Pioneer minister and heavy metal aficionado Mark Broomhead will lead the chaplaincy team at Bloodstock this week.
Mark, who has played bass for the past 21 years in such Christian Metal/Rock bands as Exoria, Fire Fly, Detritus and Seventh Angel, is heading up the 15-strong welfare group at the Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival from Friday (13 August) to Sunday. Billed as the UK’s No1 heavy metal event, Bloodstock – now in its tenth year – will host more than 80 bands across three stages.
An ordained pioneer minister in Chesterfield, Mark contacted Bloodstock organisers three years ago to ask if they needed a chaplain on the site. He has been in charge of welfare provision ever since.
Basically we look after anyone who is not in need of hospitalisation or under threat of arrest,
said Mark.
Some people lose their tents for one reason or another, for instance. We're just there 24 hours a day for whenever people a helping hand or a chat or a safe space to recover from a little over indulgence.
Organisers are expecting 12,000 people during the festival at Catton Hall, Derby. Among the headliners are twisted sister and Opeth; on the New Blood Stage on Friday 13th bands will include Morgue Orgy while Flayed Disciple is part of Saturday's extensive line-up. Festival goers can also have a go at Metal Karaoke.
Mark often wears his dog collar while wandering around the site.
The collar offers instant identification and people seem to be fine with it. I have not been burned at the stake yet so it must be OK. Bloodstock does tend to focus on the darker side of metal, and there are some openly satanic bands though there is a huge range of music. It is fantastic to be involved.
Mark was ordained as Deacon in Derby Cathedral at the end of June 2008 and priest in July 2009. His main focus was to lead a fresh expression of church called Sanctum based at the St Barnabas Centre in Danesmoor. Sanctum's worship style is heavily influenced by rock culture and activities have included putting on gigs, starting a small record label and recording a rocked up Christmas carol album.
Mark was recently licensed by the Bishop of Derby, Rt Rev Alastair Redfern, to begin plans to develop an accessible form of church to appeal to Alternative sub cultures in Chesterfield town centre, possibly to be based in a club or a bar.