Ex-priest and ‘rave church’ leader guilty of 17 indecent assaults

A former Anglican priest has been found guilty of 17 charges of indecent assault against nine women who were followers of his cult-like movement in the 1980s and 1990s.

Chris Brain, 68, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, was the founder of the Nine O’Clock Service, known as NOS, which attracted hundreds of followers to rave-style worship services in Sheffield. He was convicted after an eight-week trial at Inner London crown court.

After 37 and a half hours of deliberation a jury found him not guilty of 15 other indecent assault charges.

Judge Freya Newbery asked the jurors to return on Thursday to continue their deliberations on five further charges including an allegation of rape.

NOS was hailed as a success story by Church of England leaders because it was attracting huge congregations of young worshippers. It collapsed in 1995 after a number of women accused Brain of sexual exploitation. The story made newspaper headlines at the time but it was not until 2021 that women came forward to police, leading to a criminal investigation.

Tim Clark KC, for the prosecution, told the court that Brain had abused a “staggering” number of women while he was leading NOS, between 1986 and 1995. He said the victims were unable to properly consent to sexual activity with Brain because he held such power over their lives and they feared being ostracised from the movement.

Iain Simkin KC, for the defence, denied that NOS was a cult and said women were free to consent or withdraw consent.

The trial continues.