Beyond the headlines: how should the UK church respond to sexual violence?

Just this week, we have seen Russell Brand sentenced to 10 ½ years in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. This trial has been discussed on the global stage, but sadly the experiences of the victims, who bravely shared has been overshadowed.

Soon after, the media announced that the celebrity who lost their appeal to be named in another sexual allegations case, is comedian and children’s author David Walliams. One of these allegations refers to the grooming of a 15-year-old girl. These are serious allegations. David Walliams denies any wrongdoing, and in a letter to the press said: ​“I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me”.

Tragically, in recent weeks there has also been a case in Yorkshire where a church leader and his wife have been charged with rape. This can feel particularly hard to comprehend and reconcile but is a stark reminder that these issues can occur within our churches too. 

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There is still considerable work to be done in combating violence against women and girls. The government pledged to transform the criminal justice system so perpetrators face justice. The strategy’s statistics are stark. In the year ending June 2025, only 9.2% of rape offences, 11.25% of other sexual offences and 8.8% of stalking offences resulted in charges. This undoubtedly means many have not seen justice. That is a deeply painful thing and a reminder that our justice system is not perfect. After sentencing Brand, Judge Bennathan, said: ​“No matter what women wear, where they go, or what they drink, they retain the right to say no”. 

This is important, and true, and yet it feels incredibly sad that it still needs to be said in 2026.

The celebrity, wealth and power of Brand enabled his actions to stay hidden and I believe that this is a moment for the church to speak into, and to be praying for justice to prevail for all survivors of sexual violence and for things concealed to be brought into the open. 

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he calls believers to walk in the way of Jesus, ​“have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible and everything that is illuminated becomes a light“ (Ephesians 5:11 – 13). As believers, we must long for injustices to be brought out of the darkness and into the light.

So much of the gospel enables multiple things to be true at the same time. God is both merciful and just and as Christians we are called to speak truth and show grace. These things come alongside each other and the complexity of these cases act as a reminder of our need for a God that encompasses these qualities. Our justice system is a key part of democratic life, and it matters that perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable. 

We can feel overwhelmed by these stories in the media, and feel powerless as to how we can respond. Here’s some ways the church and Christians can continue to engage:

• We must pray into this space. Let us pray for all the women who have bravely spoken out; who have been demeaned and criticised in the process for sharing their most traumatic experiences on a global stage. Let us also be praying for those victims who did not come forward and that all abuse still hidden is brought to light.
• We must be active in our concern. Member organisations like Restored and the Salvation Army resource churches to support women and girls who have been victims of abuse and sexual violence. Almost all women have been impacted by VAWG-related issues and yet conversations can feel taboo. Yes, we must approach these topics with compassion and wisdom, but the solution must not be to avoid them altogether. I would recommend you read Bekah Legg, CEO of Restored’s, response to the Brand case as you continue to engage.
• Speak up when we see injustice. We can ask God to be at work in our hearts and lives, revealing areas of injustice to us and perhaps giving us opportunities to speak up for the voiceless and the vulnerable. Jesus constantly stopped and had time for all people; how can we model that in all aspects of our lives?
• We must engage in issues of online safety and cultural narratives around the manosphere and toxic masculinity, helping prevent these behaviours and attitudes that can lead to sexual violence and abuse. The church has an opportunity to provide young people with role models they can look to, witnessing good relationships.

Sexual violence breaks God’s heart. All humans have equal worth as image-bearers of Christ and therefore violence against women and girls of any extent matters deeply and is something for us to lament. As the world comments and watches these stories play out in the headlines, there is a call for us as Christians to engage in light of the hope we have in Christ. We cannot ignore these stories but point people to the better story, one where justice will ultimately prevail and where we have all been offered the most precious gift of all; a restored and eternal relationship with the Lord God, the creator of the universe and our Good Shepherd.