Matt Benson

"Matt's worship is "next level" - the size and granduer of the music is an amazing marriage to the lyrics that laud the King Of Kings and Lord OF Lords!"
Mark Townsend - Producer, Israel Houghton, Toby Mac, Third Day, Lakewood Church


- mattbensonworship.com

WORSHIP ARTIST ... Matt Benson put St Mary’s Church in the TV spotlight ST MARY’S Church, Balderstone, is gearing up for 15 minutes of fame after winning the plaudits of an ambitious musician.

For the building and about 75 regular worshippers are set to appear on US television in a concert which was recorded at the church on Tuesday at the special request of Christian Worship Artist, Matt Benson.

Matt, who is originally from Leigh, UK and now lives in Texas, phoned the vicar, the Rev John Faraday after getting a hot tip from a friend that the church would be the perfect backdrop for a concert recording.

And after the lights went down on what the congregation hailed as a great night of entertainment, a team of producers set to work on perfecting the recording ready for broadcast.

Staff from Matthew’s record label, Channeland Records, said up to 1.5 million people are expected to see the show when it is aired on a west coast Christian television network in the next few months.

The church will also feature in video clips on Matthew’s next album ‘Better Than Life’ due out in April. Matthew, whose father is a minister, said he was glad he chose St Mary’s to showcase his music. "I was looking for a traditional English church and I wasn’t disappointed.

"The church itself is such a wonderful setting, with impressive architecture and great acoustics that were just what we needed when we started recording."

He added: "We wanted as many people as possible who go to church all over Rochdale to come and join in with the free concert and we were pleased with the turn out."

The organiser, Matthew Corke, said: "I wouldn’t say the evening passed without the odd technical glitch, but overall it was a great night and everyone enjoyed it. The place really came to life and it was a big difference to what it is used for on Sundays."




First published by the Rochdale Observer - First published by the Rochdale Observer