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The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army review – the eye-opening tale of a national shame
Nobody wants to be in a cult. That includes the people who are in cults – which is why they tend to claim they're nothing of the sort. Founded in 1970s Northamptonshire by lay pastor and self-anointed prophet Noel Stanton, the Jesus Fellowship – or the Jesus Army, as it came to be known in the late 1980s – was a case in point. And, for the 3,500 members it had accrued by the late 2000s, there was clearly something deeply appealing about the organisation unrelated to its ability to brainwash and control its followers (contraband included crisps and books). It served the needs of a certain kind of Christian: to have an accessible, welcoming church, to live communally with people who shared their values, to be given direction by a charismatic leader, to belong. To outsiders, however, it always seemed inordinately sinister. Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army is crammed with half a century's worth of British media to prove it: from tabloid articles ('Cult Crazy' ran one headline, which drew parallels with the recent Jonestown massacre) to news items (a 1970s report about the strange deaths of two members) to programmes such as 1998 talk show For The Love Of… in which Jon Ronson goggles as members explain their 'virtue names' (one man is 'watchman'; a young woman called Sarah is 'submissive'). As late as 2014, we see Grayson Perry singing along wryly with their hymns in his Channel 4 series Who Are You? The details that troubled the public imagination were myriad: for some it was the ecstatic singing and speaking in tongues; for the 1970s newsreader it was only natural to be suspicious of such a 'highly committed' and 'insular' group. Then there was Stanton, pantomime baddie-like with mad eyes, wispy grey hair and an extremely creepy smile. In footage spanning many decades, we see him preaching in an eerie whisper and spouting grotesque soundbites such as 'now we give our genitals to Jesus'. Embedded in this grim fascination was the hunch that something was seriously awry. It was. While the Jesus Army claimed to be a haven for Christians, it was actually a haven for paedophiles – including, allegedly, Stanton himself – giving them ample opportunity and permission to abuse children while making barely any effort to hide their actions. This two-part documentary gives us some sense of why the Jesus Army attracted – and perhaps even created – abusers: it was a microcosm of a fastidiously patriarchal society, it attracted those already vulnerable (Sarah joined after losing both her parents), it deliberately courted teens, it weaponised the concept of sin, it demanded unquestioning loyalty and devotion. Yet the focus here is on the victims; the programme meshes a chronology of the movement with a group therapy session involving four adult survivors. Initially, these ex-members (the Jesus Army closed down in 2019) are encouraged to process the idea that they spent their formative years in a cult. It's not until the middle of the second hour-long instalment that they discuss the abuse they suffered. As a genre, true crime can spread awareness, bust taboos and breed empathy, especially when survivors are able to articulate the impact the misdeeds had on their own lives. But this is always tempered by a certain exploitation, recasting vulnerable people's trauma as entertainment. As the camera lingers on these tearful men and women – after teasing their revelations over almost 80 minutes of nauseating tension – it feels as if the programme has failed to pull off that particular balancing act. And yet, anybody hoping to draw attention to the way sexual assault is dealt with in this country needs some kind of sensational hook; countless accounts of abuse, sickening as they are, clearly aren't enough. Alongside the shocking statistics presented – 539 members accused of abuse, approximately one in six children sexually abused, only 11 people convicted – we get an understanding of the patchwork response to these crimes. There was a relatively brief investigation by police in the mid-2010s, which began by chance and ended in frustration when the elders closed ranks; a Facebook group was set up by Philippa – who felt ostracised after reporting an abuser to the police when she was 12 – to gather testimony; and now this documentary, for all its uncomfortable use of distraught victims, which brings the scandal to a wider audience. It feels like plugging holes in a sieve. Despite all the superficial weirdness on display – watch as picturesque farmhouses are converted into nuclear family-crushing communes, as people in polyester jumpers writhe and groan on the floor, as sparsely attended raves get a Christ-based spin – the lasting message of this documentary is depressingly familiar. As a society, we do not have an effective way of bringing the perpetrators of sexual assault to justice. The Jesus Army may be a thing of the past, but this remains a national shame. Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army aired on BBC Two and is available on iPlayer.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
On this day in 2015: Grayson Perry sculpture to be exhibited
On this day in 2015, the York Press reported that a ceramic figure by Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry would go on display at York Art Gallery. The piece, titled Melanie, was set to feature in York Art Gallery's Centre of Ceramic Art after the latter's planned reopening, after an £8 million transformation, on August 1, 2015. Melanie was previously seen on screen in Perry's Who Are You? documentary in 2014. Helen Walsh, curator of ceramics, described Melanie as "a voluptuous, figurative piece, with a strong narrative which discusses the changing view of what constitutes feminine beauty." The artwork, one of three in Perry's Three Graces series, was inspired by a contestant, named Melanie, in the Miss Plus Size International competition. The other two pieces in the Three Graces series were inspired by contestants Georgina and Sarah. Perry said: "I have portrayed them as vaguely antique, hieratic, adorned with images, old and new, of female 'perfection' and food. "In the history of sculpture, female forms such as these were often seen as fertility goddesses to be prayed to for children and plentiful harvests. "Nowadays we are more likely to see a growing health problem."
