A former priest who led an influential evangelical “cult” in the Church of England has been found guilty of further offences against women in his congregation.
Christopher Brain led the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield, a rave-inspired worship movement which ran between 1986 and 1995.
The 69 year-old was convicted on one count of rape and four counts of indecent assault during a five-week retrial at Inner London Crown Court on Friday. He had already been found guilty of 17 indecent assaults against nine women, during a trial last year.
Brain, previously from Cheshire, is now in custody ahead of sentencing at a later date.
Jurors heard how NOS “became a cult”, with Brain having “brainwashed” his victims into believing that he was a “mouthpiece of God”. Victims believed they would be failing as Christians if they did not carry out the sexual acts.
A number of victims were part of a “homebase team” which provided round-the-clock care for Brain, which involved sexual massages to put the NOS leader to bed.
Brain was removed from ministry in 1995 after allegations were made public. He continued to deny that sexual activity was not consensual.
After the verdict, senior crown prosecutor Julie Moss said Brain had “embarked on a disturbing campaign of manipulation and abuse”, having framed NOS as a “progressive force for good”.
“Victims were isolated from their loved ones, made financially and emotionally dependent on the group, and made to believe that resistance to Brain’s sexual advances reflected their own personal or spiritual failings,” she added.
Bishop of Sheffield Pete Wilcox said: “My first thoughts today are with the women whose courage brought this retrial to a conclusion. They have now given evidence, in full, not once but twice. It is unfortunate that that was necessary, and I am acutely conscious of the cost it has had for them. I am also conscious of the distress experienced by many others who have not been part of the criminal proceedings.”
“Last year I offered an unreserved apology for the abuse of power and leadership that took place within the Nine O’Clock Service. Today’s verdict adds to that same picture, and my apology stands in full.
“Last year I also commissioned an independent Safeguarding Practice Review into how the Church responded at the time. We took the decision to delay that review until these outstanding charges had been resolved, so as not to cut across the retrial. With today’s verdict, that review will now begin, and I remain committed to seeing it through, and to acting on its findings.”
