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The first of a two part documentary, with the working title "Inside the Jesus Army", which had been commissioned by the BBC, and produced by Big Sister Films, has a scheduled premier on 21 June 2025 as part of "Sheffield Doc Fest". The 2 part Documentary will later be aired on BBC2, and will become available to watch through BBC Iplayer.
Tickets for the June 21st screening and discussion group are available here : Sheffield Doc Fest : Inside the Jesus Army
"It began as a dream of community life, but a 1970s Christian commune soon became a nightmare of abuse, the scale of which is only just coming to light."
"In the 1970s, a group of idealistic Christians, led by firebrand preacher Noel Stanton, attempted to create a heaven on Earth in rural Northamptonshire. With testimony by former members, their children and community Elders, this compelling series traces the story of the Jesus Fellowship from its hippy origins to the high-profile launch of the Jesus Army in the late 1980s, followed by its shocking demise in the 2000s. In parallel to this history, a group of former members undergo specialist post-cult counselling to help them come to terms with their indoctrination. In this first episode, despite suspicious deaths and accusations of a cult forming, nothing seems to weaken Noel Stanton's grip on the community. But then a whistleblower speaks out about the things they've witnessed."
John Everetts long awaited book entitled "War and Defeat - The Jesus Army and Fellowship revisited" has been released in April 2025
For further infomation and ordering visit www.waranddefeat.co.uk, a short synopsis of the upcoming publication follows below.
For nearly fifty years the Jesus Fellowship Church (JFC) - known to many as the Jesus Army - offered its members salvation, sanctity and security within the caring brotherhood of a communal lifestyle believed to be God's kingdom here on Earth. Many, in good faith, knew it as their true home, their 'Zion'. Sadly, however, utopian experiments rarely stand the test of time, and the JFC proved no exception: its demise in 2017 followed hot on the heels of a police investigation - codenamed Operation Lifeboat - into allegations of abuse. Operation Lifeboat led to several successful prosecutions.
The official closure statement issued by the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust reported that nearly three hundred allegations of harm and abuse had been received, including twenty-two against the late founder and leader, Noel Stanton (1926 - 2009). These involved serious incidents of sexual, physical, financial and emotional abuse.
Between 1977 and 1982 John Everett belonged to the 'white-hot' hub of the JFC, the New Creation Christian Community (NCCC), whose members sold all their possessions - including former homes - and donated the proceeds to a central trust fund. They also pooled all their income in household 'common purses'. By 2010 the JFC owned some forty or more properties spread across the whole country - including former cinemas and large, stately houses - and their business ventures had become multi-million-pound enterprises.
In 1979 John was commissioned by Noel Stanton to study the sociological character of the JFC at Warwick University for a doctoral thesis. His research, together with his first-hand experience, eventually led him to conclude that the JFC had become a cult. After challenging Noel Stanton about his autocratic leadership, John found the courage to leave NCCC; but he was then branded a traitor and formally excluded through excommunication. His treatment ultimately led to a devastating mental breakdown.
John has spent over four decades since he left endeavouring to expose the JFC in its true colours. This has included involvement with numerous media investigations and features; providing help to ex-members; writing reports for church authorities; creating and running a popular website for over twelve years; and contributing to five TV documentaries and shows. His experience is undoubtedly unique and has culminated in 'War and Defeat', an account of his astonishing and fascinating odyssey.
THE FOREWORD
Katie is the co-founder and director of Big Sister Films, who have been researching and filming a documentary soon to be shown on BBC2. The film will be in two one-hour parts and will undoubtedly be the most comprehensive and informative account the Jesus Fellowship Church that has been made.
The Redress Scheme final report has detailed compensation payments exceeding £13,000,000 to those victims who have come forward and chosen to engage with the scheme.
The Full report is viewable here : Redress Scheme Final Report
Since the last update to this site:
BBC News 13 September 2024, One in six children sexually abused in Jesus Army cult
The victim compensation scheme has now closed
The Jesus Fellowship has sold off many of it's communal households, land and businesses, including New Creation Farm and Cornhill Manor (sales agreed)
House of Goodness Limited, has recently paid dividents to shareholders amounting to £1,750,260.00
The Jesus Army Charitable Trust, has been rebranded to a new name "JCT - Joining Communities Together"
In September 2022, the second of the four phase compensation scheme for victims of abuse began, applications for redress, 'face to face apologies', and financial compensation for physical abuse, sexual abuse, and also financial abuse are included within "Phase 2" - applications for compensation were open until december 2023.
13/10/2022 : Growing up with abuse in the Jesus Army: Things happened to my sisters, to my friends
05/10/2022 : Solicitor working with survivors of religious cult in Northampton urges more victims to contact him
13/10/2022 : Another expert lawyer is urging Jesus Army survivors in Northampton to contact her about seeking justice
04/10/2022 : Jesus Army compensation a form of justice, says lawyer
30/09/2022 : Jesus Army compensation scheme launched
28/09/2022 : Jesus Army abuse compensation scheme opens
27/09/2022 : Jesus Army in Northampton: Long-awaited compensation scheme announced for victims of sexual and financial abuse
Peter Tobin, a convicted serial killer and sexual abuser has died. During 1993 Peter Tobin lived within the Jesus Fellowship household at Kings House, Stockton under the pseudonym Peter Wilson.
During the time he was within the fellowship, he was evading police capture following rape and sexual abuse, which he later imprisoned for.
