We know that John was much loved by many of you. We would love to share your memories, stories and tributes to him – please add them to the comments below and we will gather them together to share with his family.
John’s wish was always for the Trust to continue his work – to make a donation in his memory, please click here.
What a man he was – let’s secure his legacy together.
Zephaniah Trust 
We were blessed to have John staying with us on the Isle of Wight on one of his many tours to visit the schools there, He first visited I believe because his brother was a vicar in one of our parishes. The children loved the fun which he and his team brought to their Assemblies and R.E. lessons.
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Sending all of my love – John is always such a joyful presence and I will miss him, his thoughtfulness and having his big smiles and bouncy songs. He always made us feel so welcome, even when we were only visiting briefly, and he was definitely a bit of a celebrity when we were growing up (and part of the inspiration for very briefly starting our own band)! I hope you all feel surrounded by love and support.
Love, Ruth
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I can’t help but think of John and smile. I was always in awe of the man whilst at the same time considering him a true friend. John lived by his faith and lead by example whilst never assuming the leading role, walking alongside was his way. Whether in a meeting, over a coffee or leaning on a supermarket trolley, John was always making connections with a great tale and a listening ear. His songs have inspired generations in so many families, including ours. Their simple message inspires us to go on and walk in the light and to be the light, in the sure knowledge that our God will provide all of our needs. God bless you Froudy. ❤️ Karen
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It’s taken a while for this sad news to register and also to cast my mind back to September 1994, when Sandra and I arrived fresh-faced and greenly naive, on the Buttershaw Estate. As much as it was God’s guidance for us, newlyweds, our ‘first church’, it was also scary, bemusing and plain disorientating. The welcome of the Baptist church was wonderful, but you also looked to those beyond the environs of the estate, friendly faces, those who would welcome; those who would help you understand that this city was alright really and would help it become home for you too.
So it was that John Froud arrived and fulfilled all those hopes. Smiley and friendly, yes to a fault. But far more than that. Calm, at peace, one who had come to know the city inside out and showed that we would come to be at peace and come to love the city too, which we certainly did.
Then there was the connection with our two older daughters, (Zoe and Freya). With John being a P.K., it made made being a P.K. okay. They got the CDs and the T-shirts!
John was the arch connector, introducing me to all manner of Bradford Christians. Obviously the folk at Shipley, Sheena, Alex and Catherine, but also Alex, Mark, Katie, Esther, Barbara, David, Yvonne, Kez. Then others, Daryl, Mark, Cliff (the ‘Archbishop of Canterbury!’), Gordon and the inimitable Robin! John seemed to know every vicar, priest and minister, along with a fair few imams as well. And because of this and because of his generosity of spirit, connections were made for us and roots begin to deepen in Bradfordian subsoil.
John regularly visited Buttershaw and the folk there loved him. As much as they loved the songs and stories, John would have no lesser impact on them if you had unplugged the guitar and muted the mic. His smile, his warmth, his love for these folk required no words, and so I saw in John a model for how I should be too. On one Sunday morning John ably incorporated into the story he was telling a swear word shouted out by an enthusiastic member of the congregation. Where I was inclined to shrink into my chair, John rose to the moment and left the person feeling welcome and included. Ah, now there we have another quality to go alongside the ones already mentioned; welcome, inclusion. To these I should also add humour and intellect. Intellect, because John knew stuff, but the stuff he knew never detracted him from keeping the main thing the main thing. John had reached that place they call the ‘simplicity beyond complexity’, and the main thing for John was always that God loves us, and he sang, spoke and exuded that message wherever he went.
Christians in Braford have done quite remarkable things in recent years. John Kirby at CAP, Tim Morphin at TLG, Robin Gamble – just about everywhere. But standing alongside them is John Froud, the warm, loving, caring beating heart of them all.
God bless you John.
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