Noel has been a worship leader and songwriter for many years. He and his wife Tricia have written many modern worship hymns and songs, such as ”All Heaven Declares” and ”You Laid Aside Your Majesty”. In these podcasts, he talks about his own spiritual journey and his perspective on the Christian culture. Through honesty and humour he shares his beliefs, and questions; maybe in the process killing some of our religious sacred cows.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
When God Changes Our Plans
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
We can become very good at organising meetings and times of sung worship. We always want those we lead, to encounter God's presence in our meetings. But how should we respond when God breaks in on our well planned programme and takes things in a different direction?
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
Three Blind Mice
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
In this light hearted confession, I talk about the occasion when I facilitated 'singing in the spirit' at a national church leaders' conference; using a simple nursery rhyme melody.
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Performance or Presence
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
As the modern worship movement has developed, is there a danger that we have become too performance orientated? These days are we focussing more on entertaining the congregation, with our technology, skills and musical ability, rather than the presence of God?
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
The Small Print
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
The Gospel is beautiful in its simplicity. Sadly, over 2000 years, Christian culture has added a list of Old Testament laws and denominational rules to it, that must be obeyed. Have you noticed how evangelists never mention this hidden 'small print'? A bit like those budget airlines that offer an attractive fare but hide the extra charges! I list some of the legalistic rules that governed my teenage years in Wales. Thankfully, I no longer live by them. Do you? What's your experience?
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
God Is Speaking Through The Music
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wayne Drain and Noel Richards talk about the power of music in our worship.
Wayne & Noel have been working together since the mid 1980s. They have co-written many worship songs and toured throughout Europe, N. America and New Zealand.
In this series of conversations they draw on their years of experience in leading worship.
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wayne’s World!
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
In this special episode, my guest is Wayne Drain - pastor, songwriter, worship leader and author.
We hear about his favourite foods, favourite sport and meeting Paul McCartney at Abbey Road Studios. Also, the story behind his new book: 'He Still Speaks to Kids'.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Fearful Faith
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Fear is a great means of controlling people. This podcast talks about my encounter with people who live in fear, rather than faith; and my own experience of a faith based on fear, instead of love.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Money Cometh
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
My unfortunate encounter with the preachers of 'prosperity theology' who promote greed, money grabbing and materialism as a sign of Godliness.
Noel Richards
In a musical career spanning almost 50 years, Noel has performed in 39 countries and played in every kind of venue - street corners, bars, concert halls, churches, cathedrals and stadiums.
Since the late 1970s, Noel has been involved in the worldwide contemporary Christian worship movement and with his wife Tricia and others, has written many modern hymns and songs. Perhaps the best known of these is "All Heaven Declares".
He has recorded 14 albums and also appeared on numerous "live" event/compilation albums. The most successful of these is Sparrow records "I could sing of your love forever" on which Noel is featured singing a live version of "We want to see Jesus lifted high". This album has sold in excess of 500,000 units.
In 1997, Noel & Tricia Richards were key members of the team that organised the 'Champion of the World' event at London's Wembley Stadium, with an attendance of almost 45,000, making it the biggest contemporary Christian music event ever staged in that venue.
He has since been the driving force behind a worship event at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany in 2006; and has supported friends in Hungary as they work towards a stadium worship event at the brand new Puskas Arena in Budapest on 23rd July 2022.
Since 2010, Noel & Tricia have lived on the island of Mallorca, Spain, where they live in Palma, the capital city.
They continue to write, record and perform together and their latest CD – Quiet My Soul – was released in September 2017.