Unless a British Christian of the current generation has been stolidly attending only one church, or one kind of church, for the past 20 years, it is unlikely that he/she will have failed to encounter 'Mission Praise', in one of its many shapes or forms.
The success of this book has been phenomenal; in some congregations it has swept the board, and even in otherwise catholic, reformed, liberal or charismatic assemblies it has crept in at least as an alternative option for Sunday or the week night gathering. How come?
The standard answer is that for once we have a book which hits the right balance between old and new. They all try; MP succeeds. Here is a core of golden oldies in traditional language which rhymes and scans, and a wide selection of songs from the 1970s onwards which don't, but which make churches feel they are up with the times.
