News Made Clear · Loading…
A jury has convicted former priest Chris Brain of rape and four indecent assaults at a retrial, bringing his total to 22 sexual offence convictions.
What has changed? · 02/10/2026, 18:28 UTC
Review information is loading.
The verdict on Friday, 2 October, brings Brain’s total across two trials to 22 sexual offence convictions involving 13 women. In August 2025, a jury convicted him of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women and acquitted him of 15 other indecent-assault charges. It could not reach verdicts on the rape charge and four further indecent-assault charges, which went to retrial. [2] [3]
Brain led the Sheffield-based Nine O’Clock Service, a movement within the Church of England, from 1986 to 1995. Prosecutors said he used his position to abuse women in the congregation. Brain acknowledged sexual contact with some followers but maintained that it was consensual. [1] [2]
In a statement after the 2025 convictions, the Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox, apologised for what he described as the church’s past failure to act properly when concerns were raised. [1]
3 listed sources · explore evidence, limitations and provenance.
Sign in to give this article a thumbs up or down.
Private test discussion. Comments are readers’ views and are not yet automatically fact-checked. Editing is available for 60 seconds after posting.
Sign in with a confirmed reader account and choose a username to read comments and participate.
Sorting applies to top-level comments; replies remain oldest first. New comments and likes can change the order. Refresh for the current ranking.
Loading comments…