Comedy Night For Real-life Vicars

They are the Jolly Jokers of The Church of England in Lancashire; the English answer to Ireland’s Father Ted and his hapless sidekick Father Dougal.

And now Father Alex Frost and Rev. Chris Krawiec, who moonlight as the 'Jack and Krac' comedy duo, are set to go ‘live’ with their first Christian Comedy Night in December!

Alex, Curate at St Matthew’s Church in Burnley, and Chris, Curate at St Bartholomew’s Church in Great Harwood, are already a ‘fixture’ on the comedy circuit, having a popular YouTube channel featuring raps and sketches written by the pair.

They even went viral last year with a special rap tribute to 2016’s The X Factor star, Honey G, which was featured on ‘The Xtra Factor’ after-show programme.

The duo also share a Twitter profile @jackandkrac

And now the funnymen are hosting a Christian Christmas Comedy Night for everyone on Friday December 8th at St Matthew’s, BB11 4JJ.

As well as Jack and Krac themselves, the headline act on the evening will be well-known comedian Tony Vino, along with some other ‘up and coming’ names.

The two clergymen first met whilst on retreat at Whalley Abbey, prior to their ordination.

Alex, 48, a Burnley lad, used to perform comedy in pubs and clubs when he was younger as a semi-professional comedian, until 11 years ago when he was baptised and became a practising Christian.

Chris, 31, who is based at St Bartholomew’s in Great Harwood, and hails from Lincolnshire, had always been a comedy fan, having performed comedy at college events in Durham while in training for ordination.

Making people laugh in a Christian context is a huge challenge, so how do Alex and Chris bring together entertaining comedy and the Christian message?

"We had the same questions when we started out together as a comedy duo," said Chris, "Both of us had done comedy before we met and before we trained to become priests and were asking ourselves what place was there for an Anglican clergyman who ‘does’ comedy?

"We concluded that in laughter, there is healing, and in Christ, there is healing and the two belong together. A life lived in all its fullness includes laughter, as well as the full range of human emotions.

"We can’t just ‘lop off’ our sense of humour to be Christians. So we embrace comedy as part and parcel of our ministry."

Alex takes up the thought adding: "At first it was just a bit of fun, but a while back we were both asked to take part in a Pendleside Hospice’s Dying Matters Week. We went to a hospice open event where we did a bit of comedy for the patients present.

"It went down well, and we will always remember what an impact that session had on us, and how it made us serious about doing good comedy."

Tickets for the event have nearly sold out but some are still available priced £7 for adults and £3 for under 16s, from Chris on 07596 669 987.