Hymns: 1994 Memories

Posted on by HiberniaGospel
SIPTU Hall Tipperary Town

From 1994 to 1998, I was involved in both Tipperary Christian Fellowship and Limerick Baptist Church. From 1998 to 2020, I focused solely on Tipperary, though I live in Limerick, 25 miles away. Up to the end of 2007, we met in the SIPTU Hall (shown here). Then, we moved to a community centre building in Blind Street. In 1994, we had a Bible Study in the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre too. Tipperary Christian Fellowship recently changed its name to Tipperary Bible Church.

Memorable hymns first published in 1994 include the following:

What Kind of Greatness
Overwhelmed by Love
For the Joys and For the Sorrows
Over The Mountains And The Sea
Light the Fire Again

We didn’t really sing the very modern songs in Tipperary Christian Fellowship or in Limerick Baptist Church, but I did become aware of them many years later.

Our Pastor in Limerick moved on in 1994, and we didn’t get a new one until 1996, but it was impressive that the church could carry on for two years without a Pastor. I do remember taking the service a few times, but for the most part it was members of the congregation and various guest speakers. And the church continued to grow and progress in these years.

So what else do I remember about 1994?

  • On a personal level, my first daughter was born.
  • Evangelicals featured on one of the episodes of Would You Believe on RTE.
  • The Church of England had women priests for the first time
  • A free evangelistic book, From Minus to Plus was distributed throughout Ireland. We weren’t directly involved, but it was sent to every home in Limerick and Tipperary town.
  • I did a lot of literature distribution in Tipperary town and the surrounding areas. I remember meeting a Jehovah’s Witness man doing the same thing. I asked him what he would do if he lost faith in the Jehovah’s Witnesses. He said that he would just follow Jesus. I was impressed with his answer. Many years later, he did just that, and he spread the gospel widely. He’s in Heaven now.
  • 1994 was the year of the controversial Toronto Blessing, a movement that touched charismatic churches around the world. No-one in my circles was affected by it. We’d have all seen it in a very negative light. But it was quite influential and divisive among Pentecostal and charismatic churches.
  • My father-in-law, Warren Nelson launched his book on TC Hammond at Limerick Baptist Church in September.

That year, my in-laws moved to Virginia County Cavan. My father-in-law was Church of Ireland rector for that area. I knew very little of that part of Ireland until then. They stayed there until 1998. One of my early memories of Virginia was watching the Remembrance day service in November 94 on BBC and hearing For All the Saints for the first time, a wonderful hymn.

For All The Saints
I Want to Be a Christian
The More I Believe

Scottish band, the Proclaimers released an album in 1994. It included I Want to Be a Christian and The More I Believe. Seemed strange to have such songs from a secular artist. I don’t know where they stand spiritually, but in a world where so many put God out of the picture, it’s always good to hear people singing about God. Anytime You Need a Friend by Mariah Carey was released around June 1994. I remember hearing it on the radio a lot, but I only became familiar with it recently. Musically, it has a gospel feel, but the lyrics also seem to suggest that we might be thinking about something bigger than human friendship. Here’s what Mariah said about it:

“Among all of my songs that one was especially significant, because I was desperately alone, removed from friends and full of fear,” she said. “My belief in God kept me alive – I wrote that song thinking about what I thought God would say to us in times of fear.”

Anytime You Need a Friend
If you're lonely
And need a friend
And troubles seem like
They never end
Just remember
To keep the faith
And love will be there
To light the way, yeah

In August 1994, the All Souls Orchestra played in the University Concert Hall in Limerick. I didn’t bother going, but I now regret it. The clip here shows them at the Royal Albert Hall.

1994 was the year of the Northern Ireland ceasefire, so it felt safer travelling in Northern Ireland, though I never really felt unsafe.

Some years ago, I found this video on YouTube about the sad case of a woman murdered by the IRA weeks before the ceasefire. What touched me deeply was her daughter talking about God just over a minute into the video. This was before the murder, which took place in July 1994

Finally, I like to list the churches I visited as a Baptist Missions worker. They were all very warm and hospitable to me and to other mission workers from the Republic.

We had our Baptist Missions workers conference in the YMCA in Greystones, county Wicklow, the first time I’d been to Greystones since a Baptist Youth weekend back in 1981. And I attended the Killkenny Christian workers conference that autumn, which was always a highlight.

I took little interest in the Christian contemporary music scene back then, but a big song was God is In Control by Twila Paris. I remember being a bundle of nerves when the clutch in my car broke in September 94. Maybe that song would have helped 😀.

Finally, here’s some music, events, and films/TV shows that would have formed the background to 1994. I don’t necessarily endorse all these songs or films 😀, but thinking of them takes me back to what was discussed in 1994.

10 Songs

  • Things Can Only Get Better: D:Ream
  • Linger​: The Cranberries (From Limerick)
  • The Sign​: Ace of Base
  • The Most Beautiful Girl In The World​: Prince
  • Supersonic​: Oasis
  • Love Is All Around: Wet Wet Wet
  • Anytime You Need A Friend​: Mariah Carey
  • 7 Seconds​: Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry
  • Kiss From A Rose​: Seal
  • Parklife​: Blur
  • Circle Of Life​: Elton John
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You​: Mariah Carey

10 Events

  • Nancy Kerrigan attack​ed
  • Los Angeles Earthquake
  • First Church of England Woman ministers
  • Richard Nixon RIP​
  • Rwanda genocide
  • IRA ceasefire​
  • Baltic ferry disaster​
  • Nelson Mandela Becomes President
  • Kurt Cobain RIP
  • Solar Temple deaths Switzerland​

10 Films or TV Shows

  • The Shawshank Redemption
  • Pulp Fiction
  • Forrest Gump
  • The Lion King
  • Speed
  • Dumb and Dumber
  • Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
  • Room 101
  • The Vicar of Dibley
  • Stargate

10 Famous People Who Passed Away

  • Kurt Cobain – Lead singer of Nirvana, symbol of Generation X
  • Harry Nilsson – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter (“Without You”)
  • Telly Savalas – Actor and singer, famously played Kojak
  • Peter Cushing – British actor known for Star Wars and Hammer horror films
  • Ayrton Senna – Brazilian Formula One champion, died in a tragic crash
  • Matt Busby – Legendary Manchester United manager
  • Richard Nixon – 37th President of the United States
  • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – Former First Lady of the U.S.
  • Kim Il-sung – Supreme Leader of North Korea
  • Tip O’Neill – Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

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