UK Rapper Stormzy has to his credit a Sandford St Martin Trustees’ award for impacting the “public understanding of religion”.

The award honors individuals who “have made an outstanding contribution towards understanding how religion impacts on the personal, political and social sides of our lives”, according to the Bishop of Ripon, The Right Reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley.

The organizers of the award event had this to say about Stormzy:

It’s not because he believes in God, but because of how this faith has informed his efforts to foster a public conversation and to build a sense of community that has united thousands of fans across cultural, class and generational and religious boundaries.

Over the years, the Wicked Skengman has been the recipient of a number of awards around the world including the BET Awards, BRITs and the BBC Music Awards. With his acceptance speech, he acknowledged his faith.

Every award I’ve ever collected, whatever achievement I’ve ever had, I’ve always been vocal about the fact that it’s not possible without God. He’s the reason why I’m here today. He’s the reason that I’m able to have a career. But a lot of the time I get non-believers saying ‘don’t thank God, this wasn’t God. This was all you’, and I know this wasn’t all me. This was God.

Stormzy

The award will be presented to Stormzy on June 11 2020 at a digital ceremony.

Watch Stormzy’s video for ‘Blinded By Your Grace Pt.2’ below: