Brief
Former Nine O’Clock Service priest Christopher Brain convicted of rape and sexual assaults
The Sheffield‑based evangelical group’s founder was sentenced to custody after a second jury added a rape conviction to earlier assault verdicts.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Christopher Brain, 69, the founder of the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) evangelical movement in Sheffield, was found guilty on Friday of one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault, adding to earlier convictions for indecent assault.
What happened
Brain led the NOS, a Church of England‑affiliated group, from 1986 to 1995, attracting university students and young adults with nightly services that featured live music and nightclub‑style lighting. Prosecutors said he used his position to sexually abuse women who joined the group, which they described as a “cult”. In August 2025, a jury at Inner London Crown Court convicted him of 17 counts of indecent assault involving nine women. The second jury’s verdict on Friday added a rape charge and four further sexual‑assault counts, bringing the total to 22 sexual offences against 13 women.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that Brain, a former member of the Christian rock band Present Tense, surrounded himself with young women dressed in lycra and lingerie, exploiting his authority. Judge Freya Newbury said victims would be allowed to give impact statements at a sentencing hearing expected to last two days. The article also records that Brain, originally from Wilmslow, Cheshire, was ordained in 1991 and was noted for “grandiose self‑regard”, even insisting on robes previously worn by actor Robert De Niro in the film *The Mission*.
What was said
Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told the court that NOS “presented itself to the outside world as a progressive force for good” but in reality became a closed, controlled group dominated by Brain. The judge’s remarks about impact statements were reported by the outlet.
How it came about
The NOS was founded by Brain at St Thomas’s Church in the Crookes area of Sheffield before moving to the city‑centre Ponds Forge location. Its name derived from the 9 p.m. Sunday services. Earlier reporting by Felo News covered the rise and fall of charismatic religious groups in the UK, noting concerns about abuse of power within such movements.
Key facts
- Christopher Brain was convicted of one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault. (independent.co.uk)
- The convictions bring the total to 22 sexual offences against 13 women. (independent.co.uk)
- Brain led the Nine O’Clock Service from 1986 to 1995, attracting up to 500 members. (independent.co.uk)
- Judge Freya Newbury said victims may give impact statements at a two‑day sentencing hearing. (independent.co.uk)
- Prosecutor Tim Clark KC described NOS as a closed, controlled group dominated by Brain. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Nine O’Clock Service priest who ran 'cult' group found guilty of rape”
