Woman to lead rave church
By the daily telegraph – Monday April 29 1996
Copyright: the daily telegraph
A WOMAN is expected to be chosen as chaplain to the Nine O’clock Service, the Sheffield rave church which collapsed last summer amid allegations of sex abuse. A female priest is understood to have been asked to minister to the depleted congregation. But she has not yet formally accepted.
The selection of a woman will be welcomed by the 30 members who are still hurt and angry about their priest’s abuse of power. Chris Brain, 38, resigned from the priesthood after admitting to sexual misconduct with more than 30 young female worshippers.
“After all the shennanigans, a woman is the obvious choice to avoid any possibility of future problems,” said one member yesterday. Mr Brain attracted up to 600 youngsters to services where he used rave music, laser lights and dry ice in the liturgy.
The Church of England, criticised for not adequately supervising Mr Brain, is now imposing more traditional structures. The Archdeacon of Sheffield, the Ven Stephen Lowe, said the new priest will be named next week. He added: “We are looking for someone who will not be a guru.”
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