Tony Cummings quizzed singing prison chaplain PHIL JAMES about his life, music and ministry

Phil admitted he is not the most prolific of composers. "Even though others class me now as a singer/songwriter I'm not the most prolific. That has a lot to do with having the inner space to write. Working 40 hours a week as a prison chaplain in an intense job I don't get much space in the evenings so I tend to write when I'm on leave or on retreat. It doesn't always happen on weekends either cos I play covers in pubs, restaurants and weddings etc, for recreation with Rob Ash on electric (guitar) and inevitably find myself in work on Sunday mornings at the prison taking services. I love it all but it doesn't do the songwriting much good. Having said that four songs off the last-but-one album were playlisted by Radio Wales so it can't be that bad! And in case anyone has problems with the pub and alcohol thing, it's a great economy! We entertain those who choose to spend their hard earned cash this way. This keeps the publicans happy and in business, who in turn pay us a fair amount to enjoy ourselves, which I'm then able to tithe to the less fortunate. The consequences of which are the poor and needy get food to eat, clean drinking water and medicines to help see. Result!"

Phil's 'Shine Like You' album was released in 2005. He spoke about the title track. "It was written in memory of a close friend Penny Relph who died of cancer in her 40s. She was the most self-effacing person you'd ever meet and lived with my wife and I in the '80s. Coming to the end of her training at art college in Newport she decided she wanted to specialise in video film making. One drawback, at the time it was so new it didn't exist as part of the curriculum. She ensured it was and having returned to London went on to document many video initiatives associated with NewFrontiers and the wider Church. The line in the song 'I can do that just let me try' was so typical of her. She ended up as a writer and was the author of An African Apostle, the story of David Ndaruhutse and the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda. Penny also collaborated with Steve Chalke who became a close personal friend and spoke at her funeral. I miss her dearly still."

"Owxich Bay" is probably the most successful song on the album. A romantic, auto-biograpical song in three four timing about how my wife and I first got together. A few of us had gone camping down the Gower in South Wales and a harmless weekend fling became a lifetime commitment. With four children, seven grand children and 41 years together you could say it was genuinely good material for a song!"

Another six years were to pass before Phil released a new album, 2011's 'God Loves You (Even When It's Raining)'. He spoke about the unusual title. "I'd got to know the former Head of Music Production at BBC Radio Wales through my songs being playlisted. We became friends and began to meet up regularly in the BBC Club to chat. One evening after discussing life and the curved ball it sometimes throws you, he turned to me and said. 'God loves you, even when it's raining, now there's a good title for a song'. Having tried writing other people's songs in the past I thought 'oh no'. On the way home in the car though I began toying with a lyric and a tune and within twp days the song was finished. It's really all about God's faithfulness to us even when we fail and the fact he's the God of the second, third, and fourth chance, etc. I gave Mike the publishing rights and although he had to declare an interest in it, it became another Radio Wales Single Of The Week from what I remember."

Now Phil is picking up radio play for this year's 'A Time And A Place'. He commented, "For some time now I've dispensed with the idea that somehow everything you write has to be justified according to its evangelical fervour or not. Songs are what they are and people relate to the topics of love and loss whether Christian or not. I wanted to include songs that bring encouragement of faith to the unchurched but was wary of using trite, worn out phrases that just wouldn't travel. Having worked for so long as a prison chaplain, I was especially conscious of this. The song 'Doesn't Have To Be This Way' is an example. There's no doubt in my mind Christians will find the lyric challenging. 'Well there's a light for everyone/A northern star, a distant sun/That keeps you safe when you're alone and far from home.' Obviously I believe that Jesus is the Way but I spend two thirds of my life around those that don't. If I can cause people to question if there is something or someone out there then there's every chance they may find themselves praying one of those random prayers that we hear so much about God answering all the time.

"One of my favourites on 'A Time And A Place' is 'Blind Faith' which is all about daring to believe we can reach heights beyond those that our own self image or conventions dictate. One of the privileges I have in my job is to reinforce the fact that each one of us is unique and special and there are so many stories told of people making good and changing their lives for the better. And not always through faith I hasten to add. I'm convinced there's a level of God's general grace that operates in the lives of those who are sometimes strangers to faith. They do love their partners and kids however and when they do the right thing God rewards them, whether they're conscious of it or not. After all he causes his sun to shine on the just and the unjust and being blessed is not the premium of church goers alone!

"Another song that I wanted to include was 'Aberfan'. It's about the disaster of 1966 when a coal tip engulfed a school in a small Welsh village and 116 children died, along with 8 adults from nearby homes. I'd begun singing it in prison to the YP's who although often local to South Wales, knew nothing of the story. (15 to 18 year old young people). It's a true folk song. When they heard it they were struck to the core and I realised here was an opportunity to keep the story alive for the next generation and help reinforce some important lessons. I take very little credit for it as I only repeated in song what I'd heard, seen and remembered from that day. It still moves me every time I sing it."

'A Time And A Place' was released on LPW Records, a small independent record company run by Mike Longley, the former Head of Music at BBC Wales. "I've been signed to them for two or three years now and been blessed to have the benefit of Mike's years of experience in the music business. Having been a presenter and DJ in his time there are not many he hasn't interviewed and still has major contacts across the field. An example of this was pitching 'God Loves You (Even When It's Raining)' to Cliff Richard's management. Although they didn't run with it he got it to them and had a reply within days which amazed me. At my age I'm very grateful to find those who believe in my songs and are prepared to back me to that degree. You could say it's thirty five years too late but that's not the point. When I was 11, in primary school and just been given my first guitar, I had a distinct sense of my destiny being tied up with music. That feeling has never left me and that's why I'm still doing what I'm doing today, whether it's in the pub, on the radio, in church, or in the prison. It all counts."