Singing vicar hopes for talent show stardom

Gateshead vicar The Rev John Barron is to be one of the contestants trying to win over millions of viewers and judges Paloma Faith, Boy George and Will.i.am on the BBC show on Saturday.

The 49-year-old will be belting out This Is The Moment from the musical Jekyll and Hyde on the first show of the series.

The Ashington-born churchman is a keen singer, who has used his musical talent both in his role as vicar and also to support good causes around the region.

He said: “I have always enjoyed singing and it has something that has been with me long before I was ordained into the Church of England”.

After working in the City of London as a management consultant, the Rev Barron moved to Durham and trained for the ministry at Cranmer Hall between 2006 and 2008.

He was ordained at Durham Cathedral in 2008 and became a curate in Whickham, before taking up his current role vicar as vicar of High Spen and Rowlands Gill in 2011.

Recently, he has put his singing talents to good use, performing with The Gibside Singers at a memorial concert for a parishioner and performing at a fund-raising evening for St Barnabas Church organised by his eldest daughter Louise.

Just before Christmas he sang at a cabaret evening in Stanley, helping raise several hundred pounds for local charities which help people in poverty.

Rev Barron said: “As well as singing hymns in church each Sunday, I enjoy singing musical theatre, classical, folk and opera. I enjoy listening to a variety of music - I’m open to singing all genres.

“I very much see singing as a way to further the work I do in the Church, reaching out to people in the community - which is core to our aim to grow the engagement of the church.

“This is part of what we do in the church - trying our best to use what God has given us to be a blessing to our communities.”

• The Voice is broadcast on BBC1 on Saturday at 7.30pm and repeated on Sunday on BBC3 at 7.20pm.