The Audio Long Read The rise and fall of the British cult that hid in plain sight
26 snips
Sep 1, 2025 Philippa Barnes shares her harrowing journey within the Jesus Fellowship cult, exposing its manipulative practices and strict ideologies. Survivor testimonies reveal the cult's shocking scale of abuse, highlighting the struggle for freedom faced by former members. The podcast delves into the sociological complexities of cult dynamics, contrasting their utopian façade with oppressive control. Following the leader's death, a disturbing scandal unfolds, leading to a survivors' association fighting for justice and ultimately seeking redress for the victims.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Move Into Communal Life
- Philippa Barnes describes moving her family into the Jesus Fellowship's communal house at age nine and surrendering possessions and wages to the common purse.
- She recalls both freedom outdoors and the loss of toys, family privacy, and personal items under Noel Stanton's rules.
Rules Reshape Identity
- Stanton banned many ordinary pleasures and imposed changing lists of prohibited items to enforce conformity.
- The Fellowship replaced individual identity with group-defined purity and obedience.
Punished For Childlike Behaviour
- At 12, Philippa was moved into a communal dormitory and later subjected to exorcism when criticised for drawing.
- An elder prayed over her and anointed her with oil for being "unclean."
