DOCUMENTARY ON LIFE WITH THE JESUS ARMY IS 'AN EYE-OPENER'

Source : 13/12/2001 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A snapshot of life in the Northaptonshire-based Jesus Army will be screened on national television this month.

Award-winning film director Leo Regan spent 12 months with members of the religious organisation, which has its UK headquarters in Nether Heyford, and his effort - True Stories - will be shown on Channel Four on Sunday.

The hard-hitting documentary was filmed at Battlecentre, a large terraced house in the west London suburb of Acton which is run by an ex-hippy.

The house's eclectic community includes reformed murderers, drug dealers and muggers living alongside young children, graduates and pensioners.

The 88-minute film is Dublin born Mr Regan's latest cinematic venture, which he has claimed was the toughest yet.

He won a Bafta award last year for another television documentary, '100 Per Cent White', which took an in-depth look at the lives of fascist skinheads.

John Campbell, a Jesus Army elder, said: 'He is quite a remarkable chap who can win over people's confidence. That is why the programme works so well. I have seen the documentary and it is quite an eye-opener.'

The Chronicle and Echo revealed in October that the film had its UK premier at the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival.