Celebrity vicars/priests always banging on about the church and god

[likelysuspect]

I know what you're going to say, its their job and they're religious

But in comparison to everyone else on the panel shows or talk shows that they're on with, the others dont shoehorn in to every single sentence that they're an actor or a singer or they eat cheese or they like skydiving or whatever their 'thing' might be or hobby or job

Particularly guilty of this is that Kate Bottley, shes on a quiz show thing at the moment but Ive noticed it of her in several different scenarios and TV and radio appearances - she constantly mentions the church, the sermon, her services, god this, god that.

In comparison I dont hear a jot of her colleagues on the panel show going on every second sentence about their radio show or acting assignment or this or that theatre or this or that tour or performance. She manages to shoehorn it in all the time. I think Richard Coles is a bit similar, sorry cant think of other celeb vicars but Im sure there are others.

Its totally different if she is presenting a religious show like the thought for the day or Songs of Praise which I think she does, but when she is on an innocuous show which is nothing to do with her job as such.

Agree. I have no time at all for religious people especially when they bang on about it. Keep your delusions to yourself

They must be a relatively small group surely. I could only think of RC, and I quite like him.

I don’t know really. Isn’t their appeal that they’re different to the usual folk on these things? All we ever usually hear about are actors / singers / comedians etc.

If they're part of the God squad it's probably in the job description spread the word etc.

Kate Bottley openly admits to being a 'celebrity vicar' - I don't agree with it. She also comes across as quite unpleasant in general.

I guess they see it as part of their whole identity and not just a job. I just tune out whenever anyone talks about god now.

I’ve met her and she’s lovely. A show off for sure (she admits it) but actually a really nice down to earth gal.

And yes, of course they’re going to bring God and the church into everything - that’s basically the usp of their identity and what they’ve been hired for. (Not to mention their living faith). It would be odd if they didn’t mention it.

I wondered this because Christianity is evangelical isnt it?

Yesterday there was a mundane question about the 13th century and whether parishoners had thought that something or other (cant remember, might have been the plague) was come down on them because they were holding a Sunday market. She had to shoehorn in that she would be in for it if the Bishop (or whoever, sorry if I have the title wrong) had caught her allowing a market on the Sunday or something along those lines, might have got some of the detail wrong. Not only making the whole thing about her but also about god again.

Today she has just mentioned something again and it triggered me to write this thread but Ive literallyl just forgotten it!! lol. Nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon!

The last time I saw RC on something, I actually thought he didn’t do this.

Would it be odd? This is what I cant work out, how would it be odd.

Surely she is a celebrity vicar when she is doing vicary things. But when she is just on a tea time quiz show she is just a celeb, like the pair with her (who I dont even know)

Im trying to think of any other comparison where someone would shoehorn into every subject like this. Would Alan Titchmarsh for example shoehorn into questions or answers on a quz about growing techniques or the new rose he is grafting?

I thought I recalled him doing it quite a bit but nothing like her.

@likelysuspect vicary things..love that what a descriptive turn of phrase.❤️

TBF I don't think the example you give here is a good one. It sounds very much like the question was about what the parishioners feared God had done / would do to them. And it also sounds like her own experience might have been relevant to the question

I assume the celebrity guests on this show, whichever one it is, are not just expected to answer questions and nothing else. They presumably are meant to be entertaining while they do it. If her schtick is religion then I guess this is what she is expected to be entertaining about it

Its not a good example you're right, todays was definitely nothing to do with god stuff but of course Ive forgotten it instantly

Ive heard her doing it in all sorts of situations though including other bits yesterday and prior to that. Its quite a good quiz actually.

@likelysuspect "I wondered this because Christianity is evangelical isnt it?"

Yes, it is. Christians are supposed to spread the word as indeed are Muslims. It is their duty to do so. Obviously it is even more beholden on a member of their clergy. It is their reason for being and whole purpose in life and not comparable to a comedian or celebrity chef. In any event, if the discussion turned to god's retribution because of a Sunday market, then I would expect her to have some input. Panellists on shows usually do reference or joke about their personal experiences or jobs. That's part of the entertainment value. I'm not religious myself by the way, but I don't find it offensive and I must admit I haven't noticed Kate Bottley or RC going completely bananas about god on anything.

What the OP needs is a nice quiet Quaker (because some versions of Christianity are far more evangelical than others).

Thats true, where are all the Quakers. I very much view Elizabeth Fry as one of my heroes but not sure there are any current ones that could go on a fiver.

Plus all the chocolatiers these days are fairly heathen I think.

I am an anti-theist. I kind of like the church for a sense of community but abhor religion and any presence of it in society politics. Let’s imagine for a second a person who believes that there are fairies at the bottom of the garden. Should their belief be taught in schools or have a seat in the house of Lords? There is no place in politics, education or popular discourse for people who choose to believe unevidenced fantasy.

Can't stand Kate Botley so I wouldn't watch anything she was on anyway! Richard Coles is funny and clever and I don't actually think he bangs on about God except in a jokey way - not seriously trying to convert anyone!

I’m an atheist and to be honest, it doesn’t bother me. I’m quite comfortable listening to someone talk about something I don’t personally believe in. That said, Kate Bottley is annoying. Richard Coles is great.

I’m married to a Roman Catholic and I do rock up to church on Easter Sunday and Christmas, mainly because they bring out the hymn bangers and there’s a jolly atmosphere. The sermon is sometimes thought provoking, sometimes not.

Judy Dench and Sheila Hancock are Quakers.

Better get used to it, this is the way the world is going now

@Dribblepop I'm so glad it's not just me who thinks in terms of 'hymn bangers'.

After O Come, All Ye Faithful at Christmas my friend and I (both of a certain age) turned to each other and said "Tune!"

Im not sure why its not comparable to a comedian or chef or singer, thats their sole reason for being and their life (well depends on the level of passion of course)?

She wouldn't be there if it weren't for the day job.

Just like they pay for some comedians to come across as so thick they'd need somebody to count their fingers for them, some to attempt to go for the greatest number of four letter words in a single sentence, others to be as posh and camp as possible. They're booking the character.

Kate Bottley has said, since she gave up having her own parish and became a TV and radio presenter, that this is now her ministry. That means she sees it as her job as a priest to evangelise whenever she can.