Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army
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.
The series premiered at the Sheffield DocFest in June, 2025, and aired on BBC2 in July, 2025.
★★★★
“Excellent...powerful...told with skill and grace”
— Financial Times
★★★★
“Shocking”
— Daily Mail
“Jaw-dropping”
— Guardian
★★★★
“Wood's compassionate focus is on the victims”
— The Times
“Powerful”
— Daily Telegraph
“'Harrowing...fascinating'”
— Sunday Times
Senior investigative reporter Jon Ironmonger’s interview with Ellena for BBC News, Northamptonshire