SPECIAL REPORT

FELLOWSHIP HIT BY TRAGEDIES

Source : 11/10/1984 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Tragedy has struck the community four times. Three young men who were members and a fourth who had visited the community have died in unusual circumstances.

In one case the body of a 25-year-old former public schoolboy was found in a field clad only in trousers during a spell of freezing weather in 1976. His shirt, socks and shoes were discovered nearby.

The young man had last been seen alive at the Fellowship's New Creation Hall at Bugbrooke. A verdict of accidental death was recorded and the Coroner said there was no evidence that the Fellowship was in any way to blame for the death.

The man's mother disagreed and said she thought he would not have died if he had not joined the Fellowship.

In February 1978, a 19-year-old member died after being struck by a train near Nether Heyford. The Coroner recorded an open verdict after a three hour inquest.

Another young man died after a road accident and the fourth, who was not a member but occasionally visited the Fellowship, died in hospital two months after a road accident.

Evidence was given at the inquest of him having experienced God speaking to him within his head but that he had later been in contact with Satan and 'realised he should follow Satan instead of God.'

The day after the inquest, at which a verdict of accidental death was recorded, Mr. Paul Rose, then prospective Parliamentary candidate for the Social Democrats in Northampton South, called for a Commons Investigation into 'religious sects and cults'.

Representatives of the Fellowship said they have felt it unnecessary to make public comments on the deaths, or to answer criticism which has been levelled at them as a result.