Stuart Townend

Stu and Lou tour!

I'm delighted to announce that I'm planning a short tour with Lou Fellingham (of Phatfish fame) where we'll be featuring our respective new albums, "Monument to Mercy" and "Treasure". Tour dates and contact numbers are below. It would be great to see you if you could make it to one of the gigs.

I'm very excited about it. The album has definitely set me off in a slightly different direction musically, and I'm looking forward to reproducing some of the arrangements on the album. It also means I will be doing a lot of leading from piano rather than guitar - which for me musically feels a bit like coming home...

The gigs will still have a worship orientation, but will at the same time be accessible and meaningful to unchurched people. So bring your friends!

Stuart Townend

STU & LOU TOUR DATES

Sep 30 - The King's Centre, Chessington (020 8391 5522 - email: rodcec2002@yahoo.co.uk - website: www.thekingscentre.org.uk)

Oct 7 - Trinity Centre, Swindon (01793 526130 - website: www.swindonfamilychurch.org.uk)

Oct 13 - Streatham Baptist Church (020 8769 8588 - website: www.mannachristiancentre.co.uk; email: mannabookshop@btconnect.com)

Oct 20 - William Aston Hall, Wrexham (01244 317664 - website: www.colossiansthreesixteen.org

Oct 21 - Alton Maltings Centre, Alton, Hants (Harvest Church - 01420 81950)

Worship at New Horizon

We had a great week at New Horizon - thanks to all those who attended, who came up to say hello, and who bought the CD. The people of Northern Ireland are so warm and friendly, it really is one of the highlights of the year for my family and myself.

In case you don't know, New Horizon is a sort of family Bible Week held each year at the University of Ulster campus in Coleraine. Main meetings are held in a big top with a couple of overflow tents that together hold 3-4,000 people. Speakers this year were John Piper, RT Kendal and Nigel Wright. All the teaching was great, but that's the first time I've heard John Piper - and he was terrific.

I work with a group of local musicians there who are all of a very high standard - led by Ian Hannah, whom many of you will have heard of. The congregation is drawn from a broad range of denominations and church backgrounds, so it's something of a challenge to take everybody with you when you lead! But is seems to get easier every year - perhaps because I'm more relaxed about it, and partly because people are more comfortable with me, so I can 'push the boat out' a little from time to time, and people will go with it.

As it's still the holiday season, if you order CDs from the site during August there may be a bit of a delay before you receive them - but we'll get them out as soon as we can!

Stuart Townend

New Horizon

Just to say I'm going to be at the New Horizon event on the north coast of Northern Ireland all next week. If you're planning to go, see you there! If not, please pray that it will be a event that glorifies God through the worship, the teaching (from John Piper, Nigel Wright and RT Kendall) and the fellowship of Christians from different denominations coming together to express their unity in Christ.

My being away does mean that if you put an order in for CDs after the 19th July, there might be a short delay before they are shipped out. All orders taken during next week should reach you at the end of the following week (week beginning 31st July).

Stuart Townend

Monumental response!

Thanks for your comments about the new album, "Monument to Mercy". It's getting a really interesting response! Some of you think it's the freshest thing you've heard in Christian music in ages (thank you); some of you are struggling to get used to the complexity of "The Lord's my Shepherd" and the air raid siren in "Beloved and Blessed"! But I do feel we've 'pushed the boat out' a little.

I believe we could have made an album that everyone thought was 'pleasant'. But I think there's a real danger that worship music is getting stuck in a musical rut. Already I hear people say "I don't like worship" - meaning they don't like the musical style that typifies most worship albums, not that they don't like worshipping God!

So I believe we should be exploring different areas of musical creativity in out expression of worship to our infinitely creative God - not copying one another in the belief that worship music and worship songs should sound a certain way. True, when it comes to singing songs in church, there are musical limitations in what the congregation (and often the worship band) can do. But when it comes to sitting down and listening to an album, why shouldn't it be an interesting and varied musical experience?

Keep your comments coming. I'm sure lots of you out there have some very definite ideas on the subject!

Stuart Townend

New album now available!

"Monument to Mercy", my new studio album, is now out, and I'm delighted to report that you can purchase it direct from me now by clicking the "Stuart's albums" button on the right.

I'm really delighted with the way the album has worked out, and I'm very grateful to everyone who played their part, not least Mark Edwards for his inspired arranging and production skills.

Favourite tracks among those who have heard it already seem to be "Kyrie", a kind of lament song with a Stevie Wonder "As" feel; and "Psalm 23", which explores a more Pat Matheney route.

Thanks, too, to Keith Getty and team for some amazing orchestral arrangements.

I hope you all enjoy the album!

Stuart

Apostles Creed

Already out is the long-awaited new album, The Apostles Creed - long-awaited because it took us so long to write the songs! For a long time Keith Getty (my main songwriting collaborator) and I have been working on songs based around the main themes of the Apostles Creed, and the resulting album is a collection of songs and hymns on the God the Father, the birth, life, death, resurrection and return of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the church. We hope is enriched the worshipping life of churches seeking to worship in spirit and truth. It's available at www.equippingthechurch.co.uk, or your local Christian bookshop - or from me! Click the "how to purchase Stuart's albums" link for details.