Johane Masowe sect chants keeping UK residents awake

A Zimbabwean religious sect, 'the Friday Apostles (Johane Masowe yeChishanu)' led by Learnard Radzokota and based in South Yorkshire United Kingdom, is reportedly keeping residents awake with noisy singing and praying, the Daily Mail reported.

A resident on Elland Road told the Chronicle she had seen people dressed in long white robes going in to the woods, and was woken at 5.30am by the sounds of chants and prayers several times in the last two weeks. She said: "I'm not sure what they are doing to be honest, it's like a singing or something similar, it's quite strange."

The Chronicle can reveal the 12 chanting worshippers are members of an 82-year-old Christian sect called Friday Apostles, who believe in the power of prayer. 

Apparently the community has been left tired and stressed after being woken up at 5.30am by a white robed religious sect praying and chanting in woodland behind their homes.

The Barnsley group is led by Father Isaiah, real name Leonard Radzokota, who said they are carrying out the early morning ritual to pray for the people of Barnsley. Father Isaiah lives in New Lodge and said the apostles like to pray in the wood so they can be close to God and nature. 

"We come here into the wilderness because everything around us is alive, the grass, the birds, and we are before God.  "We come here to pray because there is a spirit of suicide affecting families and children and there is no peace among the people. 

"With the cuts happening, it's very difficult for people right now. Marriages are breaking, families do not know what to do and children are going astray."

Now some residents of New Lodge estate have written to Yorkshire Housing, Mr Radzokota's landlord, to complain about the disturbance.

Mr Radzokota said the group didn't really have a choice but to pray outdoors, because they have no building to worship in.

'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.'