Benton, John Edward

Author & Composer

b Isleworth, Middlesex 1949. Southall Grammar Sch and Univ of Sussex (PhD). A journalist and minister of the gospel in the Grace Baptist tradition, he produced with Bill Bygroves in 1979 a collection, Scripture Songs, for Belvidere Road Ch, Liverpool. He is currently pastor of Chertsey St Baptist Church near the centre of Guildford, Surrey, which completed a major building enlargement project in 2005; he has combined this with the job of assistant editor, then editor (from 1993) of the monthly Evangelicals Now. Another occasional contributor is his wife Ann. This journal has regularly promoted new words and music by publishing songs and hymns as well as the monthly series ‘Hymns Now’ (2000–03), ‘The Music Exchange’ (2004 onwards), ‘Beating Time’ and other features, as well as arranging music-related events in partnership with churches. In addition to his occasional book and film reviews and main feature articles, the Editor also provides ‘The Commentary’, a regular 500-word summary of a current issue seen from a biblical perspective. His booklet on Evangelistic Calvinism: why the doctrines of the grace of God are good news was published in 2006. No.167.