Drag queens raise £18k for damaged church roof

Drag queens have raised £18,000 for a church damaged during Storm Darragh by hosting a "carol service with a difference".

The roof of St Andrew's United Reformed Church in Roath, Cardiff was badly hit by the recent high winds and heavy rain and serious money was needed to get it fixed.

And those coffers were given a big boost by Dragged To Church, an event now in its seventh year of "festive frocks and frivolity".

What is more, the story of how it all came about is reportedly being turned into a film by Keeping Faith actress Eve Myles.

The church's Reverend Des Kitto explained that problems with the roof had started before Covid and he had turned to local radio presenters Nathan Wyburn and Wayne Courtney for advice on how to raise some cash.

He said: "They told me they wanted to put on a Christmas carol show with a difference - one that was hosted by drag queens.

"They asked me if I thought the church would be okay with that, so we spoke to the elders and it turns out they were fine with it."

That inaugural Dragged To Church bash raised two thousand pounds, with each successive outing drawing in bigger crowds and more takings - even some celebrity attention.

"Eve Myles contacted us after our second one and said she wanted to make a film about it all," added Rev Kitto.

"Last we heard is it was just waiting to get the finances secured - it is very exciting."

Rob Keetch, who is better known as drag queen Doctor Bev, put the event's success down to striking "a fine balance between the humorous and the reverential".

"Trying to get drag performers to work together is like herding cats, but we did it," he said.

"We worked hard to keep the thing respectful, covering everything from O Holy Night to I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus.

"There's a running joke about who's going to mess up first and accidentally swear.

"But when it happens, the place lights up with laughter."

He added that the congregation are always told to "leave their inhibitions at the door and prepare to get up and join in with the singing".

"We get all sort of people turning up and lots of different faiths.

"The Rev Kitto is amazing and his church is one of the most welcoming places I've ever been.

"It's really opened its doors to the LGBTQ community."