Greytown Vicar Andy Eldred left his ‘life on the road’ behind him many years ago. But his ‘colourful past’ still attracts a lot of interest. A self confessed former ‘hell raiser’ he is the first to admit he’s ‘been there, done that’ and probably a lot more that he would prefer to forget. Andy’s life once revolved around the wild scene of rock’n’roll, far removed from his life today.
An American, he was born in New England, and grew up in North Carolina where his family moved when he was nine years old. With a burning ambition to be a ‘rock star,’ he joined a band at the first opportunity, and began playing heavy metal guitar rock. “We entered a competition, first prize was a record deal and we won” says Andy.
Touring as a professional rocker Andy’s life revolved around a world of ‘sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll,’ it was a lifestyle that nearly cost him his life. “It was a ‘rush’ being in the band, performing in front of audiences was fantastic, but then I hit a wall. I began asking why am I here, how can things change? I was driving home one night with all these thoughts going through my head, when a car coming towards me blinded me with its headlights. In that moment I had hit rock bottom and drove home planning to end it all.”
Sitting with the barrel of a rifle pressed hard against his chin, Andy heard the words ‘seek God.’ “I don’t know where they came from or why, but I put down the rifle and began searching for a bible. When I found one, I let it fall open and the words I read were ‘I’m the light of the world’ the feeling I had when I read that was indescribable,” says Andy.
From that moment his desire to know more, and involve himself in the church grew. He studied theology doing an internship with a theological school and joined a non denominational Church where he worked with young people. It was during this time he met Justine, a young New Zealander who later became his wife. Like Andy, Justine was very involved in a ministry.
In 2003 they moved to New Zealand and settled in Waikanae, where Andy was the vicar at a local church.
When the position at St Luke’s Anglican Church in Greytown was announced Andy decided to apply. “We were not sure we really wanted to move, but when we came to the Wairarapa so much of it reminded us of New England, and we loved Greytown.” With their three children, Eden, Julianne and Leon, they moved to Greytown in January and have been warmly welcomed into the community.
The couple are now building new friendships and implementing gradual changes at the church. An additional service is now held at night using acoustic music sounds, but Andy is aware that changes have to be done at a pace people are comfortable with.
While Andy’s early years may ‘raise a few eyebrows’ his past has undoubtedly made him the approachable, understanding and compassionate man he is today. With his warm smile it is easy to feel this is someone who would understand you and not pass judgement.
Andy still enjoys playing his guitar; he recently entered an Idol contest in Greytown and made it to the final. “Afterwards, people told me they enjoyed my playing and asked what I did. When I said I was a vicar they were blown away.”
Today, Andy’s life in the ‘fast lane’ is long gone, but don’t be surprised if you are passed by a vicar on a bright blue scooter. That’s Andy, helping the environment while out helping his parishioners.
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