Stuart Townend (born 1963) is an English Christian worship leader and writer of hymns and contemporary worship music. His songs include "In Christ Alone", (2001, co-written with Keith Getty, Townend's first collaboration with any other songwriter),In Christ Alone Songfacts "How Deep The Father's Love For Us", "Beautiful Saviour" and "The King of Love". As of 2008, Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) lists "In Christ Alone" in its Top 25 CCLI Songs list.
Career Townend, son of a Church of England vicar in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire has three older siblings. His father, Rev. John Townend, was vicar of Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge from 1974 until his death in a motor accident in 1985. Townend started learning to play the piano at age 7.. "Biography of Stuart Townend", BBC Religion and Ethics, 2004, accessed 1 May 2005 At the age of 13, he made a Christian commitment, and began songwriting at age 22. He studied literature at the University of Sussex.
He is married with three children.
Townend has led musical/sung worship and performed events across the world at conferences and festivals, including the Stoneleigh Bible Week in the early 1990s to the early 2000s, Keswick Convention and Spring Harvest. He has appeared on Songs of Praise and worked with other Christian musicians, including Keith Getty, Lou Fellingham and Phatfish.
In 2005, Cross Rhythms magazine described Townend as "one of the most significant songwriters in the whole international Christian music field". The Christian website Crosswalk.com commented, "the uniqueness of Townend’s writing lies partly in its lyrical content. There is both a theological depth and poetic expression that some say is rare in today’s worship writing".
Honours In June 2017, he was awarded the Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury "for his outstanding contribution to contemporary worship music".
Discography Audio Classical Praise Piano: Come Holy Spirit (1995) Say the Word (1997) Personal Worship (2001) Lord of Every Heart (2002) Monument to Mercy (2006) The Best of Stuart Townend Live (2007) There is a Hope (live) (2008) Creation Sings (2009) The Journey (2011) Ultimate Collection (2012) The Paths of Grace (2014) The Best of Stuart Townend Live, Volume 2 (2015) In Christ Alone: Songs of Stuart Townend & Keith Getty (2016) Courage (2018)
Audio—featuring Townend Stoneleigh Bible Week albums, 1994–2001 Mandate—O Church Arise Mandate—See What A Morning In Christ Alone- Live Worship from CHURCH of CHRIST the KING, featuring The Stoneleigh Band(2002) Newfrontiers albums, 2004–2006 Mission:Worship albums, 2006–present Phatfish—Hope—Unplugged Live (2002) Keswick Convention albums, 2007–present Spring Harvest albums
Video There is a Hope (live) (DVD 2008) Creation Sings (DVD 2009)
Video—featuring Townend Mission:Worship—Just One Touch From The King (DVD 2007) Worship From The Abbey (DVD 2007) Phatfish—There Is A Day (DVD 2006) Phatfish—Hope—Unplugged Live (VHS 2002)
With Keith Getty The Apostles' Creed In Christ Alone The Power Of The Cross
References
External links Debra Akins, 10 Questions With Stuart Townend (Crosswalk.com) Stuart Townend, "Tips for writing a successful hymn", originally posted in BBC Religion and Ethics, 2004 There is a Hope album review Twitter account