Priest accused of leading 'cult' Nine O'Clock Service denies raping woman and sexually assaulting others

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 12:57 EDT, 21 September 2026 | Updated: 12:59 EDT, 21 September 2026 A 'cult' priest accused of raping one worshipper and sexually assaulting others has denied attacking any women.Chris Brain, who led the distinctive Nine O'Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield, said any sexual activity he had with women was consensual.Brain is accused of launching sex attacks between 1983 and 1995, having already been convicted of a string of offences on women at a trial last year, jurors have been told.Giving evidence in his retrial at Inner London Crown Court, Brain denied accusations he used his position to control members of the church.The court heard Brain's services, held late on Sunday evenings after the 'watershed', featured live music and multimedia, and were particularly popular with younger Christians.But he denied suggestions by defence counsel Iain Simkin KC that he was indeed leading a 'cult'.Speaking wearing a dark T-shirt with a sweatshirt over his shoulders, Brain told jurors: 'Every new religious movement is not a cult.'I constantly said it is not about a single leader, ever - people's freedom was respected at all times. Chris Brain, who ran the Nine O'Clock Service in Sheffield, denies rape and a string of sexual assault allegations against women at his church Brain has already been convicted of a string of attacks on women at a trial last year'Yes it was passionate, it was demanding, it was a great deal of fun, it felt as though we were doing something really important.'That does not mean it was a cult.'The court previously heard how the Church of England initially viewed NOS as a 'stunning success story'.It appeared 'ground-breaking' because the high-energy services were 'visually stunning' and were popular with young people, many of whom were scantily dressed, prosecutor Tim Clark KC told jurors.Mr Clark said Brain was aware that the women in his close circle 'feared ostracisation more than anything'.Witnesses later told police they were encouraged to become estranged from their family members and those who were not part of NOS, the court heard.But the defendant denied this.Brain, 69, said that he engaged in sexual activity with some of the prosecution witnesses, but that it was always consensual.Asked if he raped one woman, Brain replied: 'I did not.'Defence counsel Mr Simkin asked: 'Did you have sexual intercourse with (the complainant) on an occasion?'Brain replied: 'Yes.'Mr Simkin asked: 'As far as you are concerned did she consent?'Brain replied: 'Yes, of course.'He denied telling people what to wear, or instructing them to cut ties with friends and family members.Brain, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies rape and four counts of indecent assault relating to at least 15 alleged incidents involving four women.None of the complainants can be identified as alleged victims of sexual offences.The trial continues.