Vicky Beeching

Vicky Beeching
Born Victoria Louise Beeching
17 July 1979
Nationality British
Occupation musician and religious commentator
Website
vickybeeching.com

Victoria Louise "Vicky" Beeching (born 17 July 1979) is a British musician and religious commentator. She is best known for her work on the American Christian rock scene, and has been described as "arguably the most influential Christian of her generation."[1]

Early life

Vicky Beeching grew up in Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom, where she attended Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School from 11 to 18. She began writing songs from the age of 10,[2] and leading worship since her early teens.

At Oxford University she gained a Theology degree. During this time she also learned more about music writing from Brian Doerksen and Brenton Brown at Oxford Vineyard.

Musical career

Beeching, June 2010

In December 2002, she released the Shelter EP through EMI UK[3] and was featured on various compilation albums.

After moving to the United States in her early 20s,[4] Beeching signed with Sparrow Records and released a 2005 EP, titled The Journey.[5] Her first full-length Sparrow album, Yesterday, Today & Forever, was released on 27 December 2005.[6]

Her second full-length studio album, Painting the Invisible, was produced by Ed Cash and Nathan Nockels and released on 3 April 2007.[7] Beeching wrote most of the album's material, although a few tracks include songwriting from Ed Cash, Matthew West and Joy Williams.[8] 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.[9]

Her third studio album "Eternity Invades" released in 2010, recorded in San Diego California, features a song co-written with Steve Fee entitled "Glory To God Forever".

She was a worship leader at Spring Harvest from 2010–12, leading worship in the 'Big Top' at Minehead and was part of the Spring Harvest Theme Group.[10]

Personal life

In 2009 she was diagnosed with linear scleroderma morphea, for which she underwent 18 months of chemotherapy.[11]

Beeching started speaking out in favour of gay marriage beginning in December 2013.[12] Although the announcement was met with controversy and disapproval, she was nominated for the National Diversity Awards in the category of "Positive Role Model Race, Faith & Religion"[13] although she did not end up as part of the shortlist for the year.[14] In an August 2014 interview with The Independent, Beeching came out as a lesbian,[11] and was awarded third place in The Independent on Sunday's 2014 Rainbow List of influential LGBT people.[15]

Social media

Living in California during the early years of the social media revolution, she first began blogging in 2003 and eventually switched to a WordPress-powered site.[16]

In December 2012, Beeching tweeted that she was moving to London.[17] In February 2013, she tweeted that she was working on a PhD in the ethics of technology at Durham University, exploring religion and technology,[18] but has since blogged "originally I was researching technology and ethics, but the topic of Christianity and sexuality became my main PhD focus earlier this year".[19]

She is a regular television and radio commentator on issues related to ethics, technology, women, Christianity, music and social media.[20]

Discography

Compilation appearances

References

  1. ↑ Ormerod, Peter (18 August 2014). "Why Vicky Beeching coming out matters". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Interview with Vicky Beeching". christiantoday.com. 13 February 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Vicky Beeching, "Shelter EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  4. ↑ Gallagher, Paul (14 August 2014). "Vicky Beeching: 'I've been overwhelmed by support from friends and fans'". The Independent (London: INM). ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  5. ↑ JourneyEP.asp "Vicky Beeching, "The Journey EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  6. ↑ Mabee, Justin (29 December 2005). "Vicky Beeching, "Yesterday, Today & Forever" CD Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Painting the Invisible > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  8. ↑ (May 2014). "Painting the Invisible Review". Christianmusicplanet.com. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Davis, Kevin (7 October 2008). "Great Is Your Glory by Vicky Beeching". Creation Festival. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Press Release from Spring Harvest: – 17 JUNE 2010 GERARD KELLY AND VICKY BEECHING JOIN SPRING HARVEST THEME GROUP" (PDF).
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 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.
  12. ↑ Beeching, Vicky (10 April 2014). "My support of same-sex marriage - @VickyBeeching's blog". vickybeeching.com. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Vicky Beeching: 'Same sex marriage should be celebrated'". christiantoday.com. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "2014 Shortlist for Positive Role Models". nationaldiversityawards.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Rainbow List 2014, 1 to 101". The Independent on Sunday. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Vicky Beeching’s Finalist Interview For #CNMAC11". Big Bible. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Vicky Beeching's tweet about moving to London on 30th December 2012".
  18. ↑ "Vicky Beeching's tweet about her PhD on 6th February 2013: "For all who asked - my PhD is on religion & technology, especially the impact of online connectivity on human relationships & the body."".
  19. ↑ "Vicky Beeching's blog of 23 June 2014".
  20. ↑ "Vicky Beeching's Latest TV & Radio Appearances".

External links