Vicky Beeching

Victoria Louise "Vicky" Beeching (born 17 July 1979) is an English musician and religious commentator. She is best known for her work in the American contemporary worship music genre, and has been described by The Guardian as "arguably the most influential Christian of her generation" due to her Twitter following and appearances on BBC's Thought for the Day.[2]

Vicky Beeching
Born
Victoria Louise Beeching

(1979-07-17) 17 July 1979
Canterbury, Kent, England[1]
NationalityBritish
Alma mater
OccupationMusician and religious commentator
Websitevickybeeching.com

Musical career
June 2010

Beeching's mother, who leads musical worship at her church, taught Beeching to play the piano and guitar when she was young.[3] Beeching began writing songs at the age of 10,[4][5] and leading worship music in church youth services in her early teens.[3]

From 1997[5] to 2001,[6] she attended Oxford Vineyard Church, where she also led worship music during services.[5] At Vineyard, she learned more about music writing from Brian Doerksen and Brenton Brown.

Beeching moved to Nashville around 2002 for her music career. In December 2002, she released the Shelter EP through EMI UK[7] and was featured on various compilation albums. She disclosed in a 2003 interview that she had recently quit her job as a Management Consultant so that she could focus on worship music full-time.[5]

Beeching signed with Sparrow Records and released a 2005 EP, titled The Journey.[8] Her first full-length Sparrow album, Yesterday, Today & Forever, was released on 27 December 2005.[9] Her second full-length studio album, Painting the Invisible, was produced by Ed Cash and Nathan Nockels and released on 3 April 2007.[10] Beeching wrote most of the album's material, although a few tracks include songwriting from Ed Cash, Matthew West and Joy Williams.[11] Several of the songs for the album were written on Keith Green's old piano, at the invitation of her mentor and friend, Melody Green.[12]

Hoping for a less conservative environment than Nashville, Beeching moved to San Diego in 2008 and began performing in churches there. Her third studio album "Eternity Invades" released in 2010, was recorded in San Diego. It features a song co-written with Steve Fee, "Glory To God Forever".

Beeching was a worship leader at the Spring Harvest Christian festival from 2010 to 2012, leading worship in the 'Big Top' at Minehead and participating in the Spring Harvest Theme Group.[13]

Media presence

Beeching's blog, which enjoyed some popularity,[3] covered difficult Christian issues such as the role of women in the Church. Her blog was the Winner for Best Blog in the 2011 Christian New Media Awards.[14][15]

Beeching began speaking out in favour of gay marriage beginning in December 2013.[16] Her blog posts on support for same-sex marriage were widely read and received a mixed response - many LGBT Christians expressed their gratitude and shared their own stories of faith and sexuality, but some of her social media followers expressed disapproval, even 'quite vitriolic and quite personal' criticism.[17] However, in response to the discussions she'd started in the church about sexuality, she received a nomination for the 2014 National Diversity Awards in the category of "Positive Role Model Race, Faith & Religion". (She did not end up on the shortlist for that year.)[18]

In August 2014, Beeching announced she is a lesbian.[19] In November 2014, she was awarded third place in The Independent on Sunday's 2014 Rainbow List (a feature highlighting influential LGBT persons).[20]

As of mid-2015, Beeching is a regular television and radio commentator on issues related to ethics, technology, women, Christianity, music and social media. In June 2018, she published "Undivided", a memoir about her faith and sexuality, with HarperCollins.

Beeching also enjoys a large Twitter following (over 50,000 people in August 2014[3] and over 64,000 as of June 2017).[21]

Personal life and education

Beeching grew up in Canterbury, where she attended the youth group at St. Mary Bredin Anglican church.[5] She was enrolled in Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School from ages 11 to 18, and in her early teens she found it extremely difficult to reconcile her conservative Christian faith with her attraction to her peers at school.[19] She moved to Oxford in 1997 to attend the University of Oxford,[5] where she obtained a BA in 2000 and an MA in 2001, both in theology.[6]

In 2009 she was diagnosed with linear scleroderma morphea, for which she underwent 18 months of chemotherapy.[19]

Beeching moved to central London in December 2012.[22] As of February 2013,[23] she was pursuing a PhD in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University,[24] with religion, technology, "online connectivity,"[23] and ethics[25] as her topics of focus. In June 2014, Beeching announced that she had changed her PhD focus topic to Christianity and sexuality.[25] Shortly after she announced her sexual orientation, an interviewer wrote that her new PhD focus is specifically Christianity and same-sex marriage, she continues to identify as an Evangelical Christian who is member to the Church of England.[3]

Since the publication of her memoir, Beeching has received an onslaught of vitriol via social media. As a result, she has taken regular breaks from social media.[26] In May 2019, Beeching tweeted that she had moved to the Kent coast due to expensive rent in London and because of her health conditions.[27]

Honours

In June 2017, Beeching was awarded the Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury "for outstanding contributions to contemporary worship music".[28]

Works

Discography
  • Shelter EP (2002)
  • The Journey EP (2005)
  • Yesterday, Today & Forever (2005)
  • Painting the Invisible (2007)
  • Eternity Invades (2010)