Police are appealing for further information regarding as yet undiscovered victims of his abuse, and any information to discovering further victims
08/10/2022 : Peter Tobin: Serial killer dies in hospital, aged 76
In August 2020, the BBC published details relating to a report the BBC says has been leaked. The report was commissioned by the Jesus Fellowship into their own handling of abuse complaints
08/08/2020 : Jesus Army accused of abuse cover-up in leaked report
06/08/2020 : Jesus Army leaders ‘covered up decades of abuse’
06/08/2020 : JESUS ARMY Inside sinister UK church that beat kids with sticks, treated women as ‘servants’ and protected convicted paedos
05/08/2020 : Abuse was 'covered up' by religious cult elders, claims leaked report
05/08/2020 : Jesus Army abuse 'covered-up by church leaders', report claims
05/08/2020 : Jesus Army founder Noel Stanton preaching about sexual 'sins'
In May 2020 The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) began it's "Child protection in religious organisations and settings" Public Hearing :
IICSA Inquiry - Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings
On Day 8, Tuesday 19 May, the Inquiry heard from the Jesus Fellowship Survivors Association :
IICSA Inquiry - Transcript, 19 May 2020, Video
IICSA Inquiry - Video, 19 May 2020
The Inquiry also recieved a summary of the recent Operation Lifeboat Police investigation. :
IICSA Inquiry - Witness Statement, Alastair White, 05 December 2019
There was also a mention of "Operation Lifeboat 2", as an "ongoing Northamptonshire police investigation concerning individuals within the Jesus Fellowship which is focused on failures to protect vulnerable people under their care and control, including failures to report allegations of abuse."
The Inquiry has now been adjourned, to resume on 10 August 2020.
In May 2020, the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust opened registration for it's "Redress Scheme", which is said to be intending to "recompense for those who suffered abuse or poor treatment in the past." :
Jesus Fellowship Redress Scheme website
Further information regarding the scheme is available within the Jesus Fellowship Survivors site :
Jesus Fellowship Survivors - Redress Scheme update
The Jesus Fellowship Survivors Association, a growing network of ex-members and services, is continuing to support and seek recompense for those affected by abuse during their time within the Fellowhship, further details and recent developments are available within their blog.
The group also maintain a number of facebook pages regarding different aspect of their ongoing work with ex-members.
Jesus Fellowship Survivors Association (website and blog) https://jesusfellowshipsurvivors.org/
Freedom and Truth Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1966635120244110/
SignPost Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Signpostgroup/
Open Gates Charity Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624127954297418/
10 Clippings have been added to the archive recently, including details of a recently leaked report, a recent article regarding the closure of communal houses, the rebranding of the Northampton Jesus Centre to "The Old Savoy", and a much older article regarding the fellowship recruitment of sex offenders within prisons.
08/08/2020 : Jesus Army accused of abuse cover-up in leaked report
06/08/2020 : Jesus Army leaders ‘covered up decades of abuse’
06/08/2020 : JESUS ARMY Inside sinister UK church that beat kids with sticks, treated women as ‘servants’ and protected convicted paedos
05/08/2020 : Abuse was 'covered up' by religious cult elders, claims leaked report
05/08/2020 : Jesus Army abuse 'covered-up by church leaders', report claims
08/08/2020 : Jesus Army founder Noel Stanton preaching about sexual 'sins'
11/07/2020 : Jesus Fellowship pledges that Northamptonshire cemetery will be preserved throughout plan to sell off assets
22/12/2019 : Jesus Fellowship says closure of communal buildings 'unavoidable'
01/10/2019 : 'The beginning of a new era': Rebrand for Northampton Jesus Centre with The Deco theatre
01/01/2009 : NAPO News issue 205 : Modern Jesus Army
There are now 423 clippings in the press clipping Archive : Full Press Clippings Archive
In May 2019, the leaders of the Jesus Fellowship Church/Jesus Army voted to revoke it's constitution, and wind up the national Church. This was due to the damage to it's reputation, and dwindling membership numbers, following over 200 accusation of abuse
The group intends to split appart into smaller congregations, groups and independent communes, unaffiliated with the JFC. The Jesus Centres, fellowship owned companies, and various charies will remain mostly unaffected by the winding up of the Church.
The Jesus Fellowship group in Leicester are now calling themselves "Springfield Christian Fellowship"
Northampton Jesus Centre, has been rebranded "The Old Savoy", whilst still being managed by the Jesus Centres Trust Charity.
Birmingham Jesus Centre was asked to leave it's original premisis, and has moved to St Martins Youth and Community Centre.
In a recent change, Companies House shows that "Jesus Fellowship Ltd" (company number 02524324) has changed it's name from to "Residual Assets and purposes (Trustees) Ltd"
On the 19th July 2019, The BBC1 lunchtime news, and the BBC2 Victoria Derbyshire programme aired a video report by Jon Ironmonger regarding the survirors of the Jesus Fellowship.
The video report is available to watch on the Jesus Fellowship Survivors Association website :
BBC Report on the Jesus Army
09/08/2019 : SPECIAL REPORT: Jesus Army workers facing large pensions gap because church did not pay their National Insurance
01/08/2019 : For Jesus Army, Must the Wages of Abuse Be Death?
20/07/2019 : Hundreds seek damages from the Jesus Army religious sect over claims of historic physical, sexual and emotional abuse
19/07/2019 : Jesus Army The phoney church that preyed on kids, beat them with sticks and sexually abused boys… in Northampton
19/07/2019 : Jesus Army sex scandal: The dark secrets of life in a commune
19/07/2019 : Jesus Army: shocking reports of life inside Christian cult
19/07/2019 : Ex-members of Jesus Army seek damages for alleged abuse
02/06/2019 : Jesus Army must honour compensation scheme says Northamptonshire survivor who was allegedly beaten for missing midnight worship
28/05/2019 : Northampton's Jesus Army votes to disband in wake of historic abuse claims
30/05/2019 : The Jesus Army church may be folding... but its centres, communes and businesses will continue