Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Although the popularity of songbooks is gradually diminishing as more and more churches utilise digital songbooks, there is clearly still room for a volume like this which brings together over 200 carols and Christmas songs from a wide range of sources. Alongside all the popular oldies ("Silent Night", "Away In A Manger", "O Come All Ye Faithful" etc, etc. . .) there is a wide range of Christmas Songs from the pens of Tim Hughes, Steven Curtis Chapman, Eoghan Heaslip, Graham Kendrick, Stuart Townend, Chris Tomlin and many more. Some of the most popular carols come in two versions, a "traditional" one and a "contemporary" one - usually an arrangement by one Paul Hughes. It's a handsome hardback (though I'd have thought a spiral binding would have been better for church pianists and organists) while there are useful thematic and scripture indexes. Of the two best Christmas songs written in recent years, in my opinion of course, "Mary, Did You Know?" (Greene, Lowry) is in here though Andrew Peterson's "Labour Of Love" isn't. All in all though, an attractive and useful Christmas resource.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Featuring a selection of over 200 carols, hymns and songs, both old and new, Songs Of Fellowship Christmas is a comprehensive seasonal resource for Advent and Christmas.

This collection includes traditional arrangements as well as brand new modern arrangements to over 25 of the most popular carols particularly suited to use by worship bands, as well as many songs suitable for solo performance.

Included is a free CDROM with all the words, ideal for creating service sheets or for use with software projection systems. There are also selected arrangements and sample recordings included on the CD.

Songs of Fellowship Christmas is part of the ever-popular Songs Of Fellowship series which offers a complete resource for worshipping churches.