Kanye West ‘pop-up concert’ at St John’s Anglican’s Cathedral Parramatta

A western Sydney church is capitalising on Kanye West’s new rap gospel album by hosting a pop-up concert playing his music in an effort to draw more young people to Christianity.

Reverend David Ould respects Kanye West’s transformation from Yeezus to Jesus.

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If you hear the sound of Kanye West’s rap music reverberating from Centenary Square at Parramatta on Thursday night, follow the beat to St John’s Anglican Cathedral.

Kanye West’s new album Jesus is King. Picture: Angel Navarrete

The historic church’s Senior Associate Minister David Ould was so inspired by how the controversial artist recorded an album dedicated to Jesus, that he teamed up with the parish’s youth to organise the Kayne West Jesus is King Album Cathedral Listening Experience.

Concertgoers will fill the 216-year-old church’s pews and listen to the 11-track Jesus is King album while Mr Ould and a panel including parishioner Marc Safari, 21, will interpret lyrics.

Blue light will bath the cathedral and reflect the colour of the new album.

St John's Anglican Cathedral Parramatta is Australia’s oldest continuous place of worship.

David Ould’s role has doubled as an event organiser.

“One of the things I love doing is jarring people’s senses so we’re going to have a very new rap album played in one of Australia’s oldest buildings,’’ Mr Ould said.

“It’s a moment where two worlds that would be separate have touched.”

Kanye West has a new fan in Marc Safari.

Kayne with his mother-in-law Kris Jenner. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The minister knew he had to organise an event when the album dropped last week.

“It’s created a ripple effect,’’ he said.

“It’s gone straight to the billboards. It’s so out of his paradigm and, also, Google searches for Jesus and Christianity in the past week or so increased.

“Something happened in that subculture so let’s meet that desire to do more.

“People are so interested in the change in him.

“One of the most controversial figures in the media went from saying he is Lord to saying Jesus is Lord.”

The calm before the storm: Reverend David Ould and Marc Safari at St John's Anglican Cathedral before the concert.

Mr Safari, 21, is not normally a Kayne fan but this album has piqued his interest “because I’m engaged with this message — Jesus is king.”

“People don’t need a superstar to be interested in Jesus … but it’s helpful when someone like Kayne points to who he is,’’ he said.

The free pop-up concert starts at 7.30pm.