Faith and Church

Choosing new worship songs for our local Baptist church can be a minefield! There are many opinions about the best blend of old hymns and new worship songs, and about what kind of lyrics, form, style, and tempo are appropriate. Contrary to what some might think, we don’t just throw in any new song on a whim…

Music, I think, is wonderfully able to capture the very deepest of emotions and experiences. Hymns, particularly, can have rich backstories that reflect their writers’ personal journeys. In my exploration of hymn stories, I’ll share the remarkable tales behind five of our most-loved hymns…

Church music has radically transformed in both style and instrumentation from the organ-led hymns of my childhood to today’s multi-instrumental worship songs. This has brought vibrant and refreshing new musical expressions of our faith. However, the trend towards performance-focused worship, amplified by digital media platforms like YouTube, makes me feel increasingly uneasy…

Having dedicated many years to playing and organising music in churches, I’ve witnessed a seismic shift in the way we worship through song. Traditional hymns that once echoed through our sanctuaries are now often accompanied or even replaced by contemporary tunes. But why is this happening, and how can we navigate the changing musical landscape in our churches?