Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Just as Spring Harvest played a crucial role in elevating Graham Kendrick to his present position as the Church's most widely sung worship song composer, another Bible Week, Stoneleigh, has been significant in taking the material of another gifted worship songwriter/worship leader, Stuart Townend, to the British Church. Now, this beautifully crafted studio album, recorded by Neil Costello and with some exemplary playing (Bryn Haworth on mandolin/guitar, Raul D'Oliveira on flugal horn/trumpet, etc) offers some fine, new songs, a couple of revisited classics ("Lord How Majestic You Are" for instance) and one song, "How Long?" - a solo by Mal Pope - which effectively articulates the hearts of worshippers all over Britain. "We have sung our songs of victory/We have prayed to you for rain/We have cried for your compassion/To renew the land again/Now we're standing in your presence/More hungry than before/Now we're on your steps of mercy/And we're knocking at your door/How long before you drench the barren land?/How long before we see your righteous hand/How long before your name is lifted high/How long before the weeping turns to songs of joy?". This magnificent song alone is worth the price of this album. A treasure.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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