There's a way back to God

It would be hard to find a greater contrast between the previous item and this one, both of them outside the tradition of the classic hymn. Yet both are part of the section and theme of ‘The Gospel: invitation and warning.’ The editors considered that such simple scriptural ‘choruses’ as these still had a worthy place in the repertoire for those wishing to use them. This is one of several pieces by Eric H Swinstead to appear in CSSM [later, Scripture Union] Choruses Bk 2 (1938), some for the first time and others from his existing New Chorus Book. In addition to further children’s books including the 1964 combined Bks 1, 2 and 3, this composition features in Youth Praise 1 (1966), Family Worship (1971), MP (from 1983) and CH2004. The attribution to H W Cross in FW seems to be an error. The word ‘back’ in the first line is crucial; it may speak for some prodigals (Luke 15) who have drifted away from an earlier faith, but more basically it applies to everyone, since (like Adam and Eve) we were formed by God to belong to him. The ‘door’ is from John 10, Calvary from Luke 23, and line 4 may have Luke 18:13 in mind. The tune, eventually named THERE’S A WAY BACK TO GOD, is arranged for the present book by Linda Mawson.

(‘Hubert’ in CH 2004), b Hackney, Middx (NE London) 1882, d Essex 1950. He lived at Chingford, Essex, and belonged to the former Brethren Assembly meeting at King’s Head Hall; a youth worker who with his artist wife regularly opened their spacious home and garden to groups of young people, for evangelism, fellowship, and Bible-study. He contributed nearly 60 songs (words and music) to CSSM/Scripture Union Choruses, mainly to Bk 2 (1938) where he is one of a small group providing the bulk of the material. No.675.