Cross Rhythms moves to old BBC building

IN AN UNPRECEDENTED move for a Christian media organisation, Cross Rhythms has bought the headquarters of BBC Radio Stoke. The BBC has sold its fully equipped radio studios at Conway House, Cheapside, Stoke-on-Trent, to Cross Rhythms who will run its youth culture Christian music radio station from the headquarters as well as its TV, magazine, festivals, internet and roadshow activities.

Cross Rhythms was originally based in Devon. From 1996 to the present it has been housed in the Stoke-on-Trent headquarters of United Christian Broadcasters. With the recently announced decision of Cross Rhythms to seek an independent identity for its youth culture ministry, a new building for its expanding activities was needed. With the BBC investing over £1im in new state-of-the-art studios in Stoke a few hundred yards from its existing site, Cross Rhythms was able to acquire Conway House. The move is hoped to take place in February 2002. Said Cross Rhythms CEO Chris Cole about the move, "We are absolutely thrilled that Cross Rhythms has been able to pay the deposit for the purchase of Conway House from the BBC. For us to be able to move into a fully equipped radio facility in the Stoke area is only something God could have put together. We believe that this acquisition will enable us to move significantly forward in our efforts to establish a voice to Britain's youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Mark Hurrell, manager of BBC Radio Stoke, commented about the purchase, "I'm delighted that there'll be continuity of activity at Conway House as it's been part of the radio fabric in Stoke for 34 years. With the two stations operating virtually side by side from next year, perhaps this is the beginning of a new media village in the city!"