A former Church of England priest who once led a controversial rave-inspired congregation has been found guilty of sexually assaulting nine women during his time in ministry.
Chris Brain, 68, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, was convicted of 17 counts of indecent assault at Inner London Crown Court. The jury found him guilty of exploiting his role within the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS), a church group in Sheffield that attracted hundreds of young worshippers during the 1980s and 1990s.
Brain had denied all charges, including one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault spanning from 1981 to 1995. While he was acquitted of 15 charges, the jury continues to deliberate on five remaining counts, including the rape allegation.
The Nine O’Clock Service was initially celebrated by church leaders as a “ground-breaking” new form of worship. Services featured dance music, multimedia effects, a live band, and performances by scantily-dressed women. At its peak, between 500 and 600 people attended Sunday night gatherings at The Rotunda in Ponds Forge after the group moved from St Thomas’ Church.
But prosecutors told jurors that behind the innovation lay manipulation and abuse. They argued that Brain created a “closed and controlled group” in which he dominated female members and used his spiritual authority to coerce them into sexual acts.
Brain, who was fast-tracked into ordination in 1991, allegedly cheated on his exams and wore a cassock modeled on Robert De Niro’s character in The Mission during his ceremony. By 1994, the movement collapsed after multiple women came forward with allegations. Brain resigned from holy orders in 1995 amid intense media coverage.
Taking the stand in his defense, Brain admitted that he sometimes received back massages from members of the congregation, which he claimed were meant to relieve his tension headaches. On occasion, he said, these encounters led to consensual kissing, stroking, or touching, but he denied any coercion.
“With some of my closest friends, it would be kissing sometimes, occasionally massaging, stroking. Anything more than that, we would back off,” Brain testified. He insisted he would have “instantly stopped” if anyone indicated discomfort.
Brain argued that the allegations had “basically destroyed my life” and claimed the women had exaggerated their accounts to portray him as abusive.
After leaving the church, Brain briefly worked in the dotcom industry before starting a business helping small firms grow. That venture collapsed after he was formally charged.
The guilty verdict marks another chapter in the Church of England’s long struggle with historic abuse cases and the exploitation of power by clergy. The case has also reignited debates over oversight within alternative church movements that experiment with unconventional forms of worship.
Sentencing for Brain will take place at a later date, pending the jury’s decision on the remaining charges.
