[ generation tone to kendrick album ]

There needs to be more worship songs which are Christ-centred, utilise the words of Jesus and direct worshippers into truth, according to singer-songwriter Graham Kendrick, whose first album in six years hits the street early this month.

Entitled What Grace, Kendrick describes the 12-track album as "getting back to songs for the regular worship of church". Talking to Christianity+Renewal, he said, "if there is any unifying theme, its that there’s a lot of Christ-centred content there. A lot of Churches, a lot of pastors, a lot of worship leaders are saying ‘we need more songs that aren’t really concerned about us - that focus on the Lord’. That has been in the back of my mind as I’ve written these songs".

Produced by Christian music veteran Andy Piercy, the album also sees Delirious front man Martin Smith and Soul Survivor’s Matt Redman - both worship leaders of the emerging culture - making guest appearances. Describing their involvement as "a natural progression of our friendship over the years", Kendrick believes there is a deeper significance to this. "The heart of it", he says, "is that in Matt and Martin I have found a respect for the generation which came before them. There is a very important spiritual principle which comes out in Malachi chapter 4 about turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Throughout church history it seems that the gains of each generation tend to get lost and the new generation comes up and starts all over again. A lot of that loss is totally unnecessary.

"I’ve tried to develop a relationship with Martin and Matt as a sort of working out of that value and perhaps this album is a tangible expression of the mutual respect we have. If only the generations could work together then perhaps the gains of one generation could be carried over into the next one. That’s my heart and I know its in Matt and Martin’s heart as well."

Dealing more with what Kendrick calls "the divine testimony" than with his own experiences, the album includes the hymn Rock of Ages, set to a new tune and with a chorus added. Another track, Say the name of Love involves a call and response, with congregations answering the call of ‘Say the name of peace, mercy etc. with the word, ‘Jesus’. Also seeking to redress what he sees as a lack of songs which use the direct words of Jesus, Kendrick has put the beatitudes to music.

Having produced more than 30 albums, Kendrick is keen to emphasise that What Grace does not represent a change of direction from the more declaratory flavour of his March for Jesus resource albums. "I’ve always had a focus on the content of songs", he says. "I am aware that there are a massive number around that are personal testimony and personal experience which I think are all valid, but in my own worship times it’s the revelations and insights of Christ in the gospels that trigger praise and more worship. So I’m trying to write songs which do that."