Posted on: March 22, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0
 One of the world’s most popular modern hymns, In Christ Alone, was featured today at the enthronement of England’s Archbishop of Canterbury.  All music for the service, which was held at the historic Canterbury Cathedral, was personally selected by Archbishop Justin Welby. The song was composed by Nashville resident Keith Getty and London’s Stuart Townend, with publishing rights through Capitol CMG Publishing of Nashville, and Kingsway/Integrity Music in London.
Says Northern-Ireland born Keith Getty, “We are so honored that one of our hymns would be used for such an historic occasion in British life.”  Getty, along with his wife Kristyn, performed the song earlier this week to a full house for a St. Patrick’s Day concert at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.
Eddie DeGarmo, President, Capitol CMG Publishing, remarked, “What an awesome privilege it is to have In Christ Alone used as the anthem in this extraordinary event of the Anglican Church.  The song speaks so directly to the deep faith and perseverance that they represent in the global body of believers.  As a music publisher, one can only imagine how proud this makes us for the music and writers that we represent to be chosen as part of this wonderful day.”
Getty and Townend wrote the song in 2001, and the hymn has grown to become the one of the most performed songs in churches across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.  According to Christian Copyright Licensing, In Christ Alone has been the #1 most sung hymn in the U.K. for the last 7 years, and in the Top 20 in the other three countries.  The song has been translated into multiple languages including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dialects; appears in many Christian denominational and non-denominational hymnals; has been covered in hundreds of recordings; has been performed for President George W. Bush and Prince Charles, and on stages as diverse as Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and London’s Royalty Albert Hall.

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