The story of contemporary Christian music in the UK would be incomplete without Peter Meadows, Geoff Shearn and David Payne. Their work in the 1960s and 1970s set things in motion at a time when very few people could see what the future might hold for Christian artists who wanted to create music that felt current and true to their generation.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for services to the UK Christian & Gospel music industry are Peter Meadows, David Payne and Geoff Shearn.
In 1965 they co-founded Musical Gospel Outreach, a bold move for that era. Modern music was still viewed with suspicion by many churches, yet they believed it could communicate faith in a way that connected with ordinary people. MGO became a catalyst for change. From that work came Buzz Magazine, which quickly grew into a vital platform for the emerging Christian music movement. It profiled artists, covered events and connected young people who were searching for something fresh and meaningful.
They also launched Key Records, one of the first record labels in the UK dedicated to Christian artists. Through it, musicians such as Graham Kendrick, Adrian Snell and John Pantry found a place to be heard. It gave credibility to a growing sound and provided opportunities that simply did not exist before.
Their influence stretched well beyond print and records. MGO organised concerts and tours, taking Christian music into major venues and helping it reach new audiences. Some of these events included landmark moments at prestigious halls, including productions involving Sir Cliff Richard. David Payne would later bring his technical expertise to the Billy Graham crusades in London, helping shape the musical presentation for gatherings that reached thousands.
Each of the three men continued to shape the landscape in their own way. Peter Meadows went on to help establish Spring Harvest, played an important part in the early years of Greenbelt and contributed to the beginnings of Premier Christian Radio. Geoff Shearn built Kingsway Music into a respected home for worship and praise recordings, and the Songs of Fellowship series became one of the most widely used worship resources of its time. David Payne continued to support artists through record labels and concert production, helping Christian musicians take confident steps into the public square.
Together, their work created the early framework for the industry we have today. The opportunities, events, festivals, labels and worship movements that now feel normal were shaped by seeds they planted long before any of us saw the harvest.
It was a privilege to recognise Peter Meadows, Geoff Shearn and David Payne with a special Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s StepFWD Awards. and great to have Peter there to collect on behalf of the others. In a season of life where health and age are real considerations, it felt important to honour them while they could hear the gratitude of the community they helped to build.
This award cannot capture everything they contributed, but it stands as a small thank you for a foundation that has carried generations. The UK Christian and Gospel music scene is richer because of their courage, creativity and willingness to pioneer when the path was far less certain.
To Peter, Geoff and David, thank you. Your work continues to echo through the artists, worship leaders, events and ministries that exist today. Your legacy lives on.
Special thanks to Marc Whitmore for championing and facilitating and to Doug Ross and the Impact Point Films team.
