Dayo Ade Olusola | Date: 20 August 2025
Rave-Inspired Church Group Targets Young Adults
A former Church of England priest who led a rave-inspired “cult” group has been convicted of indecently assaulting nine women, the Inner London Crown Court has heard.
Chris Brain, 68, ran the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield during the 1980s and 1990s, a church movement aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds featuring multimedia, live music, and scantily-clad female participants.
NOS Initially Praised by Church
NOS was initially praised by the Church of England as a “ground-breaking” success, attracting 500 to 600 attendees at its 9 pm Sunday services after moving from St Thomas Church to The Rotunda in Ponds Forge.
Court Proceedings and Conviction
Brian, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denied sexual offences against 13 women, including one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault between 1981 and 1995.
The jury found him guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault relating to nine women and acquitted him of 15 similar charges. Deliberations continue on five remaining counts, including the rape allegation.
Prosecutors Describe Abuse of Power
Prosecutors described NOS as a “closed and controlled group” where Brian “dominated and abused his position” to assault a “staggering number of women from his congregation.”
Brian’s ordination was “fast-tracked,” with claims he cheated in his exams. During the ceremony in 1991, he wore the same cassock as Robert De Niro in The Mission.
Collapse of NOS and Resignation
NOS collapsed in 1994 following allegations of sexual misconduct, and Brian resigned from his holy orders in 1995 amid “enormous media interest,” the court heard.
Brain’s Defence in Court
In court, Brian admitted giving some NOS members back massages to relieve tension headaches, which occasionally led to sexual contact. He claimed any touching was consensual and that he would have immediately stopped if anyone expressed discomfort.
Brain said the allegations had “basically destroyed my life” and suggested the women had exaggerated events to present them as criminal acts.
Life After NOS
Following his time at NOS, Brian became involved in the dotcom boom and later founded a business helping small firms grow, which collapsed after he was charged.
