Priest Convicted of Rape and Assault After Leading 'Cult' Congregation
A Church of England priest has been found guilty of raping one congregant and indecently assaulting three others in the 1980s and 1990s.
Chris Brain, a 69-year-old priest who established a "cult" within the Church of England, has been convicted of raping a woman and indecently assaulting three others. The offenses occurred in the 1980s and 1990s against women who were part of the Nine O'Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield.
Brain was found guilty of the charges following a retrial at Inner London Crown Court. This verdict follows a previous trial last year where he was convicted of 17 indecent assaults against nine other women. He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.
Prosecutors argued that Brain exploited his position as a priest to sexually assault a significant number of women within his congregation. The Nine O'Clock Service, which was known for its innovative, nightclub-style worship and attracted hundreds of young people to St Thomas's church, was described by prosecutor Tim Clark KC as having become a "cult." In this environment, members were allegedly encouraged to isolate themselves from family and friends, rendering them "utterly dependent" on Brain and instilling a fear of ostracization for dissent.
Following the latest convictions, South Yorkshire Police characterized Brain as a "devious and arrogant sexual predator who caused lasting harm to these women."