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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.
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.
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Special Programmes
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Topics
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Premiere statusWorld premiere
Film details
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Director(s)Ellena Wood
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Country(s)United Kingdom
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Year2025
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Duration59 mins
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Executive producer(s)Lawrence Elman , Helen Littleboy, Nick Fraser, Duncan Heath
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Producer(s)Sophie Daniel, Katie Buchanan, Esme Wood
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CinematographyMatthias Pilz
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EditingTom Herrington
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SoundLaura Fairbanks
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Language(s)English
