Redeemer Baptist Church
An Australian Baptist church established in 1974 in Sydney, with an adjacent affiliated school.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Redeemer Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation in North Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The church was formed in 1974 when approximately 30 families separated from Castle Hill Baptist Church in Sydney’s Hills District and established a new congregation. Its premises are located at 2–12 Masons Drive, North Parramatta, beside Redeemer Baptist School, an educational institution associated with the church. The congregation’s early doctrinal framework was influenced by the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal church in Houston, Texas, although Redeemer Baptist Church identifies as Baptist. For much of its history, the church was led by Pastor Noel Cannon, who had previously worked as a science teacher at The King’s School in Sydney. Cannon became a central figure in the church and school’s development and remained associated with the congregation for many years. The church and its associated school attracted substantial public scrutiny during the 2000s. In 2004, the Nine Network reported that 35 members had left amid allegations that church leaders exercised excessive control. Former member and founding participant Alan Nutt publicly expressed concern about the effect of this alleged control on members’ lives. The congregation rejected the characterization of the church as a cult. The same period of scrutiny also included reports that Redeemer Baptist School owed approximately A$6 million in unpaid wages to 14 teachers. Matters involving the church and school were discussed in the New South Wales Parliament, including comments made by Greens member Dr John Kaye in 2007 and 2008. A church elder and school bursar, Russel Bailey, submitted formal citizens’ rights of reply to Parliament in response. A separate legal dispute involving school critic Grahame Glossop concluded in a settlement in 2008. Glossop said that he was satisfied the litigation had ended and expressed a wish to move beyond the dispute. The settlement and parliamentary exchanges formed part of a broader period in which the governance, finances, and leadership of the church-associated school received public attention. Noel Cannon died on 25 February 2012. New South Wales Parliament paid tribute to him, and his son Jonathan succeeded him in leadership roles connected with Redeemer Baptist Church and Redeemer Baptist School. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about the church’s current leadership, membership, finances, programs, or present institutional structure. Its principal identity remains that of a local Baptist church serving the Sydney area, with a closely associated school operating adjacent to its site.
History
Redeemer Baptist Church was established in 1974 in Sydney after approximately 30 families departed from Castle Hill Baptist Church in Castle Hill, in the Hills District. The new congregation developed as a Baptist church and was associated with a site in North Parramatta, where it later operated alongside Redeemer Baptist School. The church’s early doctrine was described as being based on the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal church in Houston, Texas, providing an unusual element in the congregation’s institutional background while its denominational identity remained Baptist. Pastor Noel Cannon was the church’s most prominent long-term leader. Before and during his association with Redeemer, Cannon was known as a science master at The King’s School in Sydney. His leadership extended beyond worship services to the development and direction of the church’s educational connection. Redeemer Baptist School became closely linked to the congregation and was located adjacent to the church at the North Parramatta site. The institution entered a period of serious public controversy in the early 2000s. In 2004, the Nine Network reported that 35 congregation members had left, citing allegations of excessive control by church leaders. Alan Nutt, identified as one of the congregation’s original founders, criticized the effects he believed this control had produced for younger and older members. Redeemer Baptist Church strongly denied claims that it was a cult. At the same time, reports concerning the associated school alleged that 14 teachers were owed approximately A$6 million in unpaid wages. These matters resulted in the church and school being mentioned several times in the New South Wales Parliament. Parliamentary attention continued in 2007 and 2008. Dr John Kaye, a Greens member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, made comments on 20 June 2007 and 3 April 2008 concerning the church and school. Russel Bailey, an elder of Redeemer Baptist Church and bursar of Redeemer Baptist School, responded by submitting citizens’ rights of reply to Parliament. These exchanges represented the institution’s formal response to public criticism and became part of the documented history of the church’s crisis period. The broader dispute also included litigation involving Grahame Glossop, a critic of the school. In 2008, the school and Glossop reached a settlement. Glossop stated that he was satisfied the litigation had been brought to a conclusion, described the preceding period as stressful, and said that he wished to move on without ill feeling toward the school or related parties. The settlement ended that particular legal conflict, although the events of the decade remained significant to public accounts of the church and its associated school. Noel Cannon died on 25 February 2012. His contribution was recognized in the New South Wales Parliament. Following his death, his son Jonathan succeeded him as principal of Redeemer Baptist School and as leader of Redeemer Baptist Church. The available reference material does not establish the church’s current membership, detailed governance arrangements, financial position, or present leadership beyond that succession. Redeemer Baptist Church is therefore best understood from the available record as a Sydney Baptist congregation with a long-standing church–school relationship and a history that includes both local religious activity and substantial public controversy during the 2000s.
