THE stained glass of Fremantle’s St John’s church is rattling to the sounds of something other than hymns as new(ish) rector David Wood opens the doors of the heritage-listed building — as a music venue.

Just shy of 12 months in the job he wants the church to hold more than mass, and is keen to see it used more regularly by the wider community.

“There’s almost nothing that can’t go in there,” he says.

“A 30/40 piece samba band?” I ask. “Yes,” he replies.

• Not one to normally stand on ceremony, Father David Wood was happy to frock up for the Herald — he’s throwing open the doors of St John’s for concerts. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

World-renowned Joseph Tawadros (a recent Order of Australia recipient for services to music) is heading back having performed a sell-out show at St John’s previously: “He really likes the acoustics,” Dr Wood says. So does Australian classical pianist Simon Tedeschi, who will play the Fremantle town hall’s grand piano at the church during the heritage festival.

This year’s eisteddfod is set to be held in the church due to renovations at the town hall.

And it’s all free: “[We] just want to build up the use…that might change but at the moment I’m open to any music group to use it.”

Upon his appointment, Dr Wood insisted on the doors of the church being opened outside mass: “Once you lock the doors you’re finished,” he says.

The Anglican rector also established a close relationship with his opposite number at the Catholic St Patrick’s, which saw the Blessing of the Fleet parade stop in at St John’s last year.

Ecumenical relationships are par for the course in his old parish of Melbourne and Dr Wood was surprised to discover that’s not the case more broadly in WA: “It [was] like flying back 20 years in Perth,” he says, adding Fremantle is refreshingly different.

You can catch Joseph Tawardros on February 21 and Simon Tedeschi May 27.

by JENNY D’ANGER