Former Acts 29 CEO Stephen Timmis and Wife Janet Each Charged With Eight Counts of Rape

Former Acts 29 chief executive Stephen Timmis and his wife, Janet, have each been charged with eight counts of rape, South Yorkshire Police have confirmed.

Stephen, 68, and Janet, 61, both of Sheffield, face charges involving the same alleged victim. Police said the alleged offences occurred between May and September 2008, when Stephen was a leader at Crowded House Church in Sheffield.

The couple have been released on bail and are scheduled to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on 1 December 2026. Neither has been convicted in connection with these charges.

Police are appealing for information from people who may previously have attended the church, saying their enquiries suggest individuals within the community could hold information relevant to the investigation. The announcement does not specify whether the alleged victim was a church member.

The charges follow an earlier, separate controversy surrounding Timmis's leadership. According to The Roys Report, the Christian investigative news outlet that reported the case on 30 October, Acts 29 removed him in February 2020 amid allegations of abusive leadership. He subsequently resigned as an elder at Crowded House, which commissioned an independent review of his leadership. Those earlier allegations should not be treated as proof of the criminal charges now before the courts.

Leaders of Redeemer Church Sharrow Vale, formerly known as Crowded House, told The Roys Report they were "shocked and saddened by the news." They said the church was cooperating fully with South Yorkshire Police and encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.

The Roys Report said it was unable to reach the couple for comment. The police announcement does not record their pleas or provide further details about the alleged offences.

Anyone with relevant information can contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 or through its online reporting system, quoting investigation number 14/229723/24. Police said appropriate support would be offered to those coming forward.