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BBC Songs of Praise's quest for the nation's favourite hymn had
brought further recognition to Lisburn composer turned hymn
writer Keith Getty.
Over ten thousand viewers voted with three year
old hymn hymn 'In Christ Alone' polling ninth spot. Andrew Barr,
the former head of Education and Religious Broadcasting at BBC
Scotland said: "If you asked people down at the pub if they had
heard 'In Christ Alone', I doubt anyone would. But it is a very
singable hymn."
He went on to say: "One feels that hymns will
survive even if the organised church falls apart, because they
are the people's tunes and the people's words."
Lisburn man Keith said: "I am delighted with the
increased popularity of our hymns in such a short time - when we
started writing them it was a widely held view that hymns were a
thing of the past, so its been exciting to see the growth."
November also sees the launch of the final
album in Keith's 'New Irish Hymns Series'
entitled 'Hymns for the life of the church' with what he hopes
will be his next 'In Christ Alone'.
"We have just written a new hymn 'The Power
of the Cross' which we are hoping will have that same universal
appeal," said Keith.
Keith is currently touring in the USA with wife,
Kristyn.
Throughout his 20s Keith's music made
headlines both locally and internationally, composing music for
stage, recording, television and film working with many leading
artists throughout the world of music from Sir James Galway to
Sir Cliff Richard.
He also conducted and produced many sell-out
concerts at the Waterfront Hall.
Keith moved to Switzerland in January with
his wife where he now focuses his work almost exclusively on
hymn writing.
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