Vicky Beeching

{{Infobox person

|name = Vicky Beeching

|image = Victoria (Vicky) Beeching Headshot January 2013.jpg

|caption =

|birth_name = Victoria Louise Beeching

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|07|17}}

|birth_place = Canterbury, Kent, England{{cite book |last=Wootton |first=Janet |year=2013 |title=This is Our Song: Women's Hymn-Writing |location=Eugene, Oregon |publisher=Wipf and Stock |page=193}}

|death_date =

|nationality = British

|alma_mater = {{unbulleted list | University of Oxford | Durham University}}

|occupation = Musician and religious commentator

|website = {{official URL}}

}}

Victoria Louise "Vicky" Beeching (born 17 July 1979) is a British 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/18/vicky-beeching-coming-out-matters-christians|title=Why Vicky Beeching coming out matters|last=Ormerod|first=Peter|date=18 August 2014|access-date=21 April 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}}

Musical career

File:Vicky Beeching (4733015831).jpg

Beeching's mother, who leads musical worship at her church, taught Beeching to play the piano and guitar when she was young. Beeching began writing songs at the age of 10,{{cite web |url= http://www.christiantoday.com/article/vicky.beeching/5314.htm |title=Interview with Vicky Beeching|work=christiantoday.com |date= 13 February 2006|access-date=14 August 2014}} and leading worship music in church youth services in her early teens.

From 1997 to 2001, she attended Oxford Vineyard Church, where she also led worship music during services. 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{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/ShelterEP.asp |title=Vicky Beeching, "Shelter EP" Review |access-date=18 August 2009|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}} 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.

Beeching signed with Sparrow Records and released a 2005 EP, titled The Journey.{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheJourneyEP.asp|title=Vicky Beeching, "The Journey EP" Review|access-date=18 June 2017|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}} Her first full-length Sparrow album, Yesterday, Today & Forever, was released on 27 December 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/YesterdayTodayandForever.asp |title=Vicky Beeching, "Yesterday, Today & Forever" CD Review |access-date=18 August 2009|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|first=Justin|last=Mabee|date=29 December 2005}} Her second full-length studio album, Painting the Invisible, was produced by Ed Cash and Nathan Nockels and released on 3 April 2007.{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1027963|pure_url=yes}} |title=Painting the Invisible > Overview|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=18 August 2009}} Beeching wrote most of the album's material, although a few tracks include songwriting from Ed Cash, Matthew West and Joy Williams.{{cite web|author=(May 2014) |url=http://www.christianmusicplanet.com/music/artist/joy_williams/news/11540084/ |title=Painting the Invisible Review |publisher=Christianmusicplanet.com |date= |access-date=14 August 2014}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=166|title=Great Is Your Glory by Vicky Beeching|access-date=25 July 2013|publisher=Creation Festival|first=Kevin|last=Davis|date=7 October 2008}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.springharvest.org/sites/default/files/pictures/Releases/New_theme_group_members_announced_June_2010.pdf|title=Press Release from Spring Harvest: – 17 JUNE 2010 GERARD KELLY AND VICKY BEECHING JOIN SPRING HARVEST THEME GROUP|access-date=9 February 2013|archive-date=24 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124092914/http://www.springharvest.org/sites/default/files/pictures/Releases/New_theme_group_members_announced_June_2010.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Media presence

Beeching's blog, which enjoyed some popularity,{{cite web|last1=Brierley|first1=Justin|title=Profile: Vicky Beeching|url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2014/October-2014/Profile-Vicky-Beeching|website=Premier Christianity|access-date=4 June 2016|location=Premier Christianity (magazine)|date=October 2014}} 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.{{cite web |url= http://bigbible.org.uk/2011/10/vicky-beechings-finalist-interview-for-cnmac11-2/ |title=Vicky Beeching's Finalist Interview For #CNMAC11 |work=Big Bible |date= 10 October 2011|access-date=14 August 2014}}{{cite web |url= http://www.christiantoday.com/article/vicky.beeching.easterlive.and.youversion.take.home.christian.media.awards/28770.htm/ |title=Vicky Beeching, EasterLive and YouVersion take home Christian media awards |work=Christian Today |date= 15 October 2011|access-date=6 August 2016}}

