LCGC celebrate 40th anniversary in great musical style

Britain’s first-ever community gospel choir, LCGC (London Community Gospel Choir), recently celebrated their

40th anniversary with a special concert at the Hackney Empire, London.

The capacity crowd, which included fans who had travelled from as far afield as Scandinavia, Macedonia, Morocco and Ireland, were treated to some exceptional gospel singing from the legendary outfit, founded 40 years ago – in a sea of controversy – by Rev Bazil Meade MBE, Lawrence ‘LJ’ Johnson, Bishop Delroy Powell and Bishop John Francis.

Church leaders didn’t want their members joining LCGC because it comprised of singers from different denominations. Young people welcomed the opportunity to sing in the Choir and meet fellow Christians and joined in spite of their leaders’ reservations. Despite its tumultuous start, LCGC went on to become a training ground for numerous gospel singers and musicians – many of whom have pursued solo careers, worked as backing singers and band musicians for some of the biggest artists in the music business, or who have gone on to do great things in their own right. And they have sung throughout the UK, Africa, Europe and parts of Asia.

LCGC gave a performance to remember at this 40th anniversary musical spectacular. They opened the concert as a mass choir, comprising members from across the four decades the choir has been in existence. Lawrence Johnson directed. They then preceded to shine a musical spotlight on each decade the LCGC has been singing, with original members from each era performing.

The concert was a very good trip down memory lane and the audience heard gospel classics and original LCGC numbers, like Be An Instrument, Fill My Cup, Every Passing Moment and the closing number, Faith, with former members, such as Dave Daniel and Bryan Powell, singing leads.

The singing and performances were EXCELLENT.

The choir performances were interspersed with the history of the Choir, narrated by Muyiwa. It reminded the crowd that when God gives someone a vision, they should aim to fulfil it, despite the naysayers. If it's of God, it will last. It was evident that Bazil Meade and Co had stayed true to the vision; the Choir is still here.

As the concert drew to a close, Bazil shared that his son Leonne is now taking the helm. We pray that he leads the Choir to even greater success during the next 40 years.