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Anglican takes up Hymnbook Trust

Waiapu Cathedral Director of Music James Mist has been appointed manager of the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust. 

Taonga News  |  24 May 2016  |

Contemporary hymn publisher, the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust(NZHBT) has appointed Waiapu Cathedral Director of Music, James Mist as its new manager.

Before joining Waiapu Cathedral in Napier, James Mist was Music Coordinator for St Matthew's Church in Hastings, and had worked as director of music at St Michael and All Angels Church in Kelburn, Wellington. 

Alongside his experience in church music, Mr Mist has held a number of advisory and managerial positions in the public service, and holds postgraduate qualifications in management and commerce from Victoria University and Hawke’s Bay’s Eastern Institute of Technology. 

"James is passionate about hymn writing and engaging Christians and worship leaders with hymnody." said New Zealand Hymn Book Trust Chair, David Bush at the time of the appointment.

"His skills in both music and management will serve the Trust well into the future.”

"Hymnody has been there in every generation and every age, evolving with time as new hymns are added to the repertoire," said James, " The exciting challenge today is how to involve Christians in developing hymnody for the digital age." 

The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust was founded in 1978 by Anglican, Baptist,Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches and the Associated Churches of Christ.

Since then it has pioneered the publication of New Zealand hymns and songs, including well-known hymnals Allelulia Aotearoa, and Carol our Christmas whose songs are sung across many denominations in Aotearoa and beyond.

Well-known hymnwriters Colin Gibson and Shirley Murray are published by the NZHBT, which also features Anglican hymn writers such as Ian Render (Waiapu)and Marnie Barrell (Christchurch).

As they handed on the role, the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust acknowledged the contribution of retiring NZHBT managers, John and Gillian Thornley and thanked them for their many years of dedicated service to the Trust. 

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