Loyal former Jesus Army members could get bigger payouts than victims of sexual abuse within the cult

September 12, 2025

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FORMER members of the UK’s wealthiest and most abusive fundamentalist Christian organisations, the Jesus Army, or Jesus Fellowship Church, which disbanded in 2014 with millions in assets, may now receive a share of the cult’s assets — MORE than what was paid to those who suffered abuse within the cult!

The BBC reports that last year, under a redress scheme organised by Jesus Fellowship Cummunity trustees, a compensation payment of £7.7-m was shared among 601 individuals who said they suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse in the cults’s strict communal houses.

One in six children were estimated to have been sexually abused by Jesus Army leaders and members. Among Jesus Army predators was the late founder of the cult, Noel Stanton, who has been accused of abusing young men and boys.

In 2017, three years prior to the group disbanding, documents seen by the BBC showed the estimated total value of its assets was £58.6-m.

These included businesses and 55 large houses throughout England, which have since been sold.

Legal submissions, seen by the BBC, reveal it has £25-m left which will be divided among those who struck with the cult. Survivors described the proposals as sickening.

Claimants, most of whom were child victims, have criticised the scheme as ungenerous given it was largely funded by insurers and is understood to have cost the Jesus Army less than and is understood to have cost the trust less than 10 percent of the total value of its assets.

Legal submissions, seen by the BBC, reveal it has £25-m left which will be divided among loyal members. Survivors described the proposals as sickening.

A review of compensation claims identified 539 alleged perpetrators of abuse in the Jesus Fellowship Church (about one sixth of the total membership), including 162 former leaders.

To date, at least ten people have been convicted of indecent assaults or other offences committed while living in Jesus Army communities. Several others were acquitted.

In 2010 I incurred the wrath of Jesus Army members when I angrily smeared a cream cheese and anchovy sandwich across the windscreen of a Jesus Army bus in Brighton.

I had just bought my lunch and was walking towards a park to enjoy it when I was accosted by three Jesus Army goons who tried to ply me with religious publications in exchange for a donation.

That’s when I snapped and messed up the windscreen.

Hat tip: BarrieJohn

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One response to “Loyal former Jesus Army members could get bigger payouts than victims of sexual abuse within the cult”

malcolmjdodd

September 13, 2025 at 8:48 pm

Who were the suckers who gave them such large assets, or was it all stolen in the same way as the CofE and the RCSC‽

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Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist