuse on an unprecedented scale. Now victims, survivors and former leaders are speaking out as the truth is started to come to light. Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army, BBC 2025
‘Now we give our genitals to Jesus.’ ibid. Noel
‘It wasn’t just a case of going to church; it was a case of belonging to church.’ ibid. comment
In 1974, building on the success of Noel’s ministry at Bugbrooke Chapel, a new residential religious community is forming. Calling themselves the Jesus Fellowship, around sixty members of Noel’s congregation buy a farm and several large properties in Bugbrooke. ibid. caption
Some families are separated, with teenagers place in different households. ibid.
Noel lays down the rules. It’s the job of the Elders to encorce them. ibid.
Exorcisms are also performed on children by the community’s Elders. ibid.
By 1980 the community had grown to 431 residents. ibid.
‘Celibacy became more and more something which Noel encouraged.’ ibid. comment
‘You know he [Noel] just hated us.’ ibid.
‘All of the children were rodded.’ ibid.
By 1984, the Jesus Fellowship is the UK’s largest intentional Christian Community. It has 600 members living communally across the Midlands. ibid. caption
With community businesses now turning over millions, Noel stages a series of huge public worship events. ibid.
Over half of Noel’s followers are now in their 20s or under. ibid.
Jesus Group Is Expelled: Baptists kick out ‘embarrassing’ Fellowship. ibid. newspaper headline
By the early 1990s, Noel’s reach is extending across the country. New communities are emerging on the South and in London. ibid. caption
Decades later hiiden abuse on a prolific scale is coming to light. Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army II, caption
By the 1990s with over 1,500 followers, Noel Stanton’s Jesus Army was attracting controversy. ibid.
Jesus Cult Deaths Probe. ibid. newspaper headline
Since rebranding his organisation as the Jesus Army in 1987, Noel’s following has more than doubled. ibid. caption
‘In the 90s we introduced this kind of music [rave].’ ibid. comment
In 2001 the Jesus Army has almost 100 communal homes across the country. ibid. caption
By the mid-200s, only one Jesus Army Elder has been successfully prosecuted. ibid.
According to Noel’s wishes, a leadership term of five men known as the Apostolic Five now control the Jesus Army. ibid.
‘The lion’s share if not all of the victims were children.’ ibid. rozzer
‘They [victims] were coming forward in their droves.’ ibid. victim
Operation Lifeboard also gather 214 allegations of physical and sexual abuse. ibid. caption
In 2017 the Apostolic Five are replaced with a new leadership team. ibid.
Leaders have now decided the church has no future. ibid. BBC News
A compensations scheme is launched in 2022 for former members of the Jesus Fellowship. ibid. caption
539 alleged perpetrators of physical, sexual and emotional abuse have been identified. ibid.
It is estimated that 1 in 6 children in the Jesus Army were sexually abused. ibid.
33 allegations have been made against Noel Stanton including the seuxal abuse of children. ibid.