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dame Tracey Emin praises King Charles for his commitment to the arts as they join prominent figures in the industry to celebrate 25 years of the Royal Drawing School
The King was praised for his commitment to drawing by stars of the arts world tonight as they celebrated 25 years of his Royal Drawing School. Dame Tracey Emin said the country was 'lucky to have' a monarch who cared so much, while eclectic cross-dressing potter Grayson Perry described him as 'very special'. The pair both sported what appeared to be the fashionable footwear of the night at St James's Palace - plastic Crocs. While Emin sported dark coloured footwear, Perry naturally sported a brightly-painted pair of iconic clogs to offset his bright orange dress. The palace was packed with renowned artists, creative figures and alumni of the school founded by Charles, 76, as Prince of Wales. To mark the occasion a special anniversary exhibition has been created 'The Power of Drawing: Marking 25 Years of the Royal Drawing School' which includes works by 50 eminent artists and alumni from the school's twenty five year history including Emin and David Hockney. Another star exhibit is one of the King's own drawings, a preliminary sketch of Highgrove from 2000. The free exhibition will go on display at the Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch from July 1- 26. Founded with the help and guidance of artist Catherine Goodman, the Royal Drawing School has made a significant contribution to art education. As an independent, not-for-profit institution, it remains dedicated to high-quality observational drawing tuition. The King, who was accompanied by Queen Camilla, her art dealer daughter Laura Lopes and his artist cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto, spent more than an hour examining the works that will go on display and chatting to guests. A live-drawing session involving some of the school's youngest talents went on throughout the evening, before the guests sat down to listen to a performance by singer songwriter Rufus Wainwright, whose artwork is also being displayed, with a film of work by alumni playing behind him. In an impromptu speech the King offered an unusually emotional tribute to Goodman for her work with the school over the years. He said: 'I can't resist saying a few very small words because above all I wanted to pay a very special tribute to darling Catherine who, can you believe it, it all goes back really to when my very special cousin, Sarah [Chatto], and Catherine were young 18-year-old students at Camberwell School of Art and used to come bouncing in to my room. I remember that was where it all started. 'So when I needed somebody to start the life drawing classes at my original old Institute of Architecture in Regent's Park, I thought Catherine is the ideal person. Otherwise these young trainee architects won't understand the importance of life drawing in terms of proportion, scale and everything else. 'Her dedication and her love for the students created this remarkable, I hope, legacy which will continue. So we do all owe her a huge debt of gratitude. The King, who was accompanied by Queen Camilla, her art dealer daughter Laura Lopes and his artist cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto, spent more than an hour examining the works that will go on display and chatting to guests In an impromptu speech the King offered an unusually emotional tribute to Goodman for her work with the school over the years 'Imagine, just perhaps, how proud I am am of all these students over all these years. I have always believed in investing in talent for the future in many different spheres, particularly in the cultural world but also in all sorts of others. 'So see these young people develop into middle aged people still painting is remarkable and achieving so much and I hope enabling them to discover and develop and demonstrate their remarkable talents. It's an investment that has been rewarded a thousand fold. ' Dame Tracey Emin spoke warmly about the King, whom she has known for several years. 'It's thrilling, so nice. His speech was from the heart. He knows what he is talking about,' he said. 'Imagine how lucky we are to have a king who loves art and knows what he is talking about. His is a very nice drawing, it's a sketch, very loose, very nice.' Gesturing to the display, she added: 'I am hanging next door but one to the king. It's not often that you can say that. 'His time and energy is phenomenal. Drawing is more important than it ever was. We are going through such terrible times at the moment and we are so lucky to have a King who has such a great understanding of many different things, and to be here tonight talking about drawing and art gives you faith in humanity. We people are drawing or painting or making art, they are not going to war. ' Her words were echoed by Wainright, who also attended art college, and told the audience between songs: 'All I wanted to say is that drawing for me now has become a necessary tool to really save my mind from all the distractions that we are faced with in the world. It's more important than ever for people to draw and focus on what isn't there.' Goodman paid tribute to the King as a man who 'never minded swimming against the tide' when he started the drawing school, which does not receive any official funding but relied on donations. She added: 'He decided to give drawing a home and a place for students to come and learn. To make sure this important living tradition was celebrated and protected. ' With over 350 different courses for adults and children of all abilities, including a renowned full-year postgraduate-level programme and a wide range of scholarships, the Royal Drawing School is accessible to all regardless of background or circumstance.
