Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Courage by Stuart Townend 


Townend's new album goes beyond the usual subjects and he continues to be one of our most gifted worship songwriters, writes Andy Goodliff 



Courage Stuart TownendThis is a new album from Stuart Townend. It follows, earlier in the year, a new album — Keep the Banner Flying High — from Graham Kendrick. Both albums demonstrate that these two remain our most gifted worship songwriters. What makes them stand out are good melodies, great lyrics and arrangements that the average local congregation band can play. What I have found increasingly disappointing from the younger generation, like Matt Redman, Tim Hughes et al is that they are generally failing in these three areas where Townend and Kendrick excel. 

Townend’s Courage album emerges following the death of his brother Phil, and he explores the impact of his death in two songs at the centre of the album - Courage and Keep you Here. The honesty of these songs is powerful. The latter features Phil on the vocals, recorded when his diagnosis of terminal cancer was known. Sandwiched between these two songs is a version of the Apostle’s Creed — a statement of belief in the face of pain and grief.

The album begins with a series of praise songs, which shadow later themes. The first song speaks of ‘the saints who lived and died in grace’ and the third song, based on Psalm 145, of God as the one who ‘binds the wounds of those who mourn.’

Track five, I am Here for You, shifts the tone. It is co-written with Stuart’s daughter Emma and is about living with depression and anxiety. Emma co-wrote three of the songs with her father on this album and demonstrates that the Townend gene may continue beyond Stuart.

This is a good album that goes beyond the usual subjects for worship songs and speaks to our mental and spiritual health. I don’t always agree with Townend’s theology, especially that of the atonement, but this is a album full of grace, truth and beauty.  
 

Andy Goodliff is minister of Belle Vue Baptist Church, Southend 

 
Baptist Times, 16/11/2018
    Post     Tweet
Sharing the Christian story with your local schools
A presentation that has seen hundreds of thousands of pupils learn more about the Christian faith at Christmas and Easter marks its 30th anniversary next year – and it is hoped even more churches and schools could be involved
‘It will help you encounter Jesus in new and deeper ways’
Mosaic Creative has announced the release of a new book and audiobook of biblical monologues for churches called Following the Son by Jackie Mouradian
Different types of small church
The Small Church Connexion team is testing out different categories of small church, from a new plant to one that is choosing to close. These are imprecise categories which need to be fleshed out, but can help us strengthen the resource we offer
My journey to becoming a national hockey umpire
Interview with Annette Golding, a Baptist church member who became a Level 3 hockey umpire in 2022
‘Enabling people to be deeply human in safety’
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries equips the church to support mental health and wellbeing. Baptist minister Shaun Lambert spoke with its UK Director Corin Pilling
Is generosity the new evangelism?
A generous life has the power to change lives today, writes Wendy Pawsey, head of giving for the Evangelical Alliance, and author of Generous with a Capital G, part of the 2024 Big Church Read
     The Baptist Times 
    Posted: 11/09/2024
    Posted: 05/02/2024
    Posted: 16/12/2023
    Posted: 15/12/2023
    Posted: 06/12/2023
    Posted: 27/11/2023
    Posted: 01/11/2023