Craig Hoyle’s family has been in the Exclusive Brethren since not long after the Plymouth Brethren sect was founded in Dublin in the 1820s. The eldest of seven, Craig was born into a world which revolves exclusively around the church and where any connection to the outside world – including socialising with non-Brethren, watching TV, listening to music or reading a newspaper – is strictly forbidden.
Brought up to believe the world was a cold, hard place, Craig was taught that “Worldlies” (non-Brethren) were weird and cruel, and news media, particularly the Sunday newspapers, were “Satan’s printing presses”. But as a teenager, Craig realised he was gay – one of the worst sins in the Brethren community. He was excommunicated after coming out aged 19 and cut off from his family forever.
These days, Craig, 34, has been in a loving relationship with Ryan Langford, 29, for four years, and is Chief News Director of the He’s also lifelong friends with Sarah Hall, the formersoon after he escaped and encouraged him to follow the same career.
