A former priest who based a “rave church” will seem in courtroom after he was charged with rape and sexual assault in opposition to 11 girls in his congregation.
Reverend Christopher Brain, 66, will seem in courtroom subsequent month to reply one rely of rape and 33 costs of indecent assault, which allegedly occurred between 1981 and 1995. Brain, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, led a motion referred to as the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, from 1986.
The rave-inspired novelty church attracted an enormous following from younger worshippers. It was championed by church leaders within the Nineteen Eighties who noticed it as an efficient means of interesting to disillusioned younger individuals who might have been turned off from conventional Christian congregations.
(Image: Dave Hitchborne / Wikipedia)
A probe was launched when a former member of the NOS got here ahead with claims about Brain’s conduct in 2020, police mentioned. A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman mentioned all costs “relate to allegations of sexual offences committed against women who had joined the movement.”
Chief Superintendent Lindsey Butterfield mentioned: “These charges follow a complex and wide-ranging investigation into events dating back 30 or more years. An investigation team has been working hard to build up a full picture of what is reported to have happened.
“We perceive this can be a regarding case and one which is able to have an effect upon people and communities. We will proceed to supply acceptable assist and updates to these concerned.”
Detectives appealed for anyone with any information, or any further complainants or witnesses to come forward.
The NOS was initially held at St Thomas Crookes in Sheffield, and later moved to a larger building at Ponds Forge in the city centre. Brain was considered a charismatic leader and wore the robes used by Robert De Niro in the film The Mission at his ordination service – which was fast-tracked after he impressed George Carey, who went on to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
He’s now listed as a director of Pentameter, a small management and design consultancy company based in Manchester. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates Court on March 18.
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