Christopher Brain, the former priest who once led the influential Nine O'Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield, has been found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women, following a lengthy and highly publicized trial at Inner London Crown Court. The verdict, delivered on August 20, 2025, marks a dramatic fall from grace for a man who was once celebrated by the Church of England for his innovative approach to worship and youth outreach.
Brain, now 68 and living in Wilmslow, Cheshire, headed the NOS during the 1980s and 1990s, drawing hundreds of young people to what were described as nightclub-style services. According to BBC News, the movement's energetic, progressive image initially won praise from senior church leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, and led to Brain's ordination being fast-tracked in 1991. The NOS even spent a significant sum to purchase the same cassock worn by Robert De Niro in the film The Mission for his ordination ceremony, a detail highlighted during the trial.
But beneath the surface, prosecutors alleged, Brain's leadership took a much darker turn. The court heard that the NOS evolved from a vibrant youth movement into what was described as a cult-like environment. Women were recruited into a so-called "homebase team," tasked with caring for Brain and his family. These women, sometimes referred to as "the Lycra lovelies" or "the Lycra nuns" by group members, were often seen at Brain's home dressed in lingerie or revealing clothing, performing household chores and, as several testified, providing him with massages that sometimes led to indecent assaults.
Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told the court that Brain "abused his position first as a leader and then as an ordained priest to sexually assault a staggering number of women." He described a system in which members were isolated from friends and family, organized into "discipleship" groups, and made dependent on the NOS for validation and attention. "Members of NOS became utterly dependent on NOS and desperate for the attention and praise of the defendant," Clark said, as reported by The Guardian. "They were encouraged to give up their time, finances and, eventually, their sense of self to this organization and its leader."
One woman, who joined the church as a teenager, described Brain as a "form of prophet" and said she believed their contact was part of her "sexual healing." She told the court she felt unable to leave the group, even after attempting to do so. "She describes becoming severely depressed. She stated that she engaged in the sexual activity, or more precisely submitted to it occurring, in order to survive," Clark relayed to the jury. Another woman said she "viewed him as almost a God." Several victims recounted being groomed and subjected to indecent assaults during massages, with one woman stating she would enter a "robotic" state to comply with Brain's demands, dreading his phone calls.
The trial, which lasted seven weeks, examined allegations spanning from 1981 to 1995. Brain was initially charged with one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault involving 13 women. On August 20, the jury found him guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women, but acquitted him on 15 other counts related to two women. As of the verdict, the jury was still deliberating on one count of rape and four further counts of indecent assault, with deliberations set to continue on August 21.
Brain, who showed no emotion as the verdicts were read, consistently denied the charges throughout the trial. He admitted to receiving massages from members of the homebase team, which he described as being for "tension" relief, but claimed that any "sensual touching" was consensual and occurred between friends. "Why not?" he responded when asked by his defense why he accepted back massages from women other than his wife. He insisted that the NOS was a "free, open, really caring, very fun environment," and denied enforcing dress codes or discouraging friendships among members.
However, the prosecution painted a different picture. According to BBC News, witnesses reported seeing Brain surrounded by women in lingerie at his home, and several testified that they were required to put him to bed and provide sexual favors as part of their duties. Brain admitted in a 1995 BBC documentary to "improper sexual conduct with a number of women," but denied that his actions constituted abuse. He resigned from Holy Orders two days before the documentary aired, as the NOS collapsed in scandal.
Brain's defense argued that the allegations had "basically destroyed my life" and suggested that the women had "to exaggerate these things to make it either sexual or controlling" in order to build a criminal case. He rejected claims that he controlled members' clothing or discouraged outside relationships, stating, "I was the most radical ordained vicar there was... I wasn't a traditional vicar, I was someone on a journey of radical research and experimentation." He maintained that any sexual contact with his accusers was consensual and that some of the alleged assaults "simply did not happen."
The NOS, once hailed as a "ground-breaking" success that drew 500 to 600 people to Sunday evening services at St Thomas' Church and later Ponds Forge leisure centre, was officially dissolved in 1995 after the first allegations surfaced. The Diocese of Sheffield has since stated it is "committed to supporting victims, survivors and all impacted by the trial of Chris Brain," providing resources for those affected on its website.
As the legal process continues, with the jury still considering the remaining charges, the case has prompted renewed scrutiny of how charismatic leaders can exploit positions of trust within religious organizations. The story of Christopher Brain and the Nine O'Clock Service stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked authority and the lasting impact such abuse can have on individuals and communities alike.
For those who once saw NOS as a beacon of progressive faith, the verdict brings a sobering end to a chapter marked by both innovation and betrayal. The ongoing deliberations will determine whether further accountability is forthcoming, but for many, the damage inflicted during Brain's tenure will not be easily forgotten.
