Archive · 7 Aug 2025
BBC Documentary Exposes Abuse Within the Jesus Army
A new documentary reveals the dark secrets of the Jesus Army, a religious group that started in the late 1960s.
The leader, Noel Stanton, took advantage of his followers, many of whom were young and vulnerable.
The group had very strict rules and there was a lot of abuse.
After Stanton died, people found out the group was a place where child abusers were protected.
The documentary points out that society is not very good at punishing people who abuse others.
Many people were hurt, but only a few abusers were brought to justice.
A BBC2 documentary exposes the Jesus Army, a religious sect founded in 1969 in Northamptonshire.
The sect, led by Noel Stanton, exploited vulnerable followers and enforced strict rules.
The documentary reveals a culture of ritualized sexual abuse within the Jesus Army.
An investigation after Stanton's death exposed the cult as a haven for paedophiles.
The film highlights societal failings in bringing sex abusers to justice.
- Who
- Noel Stanton (leader), members of the Jesus Army, and the documentary filmmakers.
- What
- A documentary exposing the Jesus Army and its history of abuse.
- When
- The Jesus Army was founded in 1969. The abuse was exposed after the leader's death in 2009.
- Where
- Northamptonshire, England.
- Why
- To expose the cult's actions and the failures in bringing abusers to justice.
- Organization
- Jesus Army
- Founded
- 1969
- Location
- Northamptonshire, England
- Leader
- Noel Stanton
- Exposed after
- Stanton's death in 2009
- Accused
- 539 ex-members accused of abuse
- Convicted
- 11