Q: When is a public house no longer a public house? A: When the Exclusive Brethren own it.
Now watch for security fences, steel padlocked gates, CCTV and blocked-out windows.
Exactly what persuaded Staffordshire’s Development Control Committee to grant approval for the conversion of a local pub to a very non-public house last week remains unclear. It seems, in a highly controversial decision, that the Lynton Tavern, Bodmin Avenue, Stafford, UK has now passed into the hands of a local cell of the Exclusive Brethren.
The Development Control Committee members cannot complain that they have no idea whom they are dealing with! There has been excellently-organized community support in attempting to prevent this example of community self-mutilation. As always with the Exclusive Brethren, there are ‘wheels within wheels’ and only time will tell whether the town officials maintain their ‘ostrich-in-the-sand’ posture.
Controversial plan is set to get green light
Staffordshire Post
Jan 12, 2010Councillors are set to approve controversial plans to convert part of a Stafford pub into a place of worship despite a raft of local objections.
Stafford Gospel Hall Trust members want to convert the Lynton Tavern, Bodmin Avenue, Stafford, into a place of worship for up to 25 people.
The plans, which have been recommended for approval, were due to be discussed at Wednesday night’s Development Control Committee meeting.
Neighbours fear there will be an increase in noise and traffic if plans go ahead.
But the trust plans to install new doors and the building, which has been vacant since September, would only be used for worship.
No music would be played at services and all members live within two miles of the site.
The application has been called before the committee by Cllr Susan Francis: “For the Committee to consider this material change of use and the adverse affect the loss of this local amenity will have on the community, in particular the shops opposite.”
The plans have also been ‘called in’ by Cllr Ann Edgeller: “For the Committee to look at the impact of change of use and loss of car parking in the area.”
Locals have questioned the need for a church in the area and say the new place of worship will be an intrusion on the privacy of nearby properties.
The Highways Authority has not objected to the plans providing the applicant can provide a parking layout for 25 spaces.
But the Head of Environmental and Health Services has said the plans should be refused unless certain criteria is met, including hours of use altered to no earlier than 9am.
It is a remarkable decision in that there is such a dramatic difference between the English concept of a community public house where friends and neighbours gather for an opportunity to relax, chat and … be a community … and the Exclusive Brethren who avoid all contact with those who are not members of the group by following their viciously misguided doctrine known as ‘Separation from evil’..
Superficially the town planners can be forgiven for assuming that the Exclusive Brethren are just another church. A group that sports the name ‘Stafford Gospel Hall Trust’ is easily categorized as probably evangelical Christians who are intent on benefiting and assisting the communities in which they live. The truth is rather different.
The Exclusive Brethren do not call their halls ‘Gospel Halls’ – they call them ‘Meeting Rooms’. The use of the words ‘Gospel Hall’ is a contemporary camouflage due to the fact that their plans were starting to be questioned by intelligent councils and municipalities around the world who bothered to investigate who the group actually were rather than being dazzled by the size of their cheque-books.
The Exclusive Brethren love to obfuscate matters with attempting to ride on the coat-tails of the truly evangelical historically-linked ‘Open Brethren’. The Open Brethren were formed in 1848 as a result of a division in the Plymouth Brethren caused by John Nelson Darby. Those that followed Darby became increasingly ‘Closed’ and gained the name Exclusive Brethren.
The most extreme of the several resulting groups are the so-called Taylor / Symington / Hales Exclusive Brethren (categorized by the last name of their leaders) who were described recently by Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia as “an extremist cult and sect … who break up families”. This is the group that has now taken over possession of the Lynton Tavern, Bodmin Avenue, Stafford, UK.
If this planning permission is confirmed, the residents will see the following changes:
1 – The windows will be blocked – no-one will be able to see inside.
'All Are Welcome!' - - Not!
2 – A security fence will be erected – probably steel and up to 2m high.
3 – A padlocked steel gate will appear.
4 – The promised ‘new doors’ wil be securely locked BOTH when the Exclusive Brethren are present AND when they are not present.
5 – A state-of-the-art digital recording system will be installed to enable each Meeting to be recorded – and transmitted to the Bible & Gospel Trust HQ if required. Every word of the current leader, Australian Bruce D. Hales and other wealthy leaders of the internationally-based cult are transcribed and must be purchased by all members world-wide.
A typical Exclusive Brethren 'Welcome'
6 – A sign will be erected outside like this one, that far from inviting the community to hear the promised ‘Gospel’, will demand the curious to call a telephone number. If progressed, the enquiror would be visited to check if they are ’suitable’ to attend a meeting. Don’t bother if you have a TV, radio, pets, smoke or are unwilling to leave your family should it become necessary.
7 – Should you manage to scale the fence, cross the parking lot and reach the door, you will find a bell-push. If a meeting is in session, someone will come to the door and you WILL be turned away. Try it!
8 – Oh – and did you know they have to meet at 6:00 AM on a Sunday morning? That is the unearthly time of their ‘communion service’ and it is always held at 6:00 AM everywhere that there is a local assembly meeting room. Watch the stated “9:00 AM limit” change!
9 – Finally, the greatest con of all … the Exclusive Brethren will expect the community of Weeping Cross to subsidise the loss of their community pub and the creation of a barred and gated Exclusive Brethren Meeting Room. They will expect to be granted full tax-exemption as a public place of worship!
Only public for Tax Evasion purposes
We strongly suggest that the residents of Weeping Cross insist that their elected officials deny this ridiculous request.
The Exclusive Brethren are a group that truly live up to their name. The Excluded are those who are not members.
That means You! And they expect you to pay? Come on Weeping Cross – that is just insulting!
In Australia, the Brisbane city planners heard the community plea and responded correctly forcing the Exclusive Brethren to reconsider their application.
We urge the Weeping Cross community to follow suit.