- 2012
Death of Noel Cannon and succession
[1]Noel Cannon died on 25 February. His son Jonathan subsequently took on leadership roles at the church and school.
- 2008
Parliamentary response and legal settlement
[1]A further parliamentary comment was followed by a citizens’ right of reply from Russel Bailey, while a separate dispute with Grahame Glossop ended in settlement.
- 2007
First recorded parliamentary comments
[1]Dr John Kaye made comments in the New South Wales Parliament concerning Redeemer Baptist Church and its associated school.
- 2004
Public crisis and member departures
[1]Reports described the departure of 35 members amid allegations about leadership control and separately raised claims concerning unpaid wages at the associated school.
- 1974
Congregation established
[1]Approximately 30 families separated from Castle Hill Baptist Church and formed the congregation that became Redeemer Baptist Church.
Products and positioning
A local Australian Baptist congregation combining Christian worship, teaching, pastoral ministry, and an affiliated school presence.
Religious services · 1974
Worship services
Congregational Baptist worship is the church’s central public offering. The available reference material identifies Redeemer Baptist Church as a local congregation but does not provide a current schedule, service format, or detailed description of its worship program.
Religious education and ministry · 1974
Christian teaching and pastoral ministry
The church’s religious role includes Christian teaching, preaching, pastoral leadership, and congregational life. Public reference material does not specify the full range of current Bible studies, counseling, small groups, or community programs.
Education
Redeemer Baptist School association
Redeemer Baptist School is located adjacent to the church and has been institutionally connected with the congregation. The school is not a product of the church in a commercial sense, but it is a major part of the church’s documented organizational identity and history.
Controversies
2008
Parliamentary criticism and legal dispute
Public scrutiny continued through parliamentary comments and a legal dispute involving school critic Grahame Glossop. The litigation concluded with a settlement in 2008.
2004
Allegations of excessive leadership control
A report by the Nine Network described the departure of 35 members amid allegations that church leaders exercised excessive control. A founding member criticized the alleged impact on members, while the congregation denied claims that it was a cult.
2004
Reported unpaid wages at associated school
Reports alleged that Redeemer Baptist School owed 14 teachers approximately A$6 million in unpaid wages. The school and church were subsequently mentioned in the New South Wales Parliament.
Brand decisions
2012
Leadership succession after Noel Cannon’s deathStrategyBackground
Noel Cannon had led the church for much of its history and died on 25 February 2012.
Action taken
Jonathan Cannon, Noel Cannon’s son, succeeded him in leadership roles at Redeemer Baptist Church and as principal of Redeemer Baptist School.
Aftermath
The succession preserved the family continuity of leadership described in the available reference material.
2008
Settlement with Grahame GlossopOtherBackground
Redeemer Baptist School had been involved in litigation with Grahame Glossop, who criticized the school. The dispute formed part of the broader period of public controversy surrounding the institution.
Action taken
The parties reached a settlement, ending the litigation.
Aftermath
Glossop publicly said he was satisfied that the matter had concluded and expressed a desire to move on. No settlement amount is identified in the available source.
Recent events
- 2012
Death of Pastor Noel Cannon[1]
Leadership change · Other
Noel Cannon died on 25 February 2012. He was subsequently honored in the New South Wales Parliament, and his son Jonathan succeeded him in church and school leadership roles.
Sources2 sources
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