Beeching began speaking out in favour of gay marriage beginning in December 2013.{{cite web|url= http://vickybeeching.com/blog/equal-marriage-initial-thoughts/|title= My support of same-sex marriage - @VickyBeeching's blog|first= Vicky|last= Beeching|work= vickybeeching.com|date= 10 April 2014|access-date= 14 August 2014|archive-date= 29 November 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033520/http://vickybeeching.com/blog/equal-marriage-initial-thoughts/|url-status= dead}} 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.christiantoday.com/article/vicky.beeching.same.sex.marriage.should.be.celebrated/38316.htm |title=Vicky Beeching: 'Same sex marriage should be celebrated' |work=christiantoday.com |date= 24 June 2014|access-date=14 August 2014}} 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.){{cite web|url=http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/2014-shortlist-positive-role-models/|title=2014 Shortlist for Positive Role Models|work=nationaldiversityawards.co.uk|year=2014|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-date=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819104215/http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/2014-shortlist-positive-role-models/|url-status=dead}}

In August 2014, Beeching announced she is a lesbian.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/vicky-beeching-star-of-the-christian-rock-scene-im-gay-god-loves-me-just-the-way-i-am-9667566.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/vicky-beeching-star-of-the-christian-rock-scene-im-gay-god-loves-me-just-the-way-i-am-9667566.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Vicky Beeching, star of the Christian rock scene: 'I'm gay. God loves me just the way I am'|access-date=14 August 2014|work=The Independent|first=Patrick|last=Strudwick|date=13 August 2014}} In November 2014, she was awarded third place in The Independent on Sunday's 2014 Rainbow List (a feature highlighting influential LGBT persons).{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/therainbowlist/rainbow-list-2014-1-to-100-9848457.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/therainbowlist/rainbow-list-2014-1-to-100-9848457.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Rainbow List 2014, 1 to 101|newspaper=The Independent on Sunday|date=9 November 2014|access-date=21 April 2015}}

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 and over 64,000 as of June 2017).{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/vickybeeching|title=Vicki Beeching|publisher=Twitter|access-date=18 June 2017}}

Personal life and education

Beeching grew up in Canterbury, where she attended the youth group at St. Mary Bredin Anglican church.{{cite web|last1=Cummings|first1=Tony|title=Vicky Beeching: A worship leader with a degree in Theology|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Vicky_Beeching_A_worship_leader_with_a_degree_in_Theology/38620/p1/|website=Cross Rhythms|access-date=4 June 2016|date=1 March 2003}} 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 female peers at school. She moved to Oxford in 1997 to attend the University of Oxford, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in 2000 and a Master's degree in 2001, both in theology.{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickybeeching|title=Vicki Beeching | access-date=4 June 2016}}

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

Beeching moved to central London in December 2012.{{cite tweet|user=vickybeeching|author=Vicky Beeching|number=285354695743111168|date=30 December 2012|title=Moving day. So many boxes & so much bubble wrap! Excited to live in central London though, so worth all the work.}} As of February 2013,{{cite tweet|user=vickybeeching|author=Vicky Beeching|number=299199321365164034|date=6 February 2013|title=For all who asked - my PhD is on religion & technology, especially the impact of online connectivity on human relationships & the body.}} she was pursuing a PhD in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University,{{cite web|url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/staff/profile/?id=10351|title=Miss Beeching - Durham University|publisher=|access-date=6 August 2016}} with religion, technology, "online connectivity," and ethics{{cite web|title=Vicky Beeching's blog of 23 June 2014|quote=originally I was researching technology and ethics, but the topic of Christianity and sexuality became my main PhD focus earlier this year|url=http://vickybeeching.com/blog/lgbt-theology-2/|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903095039/http://vickybeeching.com/blog/lgbt-theology-2/|url-status=dead}} as her topics of focus. In June 2014, Beeching announced that she had changed her PhD focus topic to Christianity and sexuality. 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 a member of the Church of England.

