In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult

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When Stott was born the Brethren were a strict religion but in the 1960's and 70's it crossed the line from being strict to being a cult. For example, in terms of annual rainfall Rome is wetter than London with 30% more rain, but London has 20% more days with rainfall and we all instinctively know London is 'wetter'. The book reminded me a little of Oranges Are not the Only Fruit, by Jeannette Winterson, except Winterson's book about growing up in a strange English sect was complicated by her being a lesbian and suffering that particular brand of ostracism. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the latter season, and the Lord will make snows, and will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

The worthiest Members would all be swept up to Heaven, leaving the more slovenly or wicked Members, and all the rest of the world, to descend into Hell, where weeping and gnashing of teeth would be considered a luxury. HTV Midweek documentary ‘The Exclusive Brethren' made and broadcast in 1993, written by Tom Archer and produced by Jeremy Payne.

While her family is located in England, the Protestant sect had members and various divisions throughout the world.

Life was more satisfying and better for most of the members though they were confused by the outside culture and the linguistic differences. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone. After a she got to go to the school library where she started devouring normal books but had to keep this a secret from her family as it wasn't allowed. A big thank you to Rebecca Stott, Spiegel and Grau, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. By the end of the Sixties, there were bans on, among much else, trade unions, universities, working wives, modern novels, and women wearing trousers and sporting short hair.

For many years, his faith wavered back and forth, though for most of the time he was careful to keep any doubts under wraps. Eventually the father ran afoul of the leader after a terrible scandal and they family was forced out. This documentary features Rebecca's father, Roger Stott, being interviewed four years after leaving the Brethren. They set up their own Brethren churches with various names and it got even more fractious as they fought and further split.

Her account starts with her nursing her terminally-ill father - a man who was at once the heart of the Church but left some time before his illness. Senior members interrogated others about perceived "sins" and members deemed to have transgressed are "shut-up" within their own houses - completely without contact from even their own families until they are deemed to have been cleansed.

That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. This is a sad but gripping true story of Rebecca Stott's family who were 'caught up in' the Exclusive Brethren.