A former Church of England priest has been found guilty of indecently assaulting young women who attended his evangelical church in Sheffield. Christopher Brain, 61, was convicted on 17 charges of indecent assault against women from the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) between 1986 and 1995, following a trial lasting more than seven weeks.
The jury acquitted Brain on 15 further indecent assault charges and could not reach verdicts on four other indecent assault charges and one rape charge. The NOS, which used rock music and rave culture to attract young people, was described by prosecutors as a cult where Brain exerted control over female followers, isolating them from friends and family. Some victims said they felt ‘brainwashed’.
The Church of England issued an ‘unreserved’ apology for its failings. The Bishop of Sheffield, the Right Rev Pete Wilcox, said: ‘What happened was an appalling abuse of power and leadership that should never have occurred. Where concerns were raised in the past and were not acted upon properly, that was a failing of the church.’ He added that an independent review would examine safeguarding responses and culture.
The court heard that Brain’s ‘home base team’ of young women, known as the ‘Lycra lovelies’ or ‘Lycra nuns’, performed household chores and gave him massages. Brain claimed the massages were to relieve ‘tensions’ and could become ‘sensual touching’ with consent, which he described as ‘no big deal’. He denied controlling behaviour, saying his ‘direct Yorkshire style’ may have been misinterpreted.
The NOS collapsed in 1995 after allegations of sexual abuse. Brain admitted ‘improper sexual conduct’ and resigned. Survivors came forward again in 2021. Richard Scorer, representing victims, said the case ‘could and should have been prosecuted 30 years ago’.
