Stuart Townend | |
---|---|
![]() Townend in October 2008 | |
Background information | |
Born | 1963 (age 61–62) |
Origin | West Yorkshire, England |
Genres | Contemporary Christian music, hymns, contemporary worship music |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, worship leader, music publishing executive |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, Piano |
Labels | Kingsway |
Spouse | Caroline (married 1988 - present) |
Website | stuarttownend |
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), [1] [2] "How Deep The Father's Love For Us", "Beautiful Saviour" and "The King of Love". [3] As of 2008, Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) lists "In Christ Alone" in its Top 25 CCLI Songs list.
Townend, son of a Church of England vicar in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire has three older siblings. [3] His father, Rev. John Townend, was vicar of Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge from 1974 until his death in a motor accident in 1985. [4] Townend started learning to play the piano at age 7. [5] At the age of 13, he made a Christian commitment, and began songwriting at age 22. [5] He studied literature at the University of Sussex. [3]
He is married with three children.[ citation needed ]
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.[ citation needed ] He has appeared on Songs of Praise and worked with other Christian musicians, including Keith Getty, Lou Fellingham and Phatfish.[ citation needed ]
In 2005, Cross Rhythms magazine described Townend as "one of the most significant songwriters in the whole international Christian music field". [3] 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". [1]
In June 2017, he was awarded the Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury "for his outstanding contribution to contemporary worship music". [6]