The heroes of scripture

Like 296, this further text by John Tindall was written in 1996. He was stirred by the 1980 film ‘Chariots of Fire’, based on the career of Eric Liddell (1902–45—see also the notes to 491), and wrote the opening words to fit the film’s theme music and to accompany a children’s talk. This was part of a series on Hebrews 11–12 by Trevor Archer, co-pastor with him of Chessington Evangelical Church, Surrey. The concept of running a race led naturally to Hebrews 12:1–2, following the previous chapter of biblical heroes. Stz 1 (with chorus) was first sung in 1997, when the congregation was meeting at the Chessington Community College before its present home (the King’s Centre) was built. Brian Edwards writes that as the song ‘was well accepted’, the author added stzs 2 and 3. The film music was written in the late 1970s by the Greek composer Vangelis, but traces of an earlier tune have also been noticed. It was used on BBC ‘Songs of Praise’ on New Year’s Eve 2000, set (with permission) to new words by Richard Bewes beginning ‘We tread in their footsteps, where prophets have trod …’

The tune, however, is not yet available for publication with this text. Jackie Ellmore is a musician at the Chessington Church; she composed CHESSINGTON for the words at the author’s request. Like them, the music is first published here and appeared later in the 2004 CH.

b Manchester 1942. Chadderton Grammar Sch, Lancs (Greater Manchester); ordained to the Methodist ministry, he later transferred to the FIEC. In 1984 he became the minister of Chessington Evangelical Ch, Surrey, and he now (from 2006) lives in Stirchley, Birmingham, with a different but continuing senior pastoral role. His first published hymnwriting is in this book, and.one hymn is also in CH (2004 edn). Nos.296, 863.