A recent spectacle on Old Compton Street in Soho, the historic heart of London's LGBTQ+ community, has raised significant alarm among observers. In a scene described as dystopian, scores of black-uniformed religious activists marched in military formation past rainbow-adorned shopfronts, bringing traffic to a standstill.
An American-Style Movement on London Streets
Around 100 members of the group, known as The King's Army, wore tracksuits reminiscent of Oswald Mosley's attire, complete with gold logos. They loudly chanted 'Jesus Saves!' during the event, which was captured in a 44-second clip titled 'King's Army shuts down London's Soho sex district' on their YouTube channel.
Seasoned commentators fear the display signals a worrying shift towards the aggressive, confrontational tactics and heightened religiosity associated with the 'Christian nationalist' movement in the United States. The group's unashamedly combative language and branded merchandise contribute to this distinctly American feel.
The leader of this movement is Scott McNamara, a 49-year-old Briton, who filmed the Soho footage on a rainy Friday night in October. Despite his affable demeanour, McNamara's background is colourful, involving a brush with pop stardom, associations with Liverpool gangland figures, and a self-described family lineage of 'brawlers, alcoholics and womanisers'.
Organised Operations and Growing Public Presence
The King's Army is far from a one-off protest. Its activities across London have been frequent enough to draw public attention over the past year. Large groups have converged for shows of strength at locations including Kilburn, Oxford Circus, and the gates of Buckingham Palace.
The group's website underscores its military ethos, featuring images of uniformed members standing to attention outside the Palace. Its leadership structure is explicitly martial: McNamara holds the title of 'field marshal', supported by a 'chief of staff' based in Florida and various 'colonels' and 'majors' across North America, the UK, Germany, and South Africa.
McNamara denies the Soho march was deliberately provocative or targeted the LGBTQ+ community, telling Premier Christianity magazine the intent was misconstrued. However, critics highlight that the footage was shared by Turning Point UK, an offshoot of a right-wing US organisation, indicating a growing political influence.
Prominent Church of England cleric Reverend Giles Fraser described the scenes as 'shocking', stating, 'They look like paramilitaries. Religion and paramilitary uniforms just shouldn't go together.' Richy Thompson of Humanists UK called the march 'deeply concerning' and 'extremely intimidating'.
From Pop Star to 'Field Marshal': The Leader's Journey
Scott McNamara's path to leading a religious army is unconventional. Born in Coventry and raised in Liverpool, he once pursued pop stardom, sharing stages with acts like Westlife and featuring in teen magazines. By his mid-twenties, however, he was a self-described 'full-blown cocaine addict' mixing with figures linked to notorious Merseyside drugs baron Curtis Warren.
A near-overdose and a profound religious experience during the 2001 New Year celebrations led him to abandon his lifestyle. He studied at the London School of Theology, where he met his wife, Jaye. After overcoming struggles with addiction that temporarily split his family, he began street preaching in Derry, Northern Ireland.
His entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of 'Jesus At The Door' (JAD), an evangelism initiative that spawned merchandise and a book. Financial records show donations to JAD surged from £73,580 in 2021 to £313,000 in 2023. The organisation is registered at a rented £540,000 home in Winter Garden, Florida.
McNamara states The King's Army was formed after a directive from the Holy Spirit, telling him to 'raise up an army for the end times'. In a statement to The Mail on Sunday, the group insisted their sole intent is to 'share the love of Jesus' and address the 'emergency' of souls facing eternity separated from God.
With no plans to cease their combative marches, The King's Army appears determined to continue its mission across Britain's streets, framing its actions as a spiritual war for the nation's soul.