Since the publication of her memoir, Beeching has received criticism. As a result, she has taken regular breaks from social media.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/vickybeeching/status/1130856224067530752|title=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|first=Vicky|last=Beeching|date=21 May 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/vickybeeching/status/1130869243027886080|title=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|first=Vicky|last=Beeching|date=21 May 2019}}

Health issues

Beeching has written about her health issues including Scleroderma, Ehler-Danlos Syndrome and ME/CFS. As of 2023, she is mostly housebound, significantly disabled and reliant on an electric wheelchair for mobility the majority of the time.https://vickybeeching.com/support/

Honours

In June 2017, Beeching was awarded the Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury "for outstanding contributions to contemporary worship music".{{cite web|title=The Archbishop of Canterbury's Awards: Citations in Alphabetical Order|url=http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/data/files/resources/5876/2017-Citations-Alphabetical.pdf|website=Archbishop of Canterbury|access-date=14 July 2017|date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619185947/http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/data/files/resources/5876/2017-Citations-Alphabetical.pdf|archive-date=19 June 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

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)
Hungry - (1999, Vineyard UK){{cite web|url=http://vruk.bandcamp.com/album/hungry|title=Hungry, by Vineyard UK|publisher=|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-date=14 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814100428/http://vruk.bandcamp.com/album/hungry|url-status=dead}} - "There's No One Like Our God" (later re-recorded for "Yesterday, Today & Forever")
Surrender - (2000, Vineyard UK) - "At All Times"{{cite web|url=http://www.vineyardrecords.co.uk/web/songs/at-all-times/|title=At All Times - Vineyard Records UK|publisher=|access-date=6 August 2016}} (later re-recorded for "Painting the Invisible") and "All That I Need"{{cite web|url=http://www.vineyardrecords.co.uk/web/songs/all-that-i-need/|title=All That I Need - Vineyard Records UK|publisher=|access-date=6 August 2016}}
Holy - (2002, Vineyard UK) - "Awesome God"{{cite web|url=http://www.vineyardrecords.co.uk/web/songs/awesome-god/|title=Awesome God - Vineyard Records UK|publisher=|access-date=6 August 2016}} (later re-recorded as "Majesty and Mystery (Awesome God)" for "Yesterday, Today & Forever") and "Above All Else"{{cite web|url=http://www.vineyardrecords.co.uk/web/songs/above-all-else/|title=Above All Else - Vineyard Records UK|publisher=|access-date=6 August 2016}} (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){{cite web|last1=Rimmer|first1=Mike|title=Various - SoulSista: * Night of Joy 2005 (2005, Disney) - "Awesome God" (the version later featured in "Yesterday, Today, & Forever") Precious|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Various/SoulSista_Precious/9401/|website=Cross Rhythms|access-date=18 October 2017}}
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"{{cite web|title=WOW Worship track listing|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wow-worship-aqua-mw0000402117|website=All Music|access-date=18 October 2017}}
The Ultimate Collection - Worship (2006) - Yesterday, Today And Forever{{cite web|title=The Ultimate Collection track listing|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ultimate-collection-worship-mw0000448635|website=All Music|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Dancing Generation (2006, Soul Survivor) - Yesterday, Today And Forever (previously featured on Anthem of the Free){{cite web|title=Dancing Generation track listing|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Soul_Survivor/Soul_Survivor_Live_20002004_Dancing_Generation/13064/|website=All Music|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Survivor: 10 Years (2007, Soul Survivor) - Yesterday Today And Forever{{cite web|title=10 Years track listing|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/various_artists_f2/survivor___10_years/|access-date=18 October 2017}}