Minister makes a splash with pop singer on river

SHOWBIZ: Perth churchman gives former JLS star JB Gill a kayaking lesson to feature on Songs of Praise

A Perth minister said his daughters were left green with envy after he went paddling along the River Tay with former JLS star JB Gill.

Rev Scott Burton of St Matthew’s Church went kayaking with the ex-boyband member as part of a feature on the Fair City for the BBC’S Songs of Praise.

The minister, whose passion for kayaking led to him writing a book called Holy Whitewater, said the experience – which will be aired on BBC1 on May 27 – was joyful and uplifting.

Mr Burton said: “The producers of Songs of Praise contacted me as they wanted to compile reports on personalities in Perth.

“They heard about my exploits and the fact that I’d had a book published on the spirituality of kayaking.” Mr Burton is a regular paddler on the Tay, which is opposite his church, and has tackled rivers including the Tummel, Etive, Spey and even a section of the Colorado in the USA while doing pulpit exchanges in Denver in 2012.

“JB from JLS is a new presenter on Songs of Praise and has a keen interest in the outdoors but hadn’t really kayaked since his teenage years as a scout,” he said.

“He did exceptionally well coming out on to the River Tay to interview me and ask how my hobby affects my ministry and vice versa.

“It was a joy to meet JB, who is a committed Christian and family man.

“My daughters were very jealous as they were big fans of the band JLS in their younger years.”

Mr Burton said the pair discussed the sudden loss of his best friend and kayaking partner, Dave Mackay, who had a fatal aneurism in St Matthew’s Church manse in 2014.

“I describe this as one of the treacherous rapids sections and how within such awful events, Christ the living water, can still nourish our souls amidst the trauma,” added the minister.

Mr Burton, who took up kayaking in 2007, has been immortalised in Rob Hain’s colourful and quirky “bird’s-eye view” of Perth. He is depicted standing outside his church on Tay Street with a kayak and paddle.

St Matthew’s Church recently underwent a £875,000 refurbishment and Mr Burton donated £8,500 from the sale of his book to the project.

Rev Scott Burton and Songs of Praise presenter JB Gill at the River Tay, near Perth.