Cross Rhythms work in conjunction with Plymouth group to win a five-year radio licence.

OFCOM have announced that it has awarded a five-year community radio licence to Spirit Of Plymouth FM, a new Christian radio station which will be working in collaboration with Cross Rhythms. They expect to start broadcasting within the next 24 months. Station Manager Chris Girdler said: "Our broadcasting output will be designed to appeal to everyone in the community, focussing on community life in the city. The station's output will be founded and shaped by Christian values. According to the 2001 Census, nearly 75 per cent of people in Plymouth described themselves as Christian, so the new station will have wide audience appeal."

The licence has been awarded to the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, a family group affiliated to Church Of The Nations, an international network of evangelical churches. In addition a Board of Reference drawn from church and community leaders will also be established to ensure that the needs of the Christian community and the people of Plymouth are catered for.

Spirit Of Plymouth FM will work in close collaboration with Cross Rhythms in establishing the transmission and technical infrastructure as well as assisting in programming, training and promotion. Said Jonathan Bellamy, Cross Rhythms CEO: "We are thrilled with this close collaboration and partnership between Cross Rhythms and Spirit Of Plymouth FM. In Stoke-on-Trent, over the last four years, we have established a model for Christian radio that can truly relate to and engage in the life of the wider community. Our desire has always been to help other initiatives to develop this model in their cities and Plymouth is the first of these."

Commenting on this new model for Christian radio, Chris Girdler said: "In our conversations with Ofcom it was very clear that they were impressed with the model of radio that Cross Rhythms has developed in Stoke-on-Trent, and we are confident that it was the strength of the Cross Rhythms support for our venture that has helped make our bid successful."
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The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.