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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| The Bradford wrestling church mixing sermons with suplexes | The Bradford wrestling church mixing sermons with suplexes |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Baptisms and body slams are all part of a day's work for one church which aims to help young people. | Baptisms and body slams are all part of a day's work for one church which aims to help young people. |
| Baptisms and body slams are all part of a day's work for one church which aims to help young people. | Baptisms and body slams are all part of a day's work for one church which aims to help young people. |
| Sandwiched between the glass-fronted Science and Media Museum and the Alhambra Theatre, you'd be forgiven for missing Fountains Church among Bradford's better-known landmarks. | Sandwiched between the glass-fronted Science and Media Museum and the Alhambra Theatre, you'd be forgiven for missing Fountains Church among Bradford's better-known landmarks. |
| But on Thursday nights, the Church of England venue fills Glydegate Square with the sounds of spandex-clad wrestlers being slammed onto canvas and cheers of delight from those assembled in the most unlikely of venues for a grapple. | But on Thursday nights, the Church of England venue fills Glydegate Square with the sounds of spandex-clad wrestlers being slammed onto canvas and cheers of delight from those assembled in the most unlikely of venues for a grapple. |
| The venue has been combining baptisms and body slams for 12 months, with GT Ministries aiming to provide direction and purpose for young people in the city - whatever their beliefs - who may have lost their way for a variety of reasons. The BBC's We Are England film-makers went to meet them. | The venue has been combining baptisms and body slams for 12 months, with GT Ministries aiming to provide direction and purpose for young people in the city - whatever their beliefs - who may have lost their way for a variety of reasons. The BBC's We Are England film-makers went to meet them. |
| Dressed in a "Pray Eat Wrestle Repeat" T-shirt, Gareth "Angel" Thompson says he opened his wrestling ministry to help those who may have been forced to navigate difficult childhoods and volatile family situations. | Dressed in a "Pray Eat Wrestle Repeat" T-shirt, Gareth "Angel" Thompson says he opened his wrestling ministry to help those who may have been forced to navigate difficult childhoods and volatile family situations. |
| "You look at the word 'wrestling' - they are wrestling with their demons, insecurities, their past, their circumstances," says the 35-year-old, who describes himself as a Christian, father, husband and pro wrestler. | "You look at the word 'wrestling' - they are wrestling with their demons, insecurities, their past, their circumstances," says the 35-year-old, who describes himself as a Christian, father, husband and pro wrestler. |
| Cris' wrestling character is called 'Pride', Gareth Thompson is known as 'Angel' and Emma is known as 'Blue Glasses Girl' | Cris' wrestling character is called 'Pride', Gareth Thompson is known as 'Angel' and Emma is known as 'Blue Glasses Girl' |
| The father-of-two hopes the sport and its setting can help to save young people, much like they saved him as a child. | The father-of-two hopes the sport and its setting can help to save young people, much like they saved him as a child. |
| Gareth was sexually abused between the ages of seven and eight and slept in a retail park bin for two months after his mother, who had issues with alcohol, kicked him out on the streets. | Gareth was sexually abused between the ages of seven and eight and slept in a retail park bin for two months after his mother, who had issues with alcohol, kicked him out on the streets. |
| He never returned home and stayed in hostels before finding work. | He never returned home and stayed in hostels before finding work. |
| Gareth 'Angel' Thompson set up one of England's only wrestling churches in Bradford in 2021 | Gareth 'Angel' Thompson set up one of England's only wrestling churches in Bradford in 2021 |
| "The two things that helped me get my life back on track are wrestling and the church," he says. | "The two things that helped me get my life back on track are wrestling and the church," he says. |
| "The driving force behind the training school is sharing my story and using my past to help others - maybe someone who comes in the door hears something, that's the start of their journey." | "The driving force behind the training school is sharing my story and using my past to help others - maybe someone who comes in the door hears something, that's the start of their journey." |
| If you have been affected by any of these issues, you can visit the BBC's Action Line or contact the Samaritans. | If you have been affected by any of these issues, you can visit the BBC's Action Line or contact the Samaritans. |
| The low-cost training nights attract about 15 people per session, with a fundraiser successfully hitting a £3,000 target for the church to buy a wrestling ring. | The low-cost training nights attract about 15 people per session, with a fundraiser successfully hitting a £3,000 target for the church to buy a wrestling ring. |
| Gareth (right) says he wants to help others build positive mental health through wrestling | Gareth (right) says he wants to help others build positive mental health through wrestling |
| Gareth, who has been a Christian for 10 years, continues: "Wrestling happens here on a Thursday, you've got food given to the homeless on Saturday and church on a Sunday. | Gareth, who has been a Christian for 10 years, continues: "Wrestling happens here on a Thursday, you've got food given to the homeless on Saturday and church on a Sunday. |
| "It's a little bit of everything for everyone, it's pretty awesome." | "It's a little bit of everything for everyone, it's pretty awesome." |
| One of those helped by the ministry is Cris, who has been attending GT Academy sessions for the last seven months - and recently starred in his first "showcase" wrestling event in front of 160 people in the church. | One of those helped by the ministry is Cris, who has been attending GT Academy sessions for the last seven months - and recently starred in his first "showcase" wrestling event in front of 160 people in the church. |
| "When I was younger I was bullied relentlessly for being weird," the 35-year-old says. | "When I was younger I was bullied relentlessly for being weird," the 35-year-old says. |
| "I suffered from severe depression from the ages of 14 to 22, with various bouts thereafter. Essentially for five years I just didn't move, I barely left the flat. It was really bad." | "I suffered from severe depression from the ages of 14 to 22, with various bouts thereafter. Essentially for five years I just didn't move, I barely left the flat. It was really bad." |