Compilation appearances
  • The People's Album - (1997, Soul Survivor) - "Search Me O God" (lyrics by Beeching, sung by Beth Redman)[5]
  • Hungry - (1999, Vineyard UK)[29] - "There's No One Like Our God"[5] (later re-recorded for "Yesterday, Today & Forever")
  • Surrender - (2000, Vineyard UK) - "At All Times"[30] (later re-recorded for "Painting the Invisible") and "All That I Need"[31]
  • Holy - (2002, Vineyard UK) - "Awesome God"[32] (later re-recorded as "Majesty and Mystery (Awesome God)" for "Yesterday, Today & Forever") and "Above All Else"[33] (later re-recorded and featured in other albums)
  • Anthem of the Free - (2003, Soul Survivor) - "Yesterday Today And Forever" (later featured in other albums)
  • Festival Manchester (2003, Kingsway) - "Nothing is impossible" (later re-recorded for "Yesterday, Today & Forever")
  • Here I Am To Worship - Vol. 1 (2004, EMICMG) - "Yesterday, Today, And Forever"
  • Precious (2004) - "Extravagant Worship" (originally from "Shelter" EP but re-recorded for this album)[34]
  • Here I Am To Worship Vol 2 (2005, EMICMG) - "Stronger Than The Storm" (later featured in "Yesterday, Today, & Forever")
  • Here I Am To Worship 3 (2005) - "Above All Else" (featured in "Yesterday, Today, & Forever")
  • Help Me Hold On - UK worship (2005, Vital) - "Above All Else"
  • Almighty Sound by Johnny Parks (2006, Survivor Records) - "Season of Singing"
  • WOW Worship Aqua (2006, Provident) - "Yesterday, Today And Forever"[35]
  • The Ultimate Collection - Worship (2006) - Yesterday, Today And Forever[36]
  • Dancing Generation (2006, Soul Survivor) - Yesterday, Today And Forever (previously featured on Anthem of the Free)[37]
  • Survivor: 10 Years (2007, Soul Survivor) - Yesterday Today And Forever[38]

Books
  • Undivided: Coming Out, Becoming Whole and Living Free from Shame. HarperCollins 2018. ISBN 978-0008182144.

References
  1. Wootton, Janet (2013). This is Our Song: Women's Hymn-Writing. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock. p. 193.
  2. Ormerod, Peter (18 August 2014). "Why Vicky Beeching coming out matters". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. Brierley, Justin (October 2014). "Profile: Vicky Beeching". Premier Christianity. Premier Christianity (magazine). Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  4. "Interview with Vicky Beeching". christiantoday.com. 13 February 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  5. Cummings, Tony (1 March 2003). "Vicky Beeching: A worship leader with a degree in Theology". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  6. "Vicki Beeching". Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  7. "Vicky Beeching, "Shelter EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  8. "Vicky Beeching, "The Journey EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  9. Mabee, Justin (29 December 2005). "Vicky Beeching, "Yesterday, Today & Forever" CD Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  10. "Painting the Invisible > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  11. (May 2014). "Painting the Invisible Review". Christianmusicplanet.com. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  12. Davis, Kevin (7 October 2008). "Great Is Your Glory by Vicky Beeching". Creation Festival. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  13. "Press Release from Spring Harvest: – 17 JUNE 2010 GERARD KELLY AND VICKY BEECHING JOIN SPRING HARVEST THEME GROUP" (PDF).
  14. "Vicky Beeching's Finalist Interview For #CNMAC11". Big Bible. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  15. "Vicky Beeching, EasterLive and YouVersion take home Christian media awards". Christian Today. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  16. Beeching, Vicky (10 April 2014). "My support of same-sex marriage - @VickyBeeching's blog". vickybeeching.com. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  17. "Vicky Beeching: 'Same sex marriage should be celebrated'". christiantoday.com. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  18. "2014 Shortlist for Positive Role Models". nationaldiversityawards.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  19. Strudwick, Patrick (13 August 2014). "Vicky Beeching, star of the Christian rock scene: 'I'm gay. God loves me just the way I am'". The Independent. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  20. "Rainbow List 2014, 1 to 101". The Independent on Sunday. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  21. "Vicki Beeching". Twitter. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  22. Vicky Beeching [@vickybeeching] (30 December 2012). "Moving day. So many boxes & so much bubble wrap! Excited to live in central London though, so worth all the work" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. Vicky Beeching [@vickybeeching] (6 February 2013). "For all who asked - my PhD is on religion & technology, especially the impact of online connectivity on human relationships & the body" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. "Miss Beeching - Durham University". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  25. "Vicky Beeching's blog of 23 June 2014". originally I was researching technology and ethics, but the topic of Christianity and sexuality became my main PhD focus earlier this year
  26. Beeching, Vicky (21 May 2019). "After a 6-month break from social media, I'm opening the door & peeking back in. Other than a few retweets about my book (to support my lovely publisher) I've stayed away. It was necessary for my overall health; trolling had really worn me down. It's good to be back :-)pic.twitter.com/MoPZrTw5le".
  27. Beeching, Vicky (21 May 2019). "One new thing in my life: although I loved London, rent was too expensive and the air quality and frenetic pace weren't helping my health issues. So, I recently moved to the Kent coast. It's proving helpful for my mental and physical health. Walking by the sea is so peaceful :)pic.twitter.com/raJw42A4Da".
  28. "The Archbishop of Canterbury's Awards: Citations in Alphabetical Order" (PDF). Archbishop of Canterbury. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  29. "Hungry, by Vineyard UK". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  30. "At All Times - Vineyard Records UK". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  31. "All That I Need - Vineyard Records UK". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  32. "Awesome God - Vineyard Records UK". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  33. "Above All Else - Vineyard Records UK". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  34. Rimmer, Mike. "Various - SoulSista: * Night of Joy 2005 (2005, Disney) - "Awesome God" (the version later featured in "Yesterday, Today, & Forever") Precious". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  35. "WOW Worship track listing". All Music. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  36. "The Ultimate Collection track listing". All Music. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  37. "Dancing Generation track listing". All Music. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  38. "10 Years track listing". Retrieved 18 October 2017.
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