Bishop offers apology to victims of abusive priest Chris Brain

The Bishop of Sheffield has offered an “unreserved apology” to the victims of former priest Chris Brain after he was convicted of 17 counts of indecent assault.

Brain was found guilty of sexually abusing nine female members of the “cult-like” Nine O’Clock Service during his time as leader of the evangelical movement in Sheffield in the 1980s and 90s.

In a statement, the Rt Rev Dr Pete Wilcox said what happened was “an appalling abuse of power and leadership that should never have occurred” and that he had commissioned an independent review of the church’s handling of the matter.

Brain, 68, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, was cleared of a further 15 charges of indecent assault and jurors were unable to reach verdicts on five further charges. He is due to be sentenced later this year.

During the course of his trial, jurors heard how Brain launched the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) in 1984 at St Thomas’ Church in Crookes, before moving to the city’s Ponds Forge sports centre as its popularity grew.

The services, which blended live music and multi-media displays with Christian worship, were initially lauded by the Church of England and Brain was fast-tracked into the priesthood in 1991.

However, the movement collapsed in controversy in 1995 after a number of women came forward to say they had been sexually abused by Brain during his tenure as leader.

Dr Wilcox said: “Where concerns were raised in the past and were not acted upon properly, that was a failing of the church. For those institutional failures I offer an unreserved apology.”

He said the church was committed to supporting those affected “for the harm you have suffered”.

Announcing the independent Safeguarding Practice Review, he said it would look at “our safeguarding responses, culture and processes so that we can identify where lessons can be learned and strengthen best practice for the future”.

“Words will never undo the harm that has been caused,” he added.

“We will, however, continue to work to ensure the church is a safe place for everyone – where concerns are taken seriously, where survivors are believed and supported, and where accountability and compassion guide our actions.”

Richard Scorer, who represented Brain’s victims, said the case “could and should have been prosecuted 30 years ago”.

“The Church of England must now reckon with its role – this high-control religious cult operated on its watch.”

He said there had been “clear warning signs” about Brain which were not acted upon.

“Their failure to act enabled a predator to flourish under the guise of spiritual authority,” he added.

Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told Brain’s trial the NOS had originally “presented itself as a progressive force for good”.

However behind the scenes he said it was a “closed and controlled group which the defendant dominated” saying that Brain had “abused his position first as a leader and then as an ordained priest to sexually assault a staggering number of women from his congregation”.

He said the group “became a cult” in which members were encouraged to cut themselves off from family and friends, leaving them “utterly dependent” on NOS and “desperate for the attention and praise” of its leader.

A total of 13 women came forward against Brain, who was accused of 37 sexual offences in total.

He was found guilty of indecent assault against nine of the women.

The court heard some of the offences were committed by Brain on members of the so-called Homebase Team – a group of female NOS followers who were charged with looking after Brain and his family.

Sometimes referred to as “the Lycra lovelies” or “the Lycra nuns” – the women were asked to massage Brain and help put him to bed with sexual favours, the prosecutor said.

Brain told the jury they were intended to be for “tensions” on his body but could evolve into consensual “sensual touching”, which he said was between friends and “no big deal”.