| His wrestling character is called Pride, which inspired supporters to wave rainbow flags during his debut fight. | His wrestling character is called Pride, which inspired supporters to wave rainbow flags during his debut fight. |
| Emma and Cris both say they have gained confidence from being involved in the church's wrestling events | Emma and Cris both say they have gained confidence from being involved in the church's wrestling events |
| Cris identifies as asexual, meaning he has little or no sexual attraction to others. | Cris identifies as asexual, meaning he has little or no sexual attraction to others. |
| "I think that's why my wrestling character is so important - coming with the varnish, the rainbow laces, the cape. I'm making a strong statement that I'm here for the queer. | "I think that's why my wrestling character is so important - coming with the varnish, the rainbow laces, the cape. I'm making a strong statement that I'm here for the queer. |
| "Outsiders, weirdos, geeks, nerds, people who fall under any umbrella you find, why should they be pushed down because you don't like them? | "Outsiders, weirdos, geeks, nerds, people who fall under any umbrella you find, why should they be pushed down because you don't like them? |
| "Everyone deserves to be happy." | "Everyone deserves to be happy." |
| Cris wears a rainbow cape as part of his costume for LGBTQ wrestling character 'Pride' | Cris wears a rainbow cape as part of his costume for LGBTQ wrestling character 'Pride' |
| Church leader Linda Maslen, who helped to carry out six adult baptisms during a recent wrestling event at the venue, says: "I met Gareth three years ago, he said 'this may sound crazy but I'm a pro wrestler, I think we could use this'. | Church leader Linda Maslen, who helped to carry out six adult baptisms during a recent wrestling event at the venue, says: "I met Gareth three years ago, he said 'this may sound crazy but I'm a pro wrestler, I think we could use this'. |
| "That ultimately led to us buying a wrestling ring and we thought there actually could be an emerging worshipping community coming out of this." | "That ultimately led to us buying a wrestling ring and we thought there actually could be an emerging worshipping community coming out of this." |
| According to the Church of England, around 7,000 adult baptisms take place a year. | According to the Church of England, around 7,000 adult baptisms take place a year. |
| Gareth says: "This idea of doing a wrestling church is not beyond reality, church can be whatever you need it to be to fit the audience. | Gareth says: "This idea of doing a wrestling church is not beyond reality, church can be whatever you need it to be to fit the audience. |
| "Jesus didn't set out a model saying church needs to be X, Y, Z." | "Jesus didn't set out a model saying church needs to be X, Y, Z." |
| Gareth credits both wrestling and the church for being pivotal in turning his life around | Gareth credits both wrestling and the church for being pivotal in turning his life around |
| Emma, or Blue Glasses Girl, has a chronic pain condition preventing her from wrestling, but her role is to capture all of the backstage action as interviewer and social media guru. | Emma, or Blue Glasses Girl, has a chronic pain condition preventing her from wrestling, but her role is to capture all of the backstage action as interviewer and social media guru. |
| "I get all of the backstage gossip," the 43-year-old says. | "I get all of the backstage gossip," the 43-year-old says. |
| She says she experienced a breakdown in 2017, but being part of the wrestling academy over the last nine months has greatly improved her confidence. | She says she experienced a breakdown in 2017, but being part of the wrestling academy over the last nine months has greatly improved her confidence. |
| Emma, or Blue Glasses Girl, interviews wrestlers before and after bouts and handles social media duties | Emma, or Blue Glasses Girl, interviews wrestlers before and after bouts and handles social media duties |
| "If you've come from a chaotic, difficult childhood like I did or you've had trauma in your background, you associate loud, noisy things - aggressive things and men throwing themselves about as being quite dangerous and unsafe. | "If you've come from a chaotic, difficult childhood like I did or you've had trauma in your background, you associate loud, noisy things - aggressive things and men throwing themselves about as being quite dangerous and unsafe. |
| "It is quite dangerous, but it's done in a measured, controlled environment." | "It is quite dangerous, but it's done in a measured, controlled environment." |
| Fountains Church is situated in the centre of Bradford close to the National Science and Media Museum and the Alhambra Theatre | Fountains Church is situated in the centre of Bradford close to the National Science and Media Museum and the Alhambra Theatre |
| She continues: "It's nice for me to see men getting physical together when it's not aggression or violence, I can see their mental health improving - it's a beautiful thing to observe. | She continues: "It's nice for me to see men getting physical together when it's not aggression or violence, I can see their mental health improving - it's a beautiful thing to observe. |
| "Gareth has made me feel part of the team. | "Gareth has made me feel part of the team. |
| "I come out feeling spiritually nourished and I feel great about myself, it brings out that creative side of me that makes me feel alive." | "I come out feeling spiritually nourished and I feel great about myself, it brings out that creative side of me that makes me feel alive." |
| Fountains Church's weekend wrestling events attract dozens of people in Bradford city centre | Fountains Church's weekend wrestling events attract dozens of people in Bradford city centre |
| Gareth adds: "What really excites me is we've got this community of people who are coming together to support each other through life's issues, whatever it throws at us. | Gareth adds: "What really excites me is we've got this community of people who are coming together to support each other through life's issues, whatever it throws at us. |
| "That's just awesome." | "That's just awesome." |
| The Bradford Church of Wrestling will be broadcast on Friday 7 October at 7.30pm on BBC One in Yorkshire, the North West and Lincolnshire and will be available on the iPlayer straight after. | The Bradford Church of Wrestling will be broadcast on Friday 7 October at 7.30pm on BBC One in Yorkshire, the North West and Lincolnshire and will be available on the iPlayer straight after. |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Bradford | |
| Professional wrestling | Professional wrestling |
| Religion | Religion |
| Christianity | Christianity |