Reviewed by Peter Bradshaw

When I first listened to this album I presumed that it was a collection of classic hymns with suitable scriptural readings introducing and linking some of the songs. With hymns like: "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross", "How Great Thou Art" and "Be Thou My Vision", this appeared to be an accurate description. That was until I listened to the last song, called "The Healed Woman", in which Jan sings, in musical story style, about a woman who was healed when she touched the hem of Jesus' garment. The lyrics are interspersed with narration and conversation from Rupert Smith as Jan becomes that woman and describes her encounter with the Healer. This song could easily be part of a Christian musical and in a dramatic way draws together the message flowing through the hymns on the album. I have only one slight reservation and that is the amount of delay used on "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", which I felt spoiled an otherwise good recording. However I enjoyed the rest of the album.

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.

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