Testimonials

From John Benyon the minister of Kings Church beverley

Hot Gospel came to Beverley and gave a concert to raise money for poor children in West Africa. I had expected them to be good, but I was taken aback by how good they were. They were ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. Musically, they were Professional with a capital "P". Well-rehearsed yet with moments of spontaneous flair, the gifted individual voices combined to make a sound that seemed to be more than the sum of its parts. Though the backing musicians were skilful and creative, it was the vocals that made the biggest impression. The combined sound was MORE than music. The choir didn't just sing. They poured out their hearts, filling the melodies with passion and spirit. The natural beauty of the soloists' voices blended beautifully with the rich harmonies and the power of a large choir. The arrangements of well-known gospel songs were inspiring, creative and memorable. Most of all, the power that seemed to emanate from the stage was truly awe-inspiring. The audience were caught up in the magic. The most unlikely people were clapping along, singing, even dancing! I don't think there was a person in the audience who wasn't deeply moved. It really was an amazing experience! - John Benyon ABC Children's aid

St John’s/Hot Gospel Choir

Our association with Hot Gospel Choir began in late 2007 when Shelly Jones, our then piano player and a member of the Choir, introduced me to Helen, who was at that time looking to move the Choir into a suitable venue in Hull for rehearsals. Helen and her family then started coming to St John’s at a time when we were meeting in a local primary school, during the first phase of our redevelopment project. Since then the relationship between the Church and Hot Gospel Choir has grown stronger, so that it is now much more a partnership than a business relationship. During the last 2½ years, there have been various ‘crossovers’ including Antoine (HGC keyboard player and now our keyboard player and Churchwarden), Godwin (our former youth leader, now a lead singer of the HGC) and Mike (a new Christian who has recently joined both the Church and the Choir). Two other members of St John’s have also been part of the Choir at different times – namely Nomsa and Abby. We believe that this relationship is mutually beneficial. We support one another in prayer, and have come to regard HGC as part of our Church family.

Chris Grundy (Team Vicar – St John’s, Rosmead St, Hull)