Side A
artist profile   • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• Name: Stuart Townend

• Age: 40

• Birthplace: Edinburgh

• Hobbies: Football, tennis, shopping...

• Most inspirational moment?
Interviewing Rev Graham Cray (now Bishop of Maidstone) a few years ago about worship, evangelism and the church - radicalised my understanding of church forever. More recently, seeing Peter Gabriel at the Brighton Centre - mindblowing...

• Favourite verse in the bible?
One I really like is Ps 199 - “the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim his handiwork. Day after day they pour forth speech”. I love the thought that every moment the whole of creation is testifying to the glory of God.

Side B
album   career   faith   • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• When and how did you start writing songs?
I’d written songs from time to time as I was growing up, occasionally performing them with my brothers. But I’d never really been serious about it till I started getting involved in worship. As I did that, I found I had a burden to express to God all I wanted to say in worship.

• What is the first song you have written?
The first worship song I wrote was “Lord, how majestic you are” - way back in 1990. Most of the songs before that are rather introspective and self-indulgent - best left forgotten...

• What have you learnt through leading worship over the years?
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned over the years is that you can develop skills in leading, improve your musical ability, and gain in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit; but it all comes down to whether the congregation are ready to give themselves fully in worship. You can lead poorly, and be a hindrance to people worshipping - but you can’t MAKE people worship, however good you are! So my main focus is to gather the people and draw them, help them be receptive to the activity of God as they worship.

• How do you feel about the impact that your songs have had?
I’m amazed, and find it very uplifting and encouraging. It’s very humbling when people take the time to write, and tell me how God has used a particular song to affect their lives in a significant way. You can be tempted to think, “wow, my song did THAT”, but you quickly realise it’s not really anything you’ve done - it’s the truth of God’s word that is powerful in people’s lives.

• Being at Church Of Christ The King in Brighton with other worship leaders such as Phatfish, Paul Oakley and Matt Redman, are you able to share ideas and encourage each other?
Yes, it’s a great place to be in that respect. Not only is it a privilege to be able to see gifted people lead worship on a regular basis, but it’s good to be able to talk about the particular challenges that we all face as travelling worship leaders and songwriters.

• How did you feel leading Mandate 2003 for the very first time?
It was a really great experience! To be honest I was a little apprehensive. First, stepping into the illustrious shoes of Robin Mark. Second, I’m an Englishman, not a Northern Irishman! And third, although I write a lot of hymns, I am still from a lively charismatic context, and I didn’t know how that would sit with those from more traditional backgorunds. But I found everyone very accepting, and open to a range of styles of music, and there was a wonderful atmosphere of worship throughout the day.

• What projects are you hoping to be involved in the future?
Well, the Hymn Makers album has been out a couple of months now, and Mandate is due for release soon. I have some international trips planned, and I’m hoping to record another album before the year is out. I’m also involved in some events within my stream of churches, New Frontiers, and I’m back in Northern Ireland in the summer with New Horizon. We’re also looking to develop more resources from our church, CCK in Brighton, as we feel God has drawn this group of worship leaders together for a reason!