Rock and roll vicar in London plans to open his church as a concert venue

Father Tom Plant, the vicar of St. Michael's Church in Camden, London has applied for a liquor license for his church. Plant hopes to convert the church into a venue for gigs.

He plans to set up a bar and a stage with lights and sounds. He assures that the 19th century church is not going to be ruined by those who will attend the gigs. "We're not precious about the floor – St. Michael's is a glorious place but it is faded glory," he said.

When asked about the liquor license, he replied that the church is "not a place to come and get drunk, but we're not a church that shies away from alcohol."

"We believe Jesus turned water into wine for a reason," he added.

Locals are worried that the church will become a venue for alcoholic drinks instead of a place of worship.

Plant, however, said that he is more likely to invite smaller acts, including poets and solo artists, because heavy metal would "not work acoustically" at the church.

Garry Cunningham, one of the locals, expressed his approval for the vicar's plans. "The church is looking forward rather than backwards, and I applaud the new vicar for that," he said.

The vicar hopes to hold gigs at the church four nights a week. He is currently awaiting the result of his application for a liquor license from the Camden Council.

The vicar's church was not the first to be turned into a venue for drinking alcohol. Business Insider reported that several churches in England have been sold and turned into pubs due to the decline of religion in the country. The Church of England has strict rules on selling and converting churches but conversions still happen despite the regulations.

Other churches were reportedly transformed into a circus school, a supermarket, a library and a Sikh temple.