Metro
23-06-2025
- General
- Metro
I came out to my dad – he handed me a letter
He hoped I was not being gay to get friends (Picture: Henry Blest) When I came out of the closet at 17, my dad gave me a letter and a book on AIDS. I do not remember the letter's entire contents, but I know he leaned into cliche, asking: 'Is this a phase?' More entertainingly, he commented: 'I hope you are not doing this to be like Grayson Perry.' In fairness, I was, and still am obsessed with Grayson Perry – but he is in fact a heterosexual transvestite, so my father had missed the point. He also wrote that he hoped I was not being gay to get friends. Oh, the irony. I had already internalised the concept that being gay was the worst possible thing that could ever happen to you. In the mid-2000s, the word 'gay' was consistently used as a negative term by my peers. I became convinced I was becoming gay because I was constantly being told I was. The ages of 13 through to 16 were hell (Picture: Henry Blest) My best friend at the time told me her father declared at a dinner party that I was gay. Join Metro's LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! For the next six years, another primary school friend messaged me yearly with: 'My parents say you are gay, are you gay yet?' (It is still perplexing to me that 50-year-old men and women would comment on a child's sexuality). The ages of 13 through to 16 were hell. I became introverted, odd and angry. I destroyed several family photos where I perceived myself being depicted as camp as they triggered self-hatred. Whenever I felt attracted to the same sex, I tried to obliterate my true self and to convince myself I was heterosexual, writing lines in my head: 'I AM NOT GAY'. This was probably the most mature decision of my life (Picture: Henry Blest) None of this was helped by the fact my father had made derogatory comments about gay people while I was still a sleeper agent. 'The mess they make in hotel rooms…' he noted during a casual car conversation, apparently describing gay men. Or on the topic of gay adoption: 'Oh, they are not going to do that, are they?' So my dad's letter, only half-legible through his muddled handwriting, sat very badly with me, and I made the decision to immediately dispose of it. This was probably the most mature decision of my life. This act of brushing off the initial ignorance from my dad is the same advice I now give to any LGBTQIA+ individuals who ask me about coming out to their parents today. I do not believe people should be forced to persist with a relationship with their parents if the healthiest thing is to walk away. (Picture: Henry Blest) 'Their first reaction is not their only one,' I'll say. 'You have spent years processing this and they have just found out, although you do not deserve to take the brunt of the prejudices they have assimilated throughout their lives.' To be clear, I do not believe people should be forced to persist with a relationship with their parents if the healthiest thing is to walk away. In my circumstance, however, the 'gay thing' aside, my father has been hugely supportive of me in many ways, hence this was a relationship I did not want to lose. Personally, I am glad I did not take his initial response at face value. He was sheepish, and I was clueless. After the letter came the book on AIDS – And The Band Played On by American journalist Randy Shilts – and Dad trying to ask me exactly 'what' I was attracted to. My skin still crawls. When Dad gave me And the Band Played On, it was his way of trying to inform and protect me (Picture: Henry Blest) Fine out more about Polari Labs Visit the Polari Labs website here. He's 70 now, but my dad was 30 when the AIDS epidemic started. He saw the fear generated by public service announcements and the hostility that pushed back LGBTQIA+ rights. He'd also had a lens into the gay community while at boarding school, where he witnessed horrific homophobic abuse. When Dad gave me And the Band Played On, I hope it was his way of trying to inform and protect me. The book did actually set me on the path to become a virologist and militant homosexual. Together with my exceptional cofounder Anna Vybornova we have started the world's only anal sex lab, Polari Labs. We study the