A lawyer based in Burlington is drafting a class-action lawsuit for hundreds of former Grenville Christian College students alleging decades of psychological and physical abuse at the now-closed private school east of Brockville.

Former student will testify at inquiry today that he was held down and beaten bloody with a heavy wooden object.

Anglican authorities have begun investigating the activities of a retired Anglican priest who was headmaster for two decades of a now-closed private Christian school where alleged abusive cult practices were carried out.

For the fifth time in 28 years, the Community of Jesus is fielding allegations about cult-like behavior, mind control and excessive discipline among the families and monastic orders at its site at Rock Harbor.

Ruth Buddington was 13 when she was brought to Grenville Christian College in Brockville, Ont., as a prisoner of her cult-member parents.

Ontario’s Grenville Christian College, which has closed amid allegations of cult practices, was an emotionally, spiritually and sometimes physically abusive place that caused “hurt and pain” to staff and students, a former senior administrator of the elite private school acknowledged Friday.

The staff of Brockville's newspaper knew nearly 20 years ago of allegations of religious cult practices at Grenville Christian College but backed off from publishing an article because of legal threats and sources who changed their minds about allowing their names to be used.

Former students of Grenville Christian School, a private religious college, tell of exorcisms and harsh discipline.