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The Revd George Bearwood is anything but your typical priest. To start with, he’s more of a Judas Priest than Judas Iscariot. And from his rock \u2018n roll beginnings in the music industry George\u2019s is set to take North Wales by storm as Pioneer Priest in Holyhead Ministry Area.<\/p>\n
George started as a musician playing in bands in the mid 70\u2019s. His passion for rock music has continued and, alongside his priest role, he hosts a Christian Rock show on Total Rock Radio. As a music producer and remixer, George worked with British pop acts Big Fun and Ant and Dec, German singer Nina Hagen, and techno-punk act Bent USA before composing music for Discovery Channel and Discovery Science.<\/p>\n
Having spent decades living and working globally, with stints in London, Berlin, Osaka, and Los Angeles, George retired at 40 and opened a tattoo shop in London. Later he became a full time auctioneer with his own auction house in Ross on Wye and a collectibles dealer with a shop in Gloucestershire. But beneath the ink and the rockstar persona lies a profound commitment to his faith and a desire to connect with people in unexpected and meaningful ways.<\/p>\n
With a passion for horror films and theology, George is on a mission to connect with the community, using his life experiences to bring faith to those who might not find it through traditional paths.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is very difficult to pinpoint what inspires anyone to pursue a calling to ministry,\u201d says George. \u201cBut I suppose for me it was that despite my successes in my previous careers, I always felt something was missing, a potential that I wasn\u2019t fulfilling, and that drew me initially into the church, which of course led me to where I am now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ordained in 2020, George sees his new role as pioneer priest as an opportunity to reach out to those who might not usually find themselves in church, using his unique life experiences to bridge the gap between contemporary culture and Christian faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy background and my faith journey are quite unusual. I\u2019m often told that I\u2019m not your usual vicar. Bringing other people to know how God can truly change their lives allows me to meet them where they are, at whatever stage in their faith journey that might be.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to his move to Holyhead, George says, \u201cMany people in the towns and villages in the Bro Cybi Ministry Area may have a strong faith, some faith or no faith and I believe that engaging with those people to share our faith is important, and we do that best when we allow God to utilise our life experiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are people today who have very little knowledge of the Christian faith. Some have never entered a church but I do know that people often think about faith whether they know it or not; through movies, literature and music. They already connect with God, they just don\u2019t know it yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy role hopefully means I can be that link between contemporary life and a living faith and I do feel very blessed to be able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s through his Spooky HaT Club\u2014a horror and theology film group \u2014or simply by being a non-judgmental, open-hearted presence in the community, George is determined to bring the message of Christ\u2019s love to everyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cHorror movies by their very nature are all about theology. At their most basic level it\u2019s about good overcoming evil but quite often the faith messages in these films are deeper and more elaborate than that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat may appear to be on the surface \u2018a tacky bloodbath\u2019 can also have quite a lot to say about the nature of salvation or the possibility of redemption. These films work on many levels. They can be cheap, sensational entertainment aimed at a certain demographic but you only have to scratch the surface to find a wealth of theological and philosophical ideas just waiting to be explored.\u201d<\/p>\n
Counting Hammer Horror films and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise among his favorites, George has seen firsthand how horror films can inspire someone\u2019s faith journey. Members of the Spooky HaT horror and theology group have started attending church. \u201cIt has been a great success and has brought a few of the club attendees into church every Sunday with one person now helping out on Sundays.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of the members were churchgoers before and would have said that they had little or no views on faith. But firmly believe, if handled well and with sensitivity, horror film discussions can be used to open people\u2019s hearts to faith and lead them to a true relationship with God.\u201d<\/p>\n
George\u2019s wife, Canon Alex Mayes, also serves as a priest and was recently appointed as Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Bangor. As Revd George prepares for his new role in Holyhead, he brings with him a breath of fresh air, a touch of the unconventional, and a message of faith that\u2019s as vibrant and dynamic as the man himself.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n