Magazine merger falls through.

ELM HOUSE Christian Communications Ltd, publisher of Alpha magazine (Britain's largest selling contemporary magazine) and Christian Family announced in May that it has merged with Herald House, publisher of Christian Herald, Christian Music and Woman Alive. However just as we went to press, another announcement was made, calling off the deal. According to a statement issued by Elm House, the collapse of the plan was over the legal status over Elm House's South London headquarters. The Elm House mortgage holders, a bank, would not consent to the merger without the inclusion of the headquarters building in the merger deal.

Brian Phillips, managing Director of Elm House, said, "we had both planned for a merger, and were hopeful for the new arrangements. Now Elm House will pursue its own plans for an expansion in its magazine publishing base and also in other linked media projects. Our most recent launch, Youthwork, shows every sign of being a major new magazine resource for all involved in youth ministry."

Alpha dates back to October 1965 when MGO, Musical Gospel Outreach, launched Buzz Magazine. Over the years Buzz became a general Christian magazine and less musically orientated.