The Mail’s idea that People of Praise has something to do with “The Handmaid’s Tale” is just bizarre. Margaret Atwood herself said her book was based on 17th Century Nrw England Puritanism translated to the present day.
I was involved in a Christian community very similar to People of Praise. The members seemed to have very narrow vision. REGARDLESS of your background, training etc as a new member you were wrong about expressed concerns with the community. . Very authoritarian. Submit to your leader or head. One young lady joined., she was placed in a household, given a “head” who was supposed to manage her finances etc. she gave her salary to her head and got an allowance. THe head spent the money and she was oblivious to what was going on until creditors started calling her at work. She was thousands of dollars behind in debt.. I am not sure if people of praise is the same. Barrett does sound like a good person.