Berkshire vicar wins competition to find singers and musicians

A Berkshire vicar has been named a winner of a national competition aimed at finding singers and musicians to perform live at a major faith exhibition. 

The Revd Mark Nam, vicar of St John the Evangelist in Woodley, was one of two winners of Sounds of the Church, run by the organisers of the Church Resources Exhibition (CRE). 

The competition invited church choirs, worship bands, Christian music groups and singer-songwriters from across the UK to submit a recorded video or audio link for the chance to perform on the music stage at CRE, which took place at Sandown Park in Surrey last week. 

Revd Mark, who entered the competition after reading about it in the Diocese of Oxford’s weekly e-newsletter, said: “Since arriving in Woodley, I’ve written a few songs and have introduced some of them in church when we’ve had contemporary worship. 

“I just thought, ‘why not just enter this?’.” 

Revd Mark submitted three songs – Your Love Holds Me, The Lord Is My Shepherd and River of God. 

Revd Mark added: “River of God was inspired by my father, who died in hospital during Covid shortly before my ordination. 

“There are times when I imagine him alone at the water’s edge. But then I am reminded of his faith – that he was never truly alone. 

“I now picture him on the mountaintop, with our Saviour, watching and dancing over me, rather as Moses was led up the mountain to see the land where his children would one day walk. 

“My beloved father – forever dancing until we meet again.” 

The Lord is My Shepherd was shared as part of a reflection on Psalm 23 for an intergenerational service at John’s this summer 

It was written while Revd Mark was coming towards the end of his curacy, at a time when he was uncertain where his next post would be.  

Your Love Holds Me is a song about finding healing and wholeness in Christ, both personally and in relation to the brokenness around us.