Viv Broughton in his modern classic Black Gospel traces the journey of this music genre from the exploits of the Fisk Jubilee Singers in league with Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey in the 19th Century. On through the Mississippi based Ultica Jubilee Quartet in the 1920’s to the Mahalia Jackson’s and Ward sisters phenomenon of the 50’s. The arrival of the Caribbean Church community in the 50’s then gave birth to an indigenous gospel expression through choirs, bands and solo artists. These included groups like Strings of Prophecy, Heavenly Hope, Harmoniser and Golden Chords. The 70’s and 80’s saw the emergence of names like Lavine Hudson, Inspiration choir with John Francis, Kainos with Basil Mead and Joel Edwards, Paradise with Doug Williams and the popular London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) with Basil Mead.
With raised hands, we sang “How great thou Art” as the worship leader drew us into song after song. It was a medley of praise, thanksgiving, reflection and raw worship. Much later as I shook hands with this gifted minstrel, an electric guitar strapped to his back, a turtle neck jumper over worn Levi’s, I could not help wondering if Noel Robinson slept with his eyes open. Full of energy and life, Noel and his band Nu-image epitomise the Black Church sound. Other leading music and worship artists in the BMC scene include, Mark Beswick with the Power Praise team, Raymond & Co or Muyiwa and Riversong. The black church has always been the incubator for young and raw musical talent, which would later leap unto the secular billboard charts.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Rev Katei Kirby the newly appointed CEO of the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance believes that there is great hope and potential for the whole Church in the UK. “I want to work myself out of a job,” she says softly but firmly, “I would rather not see an ‘us’ and ‘them’. It’s one body and the Black Church is not ‘the others’ as I heard a devout Christian leader let slip the other day at a large conference. The Black Church is here to stay not as an isolated distinct entity but an integrated part of the whole body of Christ.” I smiled as I nodded in agreement with her. Katei represents a new vanguard of younger black leaders ready to engage holistically with the wider Church on biblical terms.
The black Christian community is here in the UK by a divine move of God. They are embedded within the full spectrum of Christianity from Anglicans and Catholics to Evangelical- Pentecostalism. I challenge, myself first, and every member of Christ’s body in Great Britain; let us begin to build bridges wherever gaps exist between cultures, churches, classes or creeds. Let us join forces and unite against a common enemy that is not flesh and blood. Let the death, burial and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ truly crucify and bury our differences. I pray that the Holy Spirit release the new life that true harmony, synergy and unity brings.
[Pastor Jonathan Oloyede is the senior Associate Pastor Glory House Church London, the Borough Dean of Newham Council, and the Leader of London wide Mission of Soul in the City London. He is also an Executive Member of the Board of Trustees of the African & Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, a Member of the Values Steering Group of the Evangelical Alliance UK, and a Regular Feature on Premier Christian Radio’s Thoughts for the Day.]
