Exclusive Brethren gets approval for third community hall in Glenmore Park

A secretive religious group that discourages contact with outsiders and rejects being labelled a cult will open a third community hall in a western Sydney suburb for its growing number of members.

A secretive religious group that bans eating and drinking with non believers is set to open up a third community hall in a western Sydney suburb to accommodate for its growing number of members moving into the area.

Fundamentalist Christianity group, commonly referred to as the “Exclusive Brethren” but officially titled the Plymouth Brethren, has around 50,000 members worldwide, 500 of which reside in the Penrith LGA.

The sect, which is known for their literal interpretation of the Scriptures and their limited contact with non members, was recently given approval to open up the hall at Wittama Dr in Glenmore Park.

Artist impression of the Brethren church hall. Picture: Penrith Gospel Trust

The hall, of which there are already 10 existing in the Penrith LGA, will be solely used for half-hour prayer sessions on Mondays and the Lords Supper communion at 6am on Sundays.

Weekly gatherings will be capped at 50 people, with a maximum capacity of 80 patrons permitted on only 10 occasions each calendar year.

At last week’s local planning panel meeting, Brethren member and local resident Craig Light said the hall was a necessary move in line with an “increase of members purchasing homes on the western end of Glenmore Park”.

When fielding questions from the public over issues of noise and traffic, Mr Light told the panel that no such complaints had been lodged about the nearly dozen other halls in the area describing the community as “quiet and respectful”.

On the topic of noise, Mr Light also added the facility was designed with noise cancelling materials along with windows for “aesthetic purposes only” that do not open.

The panel also heard that the group does not engage in door knocks or letter box drops, and their hymns are sung without music.

An artist impression of a previously approved worship hall on Forestwood Dr Glenmore Park. Picture: Gospel Trust Penrith

Meanwhile planning documents reveal 11 submissions opposed the facility flagging concerns including traffic, noise and privacy and the religion’s “untoward reputation toward rejecting medicine”.

One objection claimed the church’s “uncouth reputation and activities” was a primary concern for residents fearing a “strong contrast in values”.

“The Brethren has a reputation characterised by uncouth activities, manipulation, disintegration of the family unit and prevention of children accessing medical assistance”, the objection said.

“These activities strongly contrast the values of houses on our street.”

The organisation has been active in the Penrith area since the 1970s with their congregation site located at Kingswood road in Orchard Hills.

The church’s global leader Bruce Hales and his son Gareth Hales are also both predominantly based in Sydney.

The Brethren teachings allows members to do business with non-Brethren but forbids eating, drinking or socialising with them.

On the website for their Australian network, the church baulks at the term “Exclusive Brethren” describing it as a name “coined by commentators outside of the Church”.

The website also goes on to state the group’s main distinction from other Christians is their “commitment to eat and drink only with those with whom we would celebrate the Lord’s Supper”.

“Like all Christians, members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church are empowered by the Holy Bible, but unlike others we are not always well understood,” the website states.

Central to the group’s practises is to live life by the word of God which often involves taking a very literal interpretation of the Scripture.

Brethren children attend government schools from kindergarten to year two before completing the remainder of their education at “One School”, the church’s dedicated schooling network.