Stuart Townend is an English songwriter and worship leader, born in 1963 in Yorkshire. Co-author with Keith Getty of the hymn "In Christ Alone" (2001), he also wrote "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" (1995), one of the most widely sung church songs in the world.
Born in 1963 in West Yorkshire, England, the son of an Anglican pastor, Stuart Townend learned piano from age 7 and made a personal decision of faith at 13. After studying literature at the University of Sussex, he joined the editorial team at Kingsway in 1987, where he worked on song collections for British churches, before starting to write hymns himself.
In 1995, his very first hymn, "How Deep the Father's Love for Us," met with immediate success thanks to the theological depth of its lyrics. This success caught the attention of Keith Getty, who proposed a collaboration in 2000, giving rise to "In Christ Alone" (2001), now one of the most widely sung church songs in the world. In 2017, the Archbishop of Canterbury awarded him the Cranmer Award for his contribution to contemporary worship.
- Origin
- West Yorkshire, England
- Style
- Modern hymns, contemporary worship
- Active since
- 1995 (release of his first hymn)
- Good to know
- Co-author of "In Christ Alone" with Keith Getty, one of the most widely sung church songs in the world
How did Stuart Townend get started?
The son of an Anglican pastor, Stuart Townend grew up surrounded by church music from childhood. After studying literature at the University of Sussex, he joined the publisher Kingsway in 1987, where he helped produce song collections before venturing, in 1995, into writing his first hymn.
"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" was born from this first attempt. Its dense lyrics, centered on the cross, stood apart from the lighter worship songs of the time and quickly took hold in English speaking churches.
What makes Stuart Townend distinctive?
Stuart Townend writes lyrics built like sung catechisms: each verse develops a precise theological truth, in the tradition of great hymn writers like Isaac Watts or Charles Wesley. His meeting with Irish composer Keith Getty in 2000 gave rise to a fruitful collaboration ("In Christ Alone," "The Power of the Cross") that renewed the hymn genre in the contemporary church.
Where should you start with Stuart Townend?
Start with "How Shall I Sing That Majesty?" and "Courage," two hymns that show the theological scope of his writing, then listen to "Keep You Here," a more personal song born from a family trial, to discover his most intimate side.
songs
Courage
Title track of his 2018 album, a song that calls you to stand firm in faith through trial.
How Shall I Sing That Majesty?
A modern take on an old English text, worshiping the majesty of God over all creation.
Keep You Here
A song written after his brother's cancer diagnosis, a prayer of trust placed in God's hands.
Discography
- 2018Courage
- 2014The Paths of Grace
- 2009Creation Sings
- 2006Monument to Mercy
- 2001Personal Worship
- 1997Say the Word
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is Stuart Townend?
Stuart Townend is an English worship songwriter, born in 1963 in Yorkshire. The son of a pastor, he has written hymns since 1995 and became known worldwide through "In Christ Alone" and "How Deep the Father's Love for Us."
Is Stuart Townend a Christian artist?
Yes. The son of an Anglican pastor, Stuart Townend is a dedicated worship leader who writes his hymns from an explicitly Christian perspective, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
What is Stuart Townend's most famous song?
"In Christ Alone," co-written with Keith Getty in 2001, is his best known song and one of the most widely sung modern hymns in churches around the world.
Who co-wrote In Christ Alone with Stuart Townend?
Irish composer Keith Getty, who approached Stuart Townend in 2000 after discovering "How Deep the Father's Love for Us." Their collaboration produced several hymns that have become classics.
Where can you listen to Stuart Townend in French?
"In Christ Alone" is known in French under the title "En Christ seul," a text that many French speaking churches use to sing or meditate on this hymn, even though Stuart Townend sings in English.
Has Stuart Townend received any awards?
In 2017, the Archbishop of Canterbury awarded him the Cranmer Award for his contribution to contemporary worship, a rare honor for a hymn writer.