UNITED KINGDOM – Residents of a housing estate in Barnsley are reported to have been “left tired and stressed after being woken at 5.30am by a white robed religious sect praying and chanting in woodland behind their homes.”
According to the British Daily Mail newspaper the robed individuals are Learnard Radzokota (known as father Isaiah) and his Christian group the Friday Apostles who are originally from Zimbabwe.
Nehanda Radio has previously featured the Friday Apostles.
Residents of the New Lodge estate have now written to Yorkshire Housing complaining about the ‘disturbance’ coming from the prayers by the Apostolic Sect who regularly go into the trees to pray and chant early in the morning.
Radzokota, 54, said while most people wanted to understand them “others just wrote letters to Yorkshire Housing saying because of the praying in the wood, and at our house, we need to be removed from our accommodation.”
“As we do not have a permanent place to worship in Barnsley, we sometimes carry our early morning prayers in the wilderness.
“In Africa, all our church members carry out their services in the open space, commonly called wilderness, because by praying in the wilderness we are close to nature and God,” he said.
Celia Casham, of Yorkshire Housing, said it firmly supports the right of people to worship in the way they choose.
She said: “However, it was brought to our attention that religious meetings hosted by Mr Radzokota, at his home, had been causing a level of noise which has affected his neighbours at various times of the day.
“We are keen to work with Mr Radzokota and his neighbours to find a compromise which suits both parties.
“’We have been trying to help Mr Radzokota find a more suitable venue for his religious meetings such as a local community centre or church hall.”
