They will be singing in the aisle at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Coolangatta on Sunday morning as Cooly’s answer to Geraldine Granger – Reverend Sue Woodcock leads a service with a difference.
While the Vicar of Dibley had a service for all creatures great and small, Reverend Sue will have a very different congregation.
Rockers from throughout the Gold Coast Tweed, indeed southern Queensland and Northern NSW, will head to St Peter’s for the annual Rock N Roll service – St Peter’s contribution to first Winter Sun and now the new Cooly Rocks On festival.
Church-goers (many only once a year patrons) have been sing, sing, singing up a storm for the past few years according to service convenor Ron Pyle.
Ron said the service usually attracts between 300 and 330, who come along and sing classic rock and roll tunes and enjoy the service. And when else does a church have a mosh pit?
Traditional hymns are left in the song books with classics including Sing Sing Sing, Love Me Do, Sixteen Candles and Michael Row Your Boat taking their place and the rousing Johnny O’Keefe classic Shout raising the roof and sending the congregation on
their way.
However this year will be slightly different – this year will offer a bit of ‘Girl Power’ – you see both the Reverend and the special big name guest are women.
While Reverend Sue will be leading the service, Aria Hall of Fame Little Pattie will add the touch of rock and roll royality (with other local singers expected to join in the fun too).
Reverend Sue came to the ministry later in life and, after serving Newcastle for 10 years, she retired to the twin towns five
years ago.
For years Reverend Sue was told ministers never really retire – she didn’t believe it at first. However, she is still around the church and ready to help out – including taking a service or two when needed.
“People love it!” she said of the annual service.
“I was talking to an 89-year-old lady from Ballina and she asked when the service was on ‘she wouldn’t miss it’.”
Reverend Sue said services like this made the church “more assessable”.
The service, part of this weekend’s main Cooly Rocks On celebrations, will start from 9am.
Wintersun Rock’n’Roll Church Service, St Peter’s Anglican Church, Lanham St, Coolangatta.
