Gavin Drake reports on Chris Cole's new programme on Plymouth Sound.

Chris Cole

"1991 will see the launch of a new radio programme called ... wait for it ... Cross Rhythms" said Dave Massey in the April / May 1991 edition of Cross Rhythms magazine (CR5). 12 months later Chris Cole began broadcasting The Cross Rhythms Sunday Experience on Plymouth Sound. It wasn't cash flow which prevented the programme airing, but a desire to ensure that the format of the programme and the timings of the launch was right.

Cross Rhythms uses a unique means to get on the airwaves. Chris Cole explains, "We purchase an hour a week for a year from the radio stations. This involves a lot of money that must be paid out, but we would then try to recoup that by selling advertising during that hour. Obviously, we want the whole hour that Cross Rhythms goes out to be in some way evangelistic, so local Churches or Christian business' are the ideal sponsors for the programme."

This is all a far cry from the 'tried and untrusted' method used by the Church of England in its attempts to ensure Christian broadcasting on local radio. It has to be said the Anglican Church is responsible for most of the religious broadcasting on radio today - especially BBC. The problem is that BBC local stations operate in an 80% speech, 20% music ratio, leaving no real opportunity to play the latest contemporary Christian music releases.

The Bishop of Wolverhampton, Rt. Rev. Chris Mayfield told me in conversation recently that the radio stations took part in the selection process for Diocesan Broadcasting Officers (as Anglican DJs are known!) If the Church puts up a good evangelical candidate, the radio station can usually sniff them out and reject them.

Cross Rhythms Sunday Experience features contemporary Christian music heavily. There is chat, but if you've got an interview with Cliff Richard you wouldn't turn it down either! Chris hopes to feature live interviews with Christian musicians, whilst maintaining the high music output.