INSIDE THE JESUS CULT

THE FORTUNE THEY CONTROL

Source : 21/09/1986 Sunday Mirror

Behind the Jesus Fellowship is a booming business and property empire worth millions.

Interests range from farming to health food shops, haulage and selling leisurewear.

Backbone of the operation is a firm called House of Goodness Ltd. Owned by the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust and staffed by cult members.

This would fetch as estimated £5 million if put up for sale.

A business expert said last week: 'It's a very healthy going concern and with its assets, I'm sure there would be no difficulty in getting that for it.'

Founded 12 years ago. House of Goodness operates a chain of health food shops.

It has two subsidiaries - Skaino Services, which runs a haulage operation, and Towcester Building Supplies, which undertakes building, house improvements and renovation work.

Noel Stanton is a director of them all. Records at Companies House in London show him listed as a farmer.

The cult also owns a leisurewear store, Jeans Plus in Gold Street, Northampton.

In 1984, House of Goodness made a profit of £308,838. As happened in previous years, all the profit was ploughed back into the business.

A financial expert who examined the accounts said: 'It's a company which has grown rapidly and has an impressive record of increasing profits.'

Much of the company's success is due to the low wages paid to its employees.

'The accounts show that 149 were employed and that their average wage was just £4,376 a year,' said the expert.