A look at Synagogue, Church of All Nations where Constance Marten, missing with Birmingham partner, spent time

The daughter of an aristocrat who is on the run with her partner - who has links to Birmingham - and their newborn baby is said to have spent time at a controversial church in Nigeria. The Met Police have released new CCTV footage of the couple while appealing for information.

Constance Marten, 35, has been missing with Mark Gordon, who was born in Birmingham but moved to the US as a child. He was jailed there for raping a woman and is on the American sex offenders registry. He was deported to the UK after he served his jail term.

Marten and Gordon have been missing since early January and the police and her family have been urging her to return since then. She also gave birth while on the run and neither she nor her child have seen a doctor since.

Thirty-five year old Constance’ - whose family once owned the £100m Crichel House estate in Dorset - reportedly spent six months at the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.

What is SCOAN?

SCOAN was founded by televangelist T. B. Joshua who died in 2021. The Non-denominational church has millions of followers on social media and Joshua was widely known in Africa and Latin America.

Joshua fashioned himself as a “prophet” after having a vision of “divine anointing”. He started his ministry in 1987 with a handful of members but it has grown to attract foreign tourists and more than 50,000 people attend the weekly Sunday service.

Through his Christian television station Emmanuel TV, Joshua shared his teachings. He has claimed to have healed many illnesses, including HIV/Aids, cancer and paralysis. The church used to have a branch in London’s Southwark as well.

What was Constance Marten’s time at SCOAN like?

Her friends have spoken to the Independent claiming that Constance was ‘brainwashed‘ at the Nigerian church during her time there, between 2006 and 2007. They said she underwent ‘intense’ work and lived in dormitories along with 100 other disciples.

They also reportedly said that Constance ate leftovers of the leader of the church and underwent solitary exile as a punishment. Contance’s friend said that after leaving the church, she hoped to make a documentary on it - but nothing came of those plans. They said she was left with some emotional trauma and began questioning her faith in Christianity.

When was Constance last seen?

Met Police Detectives have been working to trace Constance, Mark and their newborn - and tracked them to Newhaven in East Sussex. Evidence showed that they were dropped off in a taxi at 04:56 on Sunday, January 8 just outside the entrance to the port.

They then walked to where the A259 crosses over the B2109. They were seen sheltering from the rain, under the overpass, at about 06:00hrs.

At around 06:15hrs on Sunday, January 8, they walked along Cantercrow Hill into the fields beyond. They were carrying a number of bags and their blue tent, and officers believe they have been camping in the area subsequently, although given the time that’s passed they could have moved on some considerable distance.

However, they were no longer in possession of the pushchair that they were previously seen with after it was found in Flower and Dean Walk, London E1, at 23:46hrs on Saturday, January 7. Met detectives are offering a £10,000 reward for information that helps to locate the missing couple and their new born baby.

Anyone who has information on the family’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 7175 0785. Alternatively, information can be reported 100 percent anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask for personal details and they do not trace your device.