The Revd George Bearwood, a former musician and unconventional priest, is set to take North Wales by storm with his new role as Pioneer Priest in Holyhead Ministry Area. With a passion for rock music and a unique life journey, George is determined to connect with the community and bring faith to those who may not find it through traditional paths.
Born in the mid-70s, George’s love for rock music led him to play in bands before becoming a music producer and remixer. He worked with popular British pop acts such as Big Fun and Ant and Dec, German singer Nina Hagen, and techno-punk act Bent USA. He also composed music for the Discovery Channel and Discovery Science.
After decades of living and working globally, with stints in London, Berlin, Osaka, and Los Angeles, George retired at 40 and opened a tattoo shop in London. He then became a full-time auctioneer and collectibles dealer before feeling a calling to ministry.
“I think it is very difficult to pinpoint what inspires anyone to pursue a calling to ministry,” says George. “But 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’t fulfilling, and that drew me initially into the church, which of course led me to where I am now.”
Ordained in 2020, George sees his new role as a pioneer priest as an opportunity to reach out to those who may not usually find themselves in church. He believes that his unique life experiences can bridge the gap between contemporary culture and Christian faith.
“My background and my faith journey are quite unusual. I’m often told that I’m not your usual vicar,” says George. “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.”
As he prepares to move to Holyhead, George is excited about the opportunity to engage with the community and share his faith. “There 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’t know it yet.”
George’s unconventional approach to ministry includes his Spooky HaT Club, a horror and theology film group. He believes that horror movies, with their themes of good overcoming evil and redemption, can inspire someone’s faith journey.
“Horror movies by their very nature are all about theology. At their most basic level, it’s about good overcoming evil, but quite often the faith messages in these films are deeper and more elaborate than that,” explains George. “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 waiting to be explored.”
George’s 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’s as vibrant and dynamic as the man himself.
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