CityLife

Reverend spreads word through rock

Reverend David Gray and John Robb

MONK rocker Reverend David Gray has performed concerts at the Apollo, stand-up for raucous hen parties and even featured in a video for a rock band.

The former Gorton Monastery friar, who is a community co-ordinator at the monastery trust, says he has no limits on where he will let his faith take him.

And, rather than preaching from a pulpit, he says he finds his flock in more unorthodox places.

“Foo Foo Lammar once asked me to do stand-up at his Palace club,” said Rev Gray. “I said ‘Frank, the bishop will never have it’, and then he gave me a great line; he said ‘tell him it’s a challenging field mission’, and he was spot-on.

Mission

“You’ve got to meet people where they are, to build their confidence and get them to a stronger place, whether it’s through music or boxing clubs.”

David, 56, who is training to be an inter-faith minister, has also spent time talking to gang members with the police.

He says his mission is to ‘uplift’ the community wherever they may be – even if that is at a rock concert.

He said: “I was born in the era of the Beatles which was very much peace and love, so was taken aback the first time I heard punk. It was like gangsta rap is received now. But punk grew out of angry youngsters who needed to express themselves because no one was listening to them.”

'Is he for real?'

His approach to his faith has won him at least one celebrity admirer.

When the band Goldblade recorded a music video at Gorton Monastery they made sure he featured in the video.

Music journalist and Goldblade lead singer John Robb said: “We met at the monastery where we were doing a music video, as he was the key holder. He was running around like Friar Tuck, wearing gold nail varnish and swearing like a trooper. I was thinking ‘Who is this guy, is he for real?’

“We put him in the video and then asked him to come and introduce the band on stage. There was no fazing him, he did it.”

'Complete sense'

He added: “There are no set rules to punk and it’s not like he is there giving talks. He is just very gregarious and outgoing, not trying to convert people all the time.

“If religion was more like him it would be more popular as he makes complete sense. He is in the modern world and understands what’s going on. He’s all about looking after people.”

When he is not rubbing shoulders with his showbiz friends, David can be found tending rescued battery farm chickens at the Faith in the Community allotments in Gorton.

He moved to the Gorton area in 1989, the year the monastery closed.
He says his aim has been to help build relationships and therefore rebuild the Gorton community.