Marcia Dixon investigates why, after so long, our churches remain divided along racial lines.

Marcia Dixon

Music is a force that has been known to break down cultural, social and racial barriers. Black people in the UK, America and the Caribbean have found this to be especially true.

There are great opportunities today for black musicians. Where doors leading to success in the areas of business, finance and the professions often still stay closed, black people have found that in the world of entertainment the sky is the limit.

Black people within the church have found that music has been a unifying force, helping to bring black and white Christians together, and having a soothing effect on the wound inflicted upon the black community during the early years of mass immigration to the UK.

During those years in the 1950s and '60s, thousands of West Indians migrated from the Caribbean to the UK in search of a better life. A high percentage of those immigrants were Christians and expected to be welcomed with open arms by their white brothers and sisters in the Lord.

This was not the case. They attended England's traditional churches but instead of a loving welcome experienced racism and suspicion. Their fellow white Christians made it clear on a number of occasions that black people were not wanted in their church.

Though feeling rejected and despised, black Christians refused to give up their faith and started holding prayer meetings in their homes, progressing to rented rooms and school halls until they were able to purchase their own buildings.

By the late 1970s, the black led church was a noted phenomenon within Britain's religious society. Black-led fellowships were the fastest growing churches in the UK, with large numbers of young adults in their ranks, and more often than not it was the music produced in these churches that alerted the wider community to its presence. Music produced in black churches came to the fore in 1983 when the Inspirational Choir, directed by Rev John Francis, did backing for pop group Madness on their hit single "Wings Of A Dove".

All of a sudden record companies, the media, the general public - and Britain's established, ie white, churches became interested in the music being produced by black gospel artists a few years ago. Invitations to sing at a variety of venues started flooding through church letterboxes and black choirs began singing at venues and occasions that their parents could only dream about.

Black and white artists even began to share the same platforms, and sang to mixed crowds. But despite music's ability to transcend seemingly insurmountable barriers, racism within the church of Jesus Christ still persists. In 1988 the Methodist Church published its 'Faithful And Equal' report, which took a long, unflinching look at the racism experienced by the black members.

Only last year, the Church of England's Committee for Black Anglican Concerns published the Seeds Of Hope report, which highlighted the sad truth that black Anglicans experience racism at all levels in the church.

Talk to any black member of a church with white leadership and you will hear stories of racism. Black leaders have tales to tell of the racism they have experienced.

Music has played a small part in bringing black and white Christians together, but that's partly due to the facts that, firstly, it is easy for people to accept and appreciate the talents of black musicians and artists and, secondly, because, to a certain extent, artists have always been at the forefront of breaking down barriers as they are usually more willing to appreciate the artistic talents of individuals from other cultures. Music will continue to break down cultural barriers.

But barriers within the Christian community will only begin to really come tumbling down when we allow the Holy Spirit to reign supreme in our hearts and break down the barriers of sin that exist there.

Holy Spirit revival is needed to sweep away the blasphemous spectre of racism in the church. But while we wait for that to happen, let's do everything we can to encourage the black-white musical interchange within the churches.