By Lydia Akinola
GENRE: PRAISE & WORSHIP
LABEL: KINGSWAY
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2010
RATING: 5 OUT OF 5
Where I live, the only reason why you’d have never heard of Stuart Townend is because, obviously, you are new to the faith. Or you’ve been living on Mars for the last decade or so. Non-recognition of a Stuart Townend song is a painfully obvious indicator that you haven’t been in church for a while, because as the writer of over 100 CCLI songs, there cannot be a single church in the land who hasn’t sung a hymn by Townend. Seriously. What I am trying to say is this – Mr Stuart Townend is MEGA in the United Kingdom, and this fine debut introduction does its best to represent the Britain’s favourite songwriter to our America friends.
From my lyrical waxings, it is pretty obvious that I love Stuart Townend. I’ve grown up spiritually on his music. I wouldn’t be overstating if I said that Stuart Townend should be recognised as one of the most prolific and talented hymn-writers for generations. I cannot relate to you the enormity of his contribution to worship in the world today, except to say, that I think we’ve sung a Stuart Townend song every week at my church for well over 2 years.
With all this fanfare, what exactly should you expect when you go out and grab this treasure? Here lies the catch; Introducing Stuart Townsend sounds like it could have been grabbed straight out of almost any morning worship service from this country. That is to say – simple is the operative word. Nothing is showy, grand or ostentatious. Everything is simply orchestrated. Each track can be and should be incorporated into corporate worship programmes. That is why they are written- for communal use, with or without the violins, the drums and choir that are common for a Sunday morning.
But if the simplicity comes across as blasé and bland for you, then the lyrics, the almighty weapon of Townend, should convert you fast. The final stanza of “In Christ Alone” is this
No guilt in life, no fear in death/This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath/Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man/Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home/Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
It encapsulates all that it means to trust solely in Christ.
The second track offers the treat of hearing Townend sing alone, and features some beautiful flute work. Again “Beautiful Saviour” is elegantly simple, with a single guitar providing the main backbone of the hymn. Once more, the distinct lyrics carry the song. With calls of “Beautiful Saviour, Wonderful Counsellor/ Clothed in majesty, Lord of history” one is swept away in worship. “Speak Oh Lord” is another track which is beautifully uncomplicated, allowing us to get lost in the abandonment of worship.
“How Deep The Father’s Love” is a personal favourite, and cemented my feelings that the timeless nature of Stuart Townend’s writing is what makes so many of his hymns true classics in the best sense of the word. Written after he had been meditating on the cross, and the cost to the Father in giving up his beloved Son to a torturous death on a cross, it asks us to think of our part. It was our sin that put him there; and in the words of Townend, this makes “the sacrifice all the more personal, all the more amazing, and all the more humbling”.
Townend has collaborated in his song writing with other contemporaries and great names such as Keith & Kristyn Getty and Andrew Small. “Salvation’s Song (Loved Before The Dawn of Time” is one such song, and showcases the beautiful interplay between literature and faith, poetry and theology in each song.
In writing “The Power of the Cross” Stuart Townend and Keith Getty wanted to achieve 3 main things. Firstly, to create an opportunity to remember Christ’s sufferings, secondly to teach what Christ’s sufferings achieved on the cross, and finally to explain what the cross should mean for us, every day, in our lives. For me, it has become a declaration of what I believe and a challenging reflection on Christ’s sufferings.
In all honesty, I didn’t need any introduction to Stuart Townend as I know his work so well already. And the truth is- neither do you. If you are looking for worship that comes from the core of what it means to be Christian, and lyrics which minister long after the music has stops; if you are searching for theology and depth in songs for a Sunday morning; if “good melody is not enough, but depth of lyric, Scriptural relevance and poetic beauty are essential” then you’ll know at once that Introducing Stuart Townend is your answer.
Review copy provided courtesy of Kingsway Music
