A newly-wed couple at Gloriavale – they won’t be allowed to use birth control (Picture: TVNZ/Sunday)

This Christian cult in New Zealand appears to be even more strict than the Westboro Baptist Church.

It makes its members wear uniforms, has banned birth control, and doesn’t let current members speak to those who have left. Including a family of 14 now trying to readjust to life outside.

Calling itself the Gloriavale Christian Community, it has existed for about 45 years and makes its money from dairy and deer farming.

Many families have 12 or more children, including one family that has finally fled and moved 200 miles away.


With no money to their name and no concept of how the world outside works, they are now relying on the kindness of strangers to look after them, the New Zealand Herald reports.



Liz Gregory is one such stranger who opened her doors to the family. ‘It’s a huge deal for them to stop wearing their community clothes and so they are going to transition slowly’, she said.

Even when they’re swimming they have to wear their uniforms (Picture: TVNZ/Sunday)

The community was founded by convicted sex abuser Neville Cooper (Picture: TVNZ/Sunday)

She added: ‘They are hugely courageous…they are very excited about starting life out here. They are feeling blessed, but are aware of the road ahead of them.’

The 500-strong commune relied on the father of the family, James, for milk as he ran the dairy farm for 20 years.

Mrs Gregory pleaded for help on Facebook and she received gifts of clothes, furniture and many other items needed by the family.

Founder Neville Cooper, is a convicted sex abuser who spent 11 months in jail in 1994.

Even his own son has left the cult. He said that once someone leaves, that’s it – people inside can’t keep in touch with them.

Once they leave, there’s no going back, and there’s no contact with anyone who’s left (Picture: TVNZ/Sunday)

Women are made to wear nun’s habits (Picture: TVNZ/Sunday)

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Over the last few years the cult has lost several families who have become disillusioned with things like the birth control practices.

One couple married after just six weeks of courtship (Picture: TVNZ/Sunday)

Peter Righteous (appropriate?), spokesman for the group, said: ‘We haven’t got time to be caught up in a lot of nonsense. We have a life we must live before the Lord.

‘If people do not want to live an unselfish life of service to the Lord, it’s up to them. They can do as they wish.’