Chris Brain faces retrial on outstanding rape and sex abuse charges
Chris Brain, the former leader of the Nine O’Clock Service in Sheffield in the 1980s and 1990s, is to face a re-trial on four outstanding charges of indecent assault and one of rape. Last month, he was found guilty of 17 indecent assaults against nine women while leading the church, and cleared of a further 15 cases, with the jury failing to reach a verdict on five more charges. Yesterday, Inner London Crown Court was told the Crown Prosecution Service is seeking a retrial on the remaining charges, scheduled to begin on 1 September 2026 and expected to last about four weeks. A case management hearing to discuss the sentencing of Brain for the charges on which he was found guilty was set for 2 October. The Nine O’Clock service was held at an Anglican church in a nightclub rave style, with strobe lights, music and “lycra clad” ladies, who danced in the services. The CPS outlined evidence that Brain had a team of female members of the church who helped in his house including “attending upon him in his bedroom before he went to sleep which is when many of the offences occurred. The victims were too scared of being excluded from the religious group to refuse. This became known as the ‘putting to bed ROTA’.”
Bishop of Warrington resigns after absence of two years
The Bishop of Warrington, Beverley Mason, has resigned as suffragan Bishop of Warrington in the Diocese of Liverpool, after being absent from her role since the autumn of 2023. Her absence was linked to a complaint of sexual harrassment against the former Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, who subsequently retired. In a letter to the diocese, she said she had been “advised to take ‘extended study leave’ on the understanding that the causative would be resolved soon thereafter”, and she was “profoundly sorry” the issue had taken so long to resolve. She did not know what the future would hold. The present interim Bishop of Liverpool, Dr Ruth Worsley, said: “It is with heavy hearts we receive this news today. We are thankful for all that Bishop Bev has given in her ministry among us here in the Liverpool diocese. She goes with our love and prayers for the future.”
Churches ‘regret’ distress caused to women in mother and baby homes in England
ITV has broadcast a two-part series of “Long Lost Family”, with stories of mothers being forced to give away their babies for adoption in Mother and Baby homes run by Christian denominations in England in the 1940s – 1970s. The programme reported that around 200,000 young women gave up their babies at these homes, many run by religious groups and funded by local government It told the stories of two mothers now 85 and 89, who were in homes run by the Church of England and the Baptist Union, and whose lost children were found by the researchers. The programme raised questions about what happened to babies who were mixed race or disabled. A spokesperson for the CofE expressed regret for the pain and distress and the pressure on unmarried mothers to give up their babies for adoption. The Baptist Union said it became aware of the harmful experiences of women at a home it ran, only in 2018, “for which we deeply lament”. There is campaign for a government apology in England, to match those from governments in Scotland and Wales.
Pope meets Israel’s president to discuss urgent need for ceasefire
Pope Leo XIV has met the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, at the Vatican and impressed on him the need for a speedy resumption of negotiations, the urgency of a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The Pope reiterated his view that “a two-state solution is the only way out of the current war” and there were talks about how to ensure a future for the Palestinian people, and peace and stability in the region. A number of issues were also addressed related to safeguarding Christian communities especially on the West Bank, with the Vatican emphasising “the importance of Christian communities and their commitment, both locally and throughout the Middle East, to human and social development, especially in the areas of education, the promotion of social cohesion, and regional stability”. The Guardian reports that Isaac Herzog will visit the UK next Wednesday and Thursday, for talks with the UK government.
Scotland’s Jewish Council says First Minister endangering Jews
The Jewish Council of Scotland has warned that the Scottish Government’s announcement on Gaza could endanger Scottish Jews. The First Minister, John Sweeney, told the Scottish parliament that public money to arms companies supplying Israel, will be paused. He said there is “plausible evidence” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. He also called for the recognition of a Palestinian state and a Palestinian flag was flown above the government’s headquarters at St Andrew’s House, to show “Scotland’s solidarity” with Palestinians. In response, the chairman of the Jewish Council of Scotland, Timothy Lovat, said they were concerned that the statement would “undermine the safety, security and well-being of the Jewish community in Scotland”. The Council had warned him before the statement that it would be irresponsible to say Israel is engaged in a genocidal campaign against Palestinians. It said: “Setting out a stance likely to be publicly perceived simply and without qualification as anti-Israel, without drawing any distinction between the state of Israel and its current leadership, or acknowledging the continuing culpability of Hamas, is likely to have a far greater and more immediate impact locally, fuelling ‘antizionist’ – and antisemitic – hatred and discrimination against Scotland’s Jews and our institutions and symbols, than it is on the situation in the Middle East, let alone in Westminster.”
Imam in court over marriage of two 16-year-olds in Northampton
Imam Ashraf Osmani from Northampton, has been charged with conducting a Nikah marriage ceremony, a Muslim ceremony, with two 16-year-olds at the Northampton Central Mosque in November 2023. A police statement says that Osmani, a Bangladesh-born British national, will appear before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 11 September. He has been charged under Section 121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, as amended by the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which raised the legal minimum age for marriage and civil partnerships in England and Wales to 18, with no exceptions. The law also makes it a criminal offence to arrange or conduct child marriages, whether or not force or coercion is involved. Police statement here and here
Catholic bishop re-iterates opposition to Assisted Dying Bill
The Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, John Sherrington, has issued a statement reiterating the Catholic bishops’ opposition to the Assisted Dying Bill, which comes back into the Lords for its second reading on Friday 12 September. He says the bill is unworkable and puts the safety of healthcare institutions, professionals, and patients at risk, violating ethical principles. It would fundamentally change the relationship between the medical professional and the patient, and he believes the conscience clause allowing doctors to opt out of delivering the procedure, is inadequate. He appeals for priority to be given to the provision of palliative care, which he says is patchy around the country.
Canterbury Succession: Next Archbishop must speak out on government policies
The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, has told The Times that the next Archbishop of Canterbury should not be afraid of speaking out on government policies. He said: “I would absolutely want to encourage them to be courageous in speaking out and speaking into the life of the nation…I think we have a responsibility to speak out and particularly just try to offer a global perspective and to offer a perspective on behalf of the poor both in the United Kingdom and globally. And we’re not going to cease from doing that any time soon.” Steven Croft spoke out against Reform policies advocating 600,000 deportations of migrants, saying they were seeking to increase people’s fears of the stranger for political purposes. The Crown Nominations Committee will make its decision on the Canterbury successor this month.
Carlo Acutis, millennial saint, to be canonised this Sunday
On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV will canonise Carlo Acutis at a ceremony at St Peter’s Basilica. The British-born teenager, who died aged 15, has been called the first millennial saint and God’s Influencer, for using social media to promote Christianity. Born in London to Italian parents, he died from leukaemia tragically young aged 15 in 2006, and lies in a tomb in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi where he can be seen behind glass, wearing jeans and trainers. Two miracles of healing have been associated with him, his picture is in a stained glass window at the Church of St Aldhelm in Malmesbury and three churches in Wolverhampton belong to the Blessed Carlo Acutis parish. Catherine Pepinster’s explainer is here
