THE Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, has offered “an unreserved apology” after the conviction of Chris Brain, the founder of the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield, on charges of indecent assaults against nine women.
On Wednesday afternoon, the jury at Inner London Crown Court returned verdicts on 32 of the 37 charges against Mr Brain, 68, of Wilmslow, Cheshire. They found him guilty on 17 charges of indecent assault, and not guilty on 15 further charges.
On Thursday (21 August), the jury, which had been deliberating since Tuesday of last week, indicated that it had been unable to reach a verdict on four further charges of indecent assault and one of rape, South Yorkshire Police said. The jury was subsequently discharged.
All the charges concerned former worshippers at the NOS, and related to the period between 1981 and 1995.
“As Bishop of Sheffield, I want to speak directly to the survivors, their families and friends, and to everyone affected by these events,” Dr Wilcox said in a statement on Thursday. “I am deeply sorry for the harm you have suffered. I recognise that a mixed verdict can be profoundly painful: for some it may bring a measure of justice and relief, and for others it will feel incomplete, confusing, or retraumatising. Those reactions are understandable and I am truly sorry for the continued hurt this brings.
“What happened was an appalling abuse of power and leadership that should never have occurred. 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.”
Dr Wilcox said that the diocese was committed to supporting those affected, and would continue to cooperate fully with the police and any other authorities. “Our diocesan safeguarding team is available to listen, to provide practical support and to signpost to independent counselling and specialist services,” he said.
“As part of our ongoing learning, I will commission an independent Safeguarding Practice Review (SPR). The detail and scope of this will be decided in the Autumn, but will examine 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. 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.
“My prayers remain with the survivors, their families, and all who have been affected by these events.”
The NOS, which Mr Brain led, began in Sheffield in 1986 and was celebrated for its ability to draw crowds of young people. But it collapsed in 1995 over allegations about Mr Brain’s behaviour, and concerns about a “cult-like” atmosphere.
The court heard that some of the victims had been part of a “homebase team” who looked after Mr Brain and his family, and that they became known as the “Lycra nuns”, owing to their tight-fitting clothes (News, 8 August).
During the trial, Mr Brain admitted to having had sexual interactions with some of the women, but said that these incidents had been consensual. The prosecution barrister, Tim Clark KC, however, suggested that “any capacity they had to consent had been removed by the domineering nature of the defendant, by his control over their entire lives, and by their absolute terror of being ostracised.”
In a statement issued on Thursday, South Yorkshire Police said that officers had spoken to hundreds of people as part of the investigation. “We took around 50 statements, gathered hundreds of pieces of documentation and conducted 55 hours’ worth of victim and witness interviews.
“Our enquiries took us all over the UK, with many of those involved now based in different parts of the country. Many of the people we needed to speak to for help with our enquiries weren’t previously known to police, and weren’t easily traceable, resulting in the use of varied and complex tactics to find them and seek their assistance.”
Detective Superintendent Eleanor Welsh, the Senior Investigating Officer, expressed gratitude towards the “courageous women” who had made reports and supported the investigation. They had “waited three or four decades for these verdicts and bravely relived their ordeals in a bid to secure justice”, she said.
She continued: “Brain is a devious and arrogant sexual predator who caused these women significant harm through his abuse of power and cruel manipulation of their faith.
“While I am pleased with the guilty verdicts, I know for the victims it can never take away what Brain did to them. However, I hope that it brings some comfort to know they have had a voice, they have been heard, and the jury has accepted that Brain is a serial sex offender.”
She also hoped that the verdicts would “show others who may have suffered sexual abuse that it’s never too late to come forward and report to us, even if the offences occurred many years ago. We will listen to you and there is support available to you throughout the process.”
South Yorkshire Police said that Mr Brain would be sentenced “on a date to be set”.
A woman previously arrested in connection to the case had been released with no further action, it said.
The Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, and the National Safeguarding Director, Alexander Kubeyinje, have also issued a statement.
They said: “Our thoughts and prayers today are with the women who have bravely come forward to share their testimonies. The conviction of Chris Brain on 17 counts of indecent assault has resulted in lasting damage to their lives, and they were an appalling abuse of power in leadership that should never have happened. We are truly sorry.”
Support is available via sheffdio.org/NOSsupport and Safe Spaces