mechanics of anal sex specifically focusing on how to make the preparation safer and sex pain free. Our first invention, A-BALL, is the alternative to anal douching that makes anal preparation effortless. The product hits the market in 2026 but early subscriptions are also available. He is still uncertain about my vow to not stop talking about anal douching (Picture: Henry Blest) A-BALL Preparing for anal sex can be a hassle. Most people use a method called anal douching that can take up to half an hour, requiring awkward bathroom logistics and causing stress around intimacy. Our first invention, the A-Ball, is a tiny, disintegrating insert that forms a gentle internal barrier and in just 30 seconds you are ready for action. Neither of us had any clue of it then, but my father giving me that book was the first step in inspiring my queer activism and entrepreneurship. Shortly after a couple of years, he got over the initial shock of siring a homosexual, we found common ground. We went on holiday to Turkey recently and he ended up engrossed in my beachside read, Gay Man Talking by Daniel Harding. In it, the author shares his experience with his mother expressing concern about AIDS when he told her he was gay. As we spoke about it, I realised he was proud he is of me and what I do and we continue to swap books. Although I will add he is still uncertain about my vow to not stop talking about anal douching. Last December, he exclaimed while slamming his fists into the table: 'No more f***ing anal sex chat, I have had enough of f***ing anal sex, it's f***ing Christmas!' Fair enough. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. Arrow MORE: I warned my sister of my premonition – then she was killed Arrow MORE: I blamed myself even after he sent me to A&E 11 times in 5 months Arrow MORE: A stranger's question to my 7-year-old left me furious
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The One Show fans gasp 'how has he got away with that?!' after spotting VERY crude message on Grayson Perry's necklace
The One Show fans were surprised when they spotted a very crude message on Grayson Perry's necklace. Monday's episode of the BBC evening programme was hosted by co-presenters Alex Jones, 48, and Roman Kemp, 32. The pair welcomed actress Christina Hendricks, 50, presenter Katie Derham, 54, and artist Sir Grayson Perry, 65. Grayson wore a yellow t-shirt, colourful trousers, pink Crocs and wide-rimmed glasses. However, his choice of accessory - a pink heart necklace - shocked some when they realised the what the symbols spelled out. The piece of jewellery, which featured a gold chain and a heart with a 'W' and an anchor engraved on it which seemed to spell out w****r. It caught the attention of some viewers who took to social media and one said: 'Interesting choice of necklace Grayson's wearing #TheOneShow.' Another added, 'Anybody noticed Grayson Perry's necklace? W #TheOneShow,' followed by an anchor and laughing face emojis. '#theoneshow how is he allowed to wear that,' someone else said. Another penned: 'Shall see if Grayson's necklace lasts the show #theoneshow.' Someone else added: 'How's Grayson got away with that necklace?! #theoneshow.' While one viewer said: 'Love Grayson, but that necklace is very naughty. #theoneshow.' During the show, Grayson let slip a swear word when discussing the BBC Proms. He said: 'My best experience when I went, a friend invited me into a box and I'd had a drink and the music started, it was Tchaikovsky, a violin concerto, I think, and I was just in floods. 'Because back in the day of vinyl in the corner of the studio when I was at art school, that was probably the only record that wasn't scratched b*****y. It caught the attention of some viewers who took to social media and one said: 'Interesting choice of necklace Grayson's wearing #TheOneShow.' 'So I just burst into floods of tears and then after that I think it was the Elgar piece, I think I was just gone.' Host Roman was forced to apologise for the language, as the programme airs from 7pm to 8pm, before the 9pm watershed. 'Apologies for any fruity language we had there as well, of course,' Roman added, as Alex quipped, 'Grayson!' The One Show airs weekdays on BBC One from 7pm and is available to stream on iPlayer.
