Tony Cummings chronicles the extraordinary musical journey of grizzled veteran ISHMAEL

There was another dramatic change for the veteran, concerning his church attendance. He explained, "I'd been in the Pentecostal, charismatic church movement for years and years and years. I'd been a leader in so many different churches. And I was bored. I'd seen it all, done it all, bought the t-shirt. It wasn't what we were doing in the church that was wrong, it was me just getting bored. I knew I'd be a grumpy old man, just sit there and complain it was too loud or too this or too that. I didn't want to ever do that, so I thought God must have something different. My wife said to me, 'Why don't we try another denomination?' I thought, maybe a Baptist or something that's quite similar to what we've been involved with. She said, 'No, why don't we try Chichester Cathedral?' I said, 'Chichester Cathedral!? I've written books against that!' I thought she was joking, but she said, 'No, why don't we try it?' Like most men, when the wife says something we try and do it. So I went along, and, I have to say, I was very touched by God. I went along to this early morning communion - nearly all clergy, canons and so on, sitting round this little chapel. I walked in and no one said hello, we all just sat there; I thought, this is a bit miserable. But then I realised they were actually praying: they didn't want to talk to me, they'd come to talk to Jesus! It was dead quiet, and we sat there. Everywhere Ishmael goes there's noise - because I make it. To sit somewhere that was quiet was scary. I could see the whole communion come to life for me, what it was all about.

"To cut a long story short, one of the canons came up to me straight afterwards and said, 'Ishmael, it's God's timing you're here'. It was a total prophecy: he didn't know who I was! He surprised me. For months afterward I went in every week, asking every question under the sun - obviously being a cathedral it's fairly high - and I got good answers back. A lot of the creative stuff we do, the sacramental stuff, is what we do for children, it's just visual aids; the trouble with the Church of England is they don't say why we do them. But once I found out why we do them, we could use them. Then I thought, well, it's okay, but I've always been sent out from a church: I don't want a ministry where I'm a lone ranger going doing my own thing without a covering from a church base. So I saw the bishop, and I said, 'What can I do?' He said, 'Have you thought about getting ordained?' I said, 'I've been ordained once'. He said, 'Not that one! Another one! A proper ordination!' I said, 'Well, yeah. Fine.'"

So Ishmael, a musicianary with decades of ministry experience, found himself studying afresh. He said, "Because I'd already done so many years, they gave me this massive, intensive course with really high clerics going through what they believe and what we believe - all this sort of stuff - for about six months, and it blew my mind. I spent most of my time asking questions still. But afterwards I got ordained; at the ordination retreat you go away for three days, and it's silent - I can't be silent for three days! But it was wonderful. And to get ordained it was wonderful, because down at Chichester Cathedral nobody knows me as Ishmael, or Ian Smale - I'm Deacon Ish. The bishop prayed for me, and he ordained me as Deacon Ish; so people say to me, 'Are you a deacon?' And I say, 'I'm a Deacon Ish'. It's lovely. I get sent out from the cathedral, and I love the people there - senior congregation, obviously - I get on so well, and they're very supportive."

In 2010 Kingsway released Ishmael's 'Bigger Barn' album. It drew on the parables that Jesus told with wit and story telling craft. A lot of the veteran's driving retro rock flair was there too and Cross Rhythms' reviewer Mike Rimmer was quick to name it Ish's best album for decades. He wrote, "The combination of story telling and application is both powerful and fun filled while the witty 'borrowing' of tunes and arrangements from classic pop hits of yesteryear is constantly amusing. Have a listen and see if you can spot the influence of some of the songs. Here's a couple to get you started! There's the party groove of 'Wolfy Wolfy' which brings to mind a certain Sam The Sham hit from the '60s. Then there are hints of Dylan's rambunctious 'Rainy Day Women #12 & 35' on 'Sow 'n' Sow'."

Now comes 'Ishmael's Songs & Hymns' about which reviewer Brendan O'Regan commented, "I particularly liked the more personal and reflective 'Psalm 139', sung and co-written by Andy Percy - there's a kind of Elvis Costello vibe about it. Suitably the album ends with a song of blessing - 'May The Peace And Presence Of The Lord', with Dave Bilbrough on guest vocal."

For a man who has "seen it all, done it all, bought the t-shirt" Ishmael is still brim full of creative fire. His book on coping with cancer will soon be completed and published. And his presence on the British scene continues to evoke warmth and gratitude from the widest swathe of the British Church. He is unquestionably a British church treasure.