When I first attended Bugbrooke Chapel, the Jesus Fellowship Church (JFC), in the early 1970s, I was really impressed by the charismatic Christianity, the vibrant worship and earnest evangelism. I remember Noel Stanton's powerful preaching and commitment to charismatic ministry. He was deeply loved and admired by his flock, which was growing rapidly. I had happy times of fellowship at the chapel and at Noel's manse. I met some truly gracious and loving Christian people at the JFC. I greatly respected David Lantsbury. He was one of the leaders, then a local school teacher, who shone brightly at that time. In those days it was part of the Baptist Union and part of the evangelical mainstream that was embracing the charismatic movement. It was a member of the Evangelical Alliance. In time both the Baptist Union and the Evangelical Alliance removed JFC from their membership.
JFC became inward looking and many believed a cult. Noel Stanton was regarded as a supreme leader and prophet, who could not be disobeyed. The leadership began to embrace community living, and celibacy was seen as a higher calling and recommended way of life. The celibates and community dwellers allegedly thought of themselves as superior saints. The autocratic leadership style that evolved was a far cry from the democratic Baptist way, decisions by the rule of the members through church meetings.
Then rumours of abuse and accounts of heavy shepherding, strange manipulative practices and harsh control emerged. Now some horror stories are circulating and they have the ring of truth about them. There is a significant amount of personal testimony to serious sexual, psychological and physical abuse. And Noel Stanton does not come out well. About 2,000 attended his funeral at the Jesus Centre in Northampton. Hundreds were at his burial at Cornhill Manor. A YouTube video shows the event. He has been accused of serious misconduct, and crimes allegedly took place on his watch as senior pastor and chief overseer/elder. It is very sad indeed that a man who saw many conversions, church growth, spiritual gifts, and congregational ministerial development, seems to have badly failed members of his flock. Some very dark deeds are now coming to light. Yet I remember the good times, in the early seventies when "the Lord took hold of Bugbrooke". Maybe you saw that TV documentary.
JFC became inward looking and many believed a cult. Noel Stanton was regarded as a supreme leader and prophet, who could not be disobeyed. The leadership began to embrace community living, and celibacy was seen as a higher calling and recommended way of life. The celibates and community dwellers allegedly thought of themselves as superior saints. The autocratic leadership style that evolved was a far cry from the democratic Baptist way, decisions by the rule of the members through church meetings.
Then rumours of abuse and accounts of heavy shepherding, strange manipulative practices and harsh control emerged. Now some horror stories are circulating and they have the ring of truth about them. There is a significant amount of personal testimony to serious sexual, psychological and physical abuse. And Noel Stanton does not come out well. About 2,000 attended his funeral at the Jesus Centre in Northampton. Hundreds were at his burial at Cornhill Manor. A YouTube video shows the event. He has been accused of serious misconduct, and crimes allegedly took place on his watch as senior pastor and chief overseer/elder. It is very sad indeed that a man who saw many conversions, church growth, spiritual gifts, and congregational ministerial development, seems to have badly failed members of his flock. Some very dark deeds are now coming to light. Yet I remember the good times, in the early seventies when "the Lord took hold of Bugbrooke". Maybe you saw that TV documentary.
1 comment:
Sad, ghastly, but not at all surprising.
Church abusers - and abusive churches - merely point to the truth, though - all religion is human in origin, and subject to human failings as well as strengths.
aThat is there essential emptiness.
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