Plymouth Brethren, does anyone know much about this religion?

[Koolaidhighlights]

When DD (now 18) was at primary school she had a friend called Chloe.

DD was saying how Chloe was one of the nicest friends she has ever had. Kind and considerate. I agree she was a lovely little girl and her mum was lovely too.

However, she left when she was around 7/8 because her family were part of the Plymouth Brethren and so she was sent to a local school ran by the religion.

I have often wondered about this religion and those involved as it had some seemingly out of date rules and regulations. Chloe was never allowed to eat in front of any of her classmates if she did need to eat she would either go home ( her house was a few doors down from the school) or would have to be hidden behind a screen (according to dd).

Her mum was really lovely, always had time to talk, very friendly and polite as were all of Chloe’s siblings. I think the mum was a little more rebellious than the other brethren mum’s because although pleasant they never spoke to any of the other parents. All the women had long hair and would wear little head scarves, they were never in trousers, always wore skirts although Chloe’s mum wore leggings with a little skirt over the top.

Chloe would tell my dd they had no tv or computers and sang around a piano every evening. I did a little bit of research and not sure if it’s true but according to things I’ve read online they aren’t allowed to have any bad influences from the ‘outside world’ such as tv, radio or the internet. All those in our area appear to live only in detached houses (read they must not be attached to non brethren’s?) and the marriages are mostly arranged. This would not surprise me, the mum was stunningly beautiful and if you saw the dad you would absolutely not have paired those two together let alone having five children together!

Although the family moved away from our village some years ago they still live nearby and occasionally I see the mum, she always remembers me and will chat a little. From my experience they are all very polite and appear such lovely people.

But they do seem such an reclusive group of people and although they come across as so very friendly and happy as a group I wonder if there is another side to it all? I’m not sure any of the women are allowed to work outside of family business but maybe I’m wrong. Are they allowed much independence and are all the marriages arranged?

Does anyone know much about this religion?

We have a number in our small village who drive far too fast. One drove around for several weeks with a pheasant embedded in her radiator grill. Our village is popular as we have no mains sewage - apparently that is one of the criteria.

I used to attend Gospel Hall with a friend and her family when I was a child and our neighbours belonged to the same church. It was more open - they did a lot for the community, the Sunday school was well attended, as was the youth club, and they had really good outings. There was a huge row among the men leading the church when I was about 11, and the place split up completely. My friend and our neighbours started going to the Methodist chapel and others joined another Brethren community. Dress for women was definitely modest and we wore the little head scarves and had our hair in plaits for church.

We have lots around my area including next door. The house (big detached) has been bought by the church but nobody permanently lives in it. It’s so odd. we’ve had a succession of temporary residents, most of whom have been very odd or totally ignored us. One family were lovely - the wife was really friendly, had an amazing wardrobe and she and her husband always seemed really happy together.

My observations - they all seem to drive posh, new electric cars. Women don’t work, wear skirts and a hair band. Girls wear skirts over leggings. Most of the men are quite dull, have receding hairlines and are far less attractive than their wives. When they move in or out of the house, they do it with a fleet of vans at night.

I’m actually hoping that when we come to sell ours they’ll buy that too as they apparently like to populate streets.

I taught instrumental music lessons to a couple of PB people. I was allowed inside their home to teach them, and also inside their business premises too.

They were very polite and flexible about how and when the lessons took place. One pupil was female, and the other male. They suddenly sold their (substantial) house to a developer and I never saw them again! Although their business is still up and running.

What jobs do they do? If it's sexist are women not allowed education and decent careers?
I've heard of them but I think only in RE class. I don't think I've met any.

My family were part of this cult. There was a big split in 1970 when the leader was found with another person's wife naked in his bed. My parents left but my mother never saw her sister again.
If someone chooses to leave the PBCC, their family are forced to have nothing to do with them. My parents ended up housing a great nephew they did not know existed. He left and googled his name and found some relatives he was unaware of who put him in touch with my parents. He lost his job,his house and all his family and friends. He was already an alcoholic in resent 20's as bizarrely the men are all encouraged to drink whisky from a young age. Another reason they are dangerous drivers as often intoxicated.
There was a big thing a decade or two ago when they were threatened with losing charity status as they never did anything charitable for anyone other than themselves. To keep charity status they set up Rapid Relief Teams ( RRT) who appear at disaster scenes and recently appeared at our local hospital giving coffee and cake to staff.
Their leader is called Bruce Hales and he is a multi millionaire with private jet etc. The leadership are all very wealthy and unpleasant but the people you met at school and local businesses are likely to be pleasant family orientated folk and brainwashed into thinking their life is normal. The ostracism of those who leave is couched as their choice to go into the world and they would always be welcomed back, but not allowed to be in contact if they don't want to be in fellowship. If one half of a couple are kicked out for breaking a rule, they often never see their partner and children again. There is immediate parental alienation so even if they fight through the courts for access, usually the kids do not want to know them.
All very sad and has done untold damage to my family.

Im pretty sure the Netflix drama series Unchosen is loosely based on a small community in the PB religion, if anyone is interested. It starts quite good but the ending is a bit far fetched. Worth a watch though.

I was just wondering about that @AmusableAvocado as I finished watching it tonight. The head covering and whisky rang a bell! You’re right, it did go rubbish for the last couple of episodes.