A former Church of England minister has been found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women.
Chris Brain, 68, was the founder and leader of the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS), a rave-inspired worship movement that ran within the Church of England between 1986 and 1995.
The verdict was delivered at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday. Jurors are still considering four further counts of indecent assault and one charge of rape. Brain was acquitted of 15 additional counts of indecent assault.
During the trial, prosecutors said some of the women were abused after joining a “homebase team” tasked with looking after Brain and his family. Witnesses described seeing him surrounded by women, referred to within NOS circles as the “Lycra lovelies” or “Lycra nuns".
The court heard that members of the team were treated as domestic servants and pressured into providing sexual favours.
Some of the assaults were said to have taken place during massages which Brain admitted receiving, though he told the jury that any physical contact was consensual and described it as “between friends” and “no big deal.” He insisted that any touching was done with “100 per cent” consent.
Prosecutors characterised NOS as a “closed and controlled group” where Brain “dominated and abused his position” to exploit women from within the congregation.
Brain was removed from ministry in 1995. He continues to deny all charges.
