A Place for all in the Choir?

Christian Music, Sacred Space and the Living Church

An opinion article by James Kilbane

“A church is not just another venue. Christian music is not just another form of entertainment. And a Christian musical gathering should never lose sight of the faith it exists to express.” - Gospel singer James Kilbane reflects on debate around using churches as music venues.

The recent discussion in Ireland surrounding a cancelled concert in Boyle has raised important questions about music in churches. Those questions deserve serious consideration, but the conversation should extend beyond one artist, one priest or one parish. The wider issue is how we understand Christian music, the purpose of our churches and the responsibility that comes with bringing music into sacred space.

Having spent many years singing Christian music and sharing it with audiences across different Christian traditions, I believe we must hold two principles together: our churches must be respected for their sacred purpose, and Christian music must be recognised in all its breadth and diversity.

Neither should be sacrificed for the other.

A church is more than a building

A church is a place of worship, prayer, sacrament, reflection and community. It is where people gather in joy and sorrow, celebrate life's milestones, grieve for loved ones and seek comfort, hope and faith. For generations, churches have been at the heart of local communities, particularly in rural Ireland.

With a background in heritage and cultural studies, I recognise that the value of a place lies not only in its architecture and history, but also in the people who continue to give it life. Churches are part of our living heritage. They are not museums, but neither are they ordinary halls available for whatever event might fill the seats.

This places a responsibility on everyone involved in organising an event within a church.

The music, lyrics, presentation, staging and overall purpose must be considered. The sacred character of the building must be respected, and the parish and those entrusted with its care must be comfortable with what takes place there.

A church should never be treated simply as a convenient venue with good acoustics

But protecting sacred space does not mean that music has no place within it. The important questions are what kind of music is being presented, why it is being presented, and whether the event genuinely respects the faith and community of that place.

Christian music has more than one voice

Christian music is not confined to one musical style or tradition. Gregorian chant, choral and classical sacred music, Celtic music and traditional hymns have an important place in our Christian heritage. They should be respected and cherished. But they do not represent the entirety of Christian musical expression.

Gospel, country Gospel, Christian country, contemporary Christian music, praise and worship, acoustic performances and spiritual songs can also communicate the Christian faith. They can speak of Christ, draw upon Scripture, offer praise to God, give testimony and explore forgiveness, family, hardship, grief and hope.

The musical language may differ, but the message can remain distinctly Christian.

A country song can tell a secular story; it can also tell a story of faith. A contemporary acoustic song can be entertainment, but it can equally be a prayer, a testimony or an expression of Christian hope.

The New Testament speaks of singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Christian musical expression has never needed to be reduced to one musical sound. The challenge is to discern what is being communicated and whether the music serves its intended purpose.

A guidance document produced for the Catholic church considers musical performances outside the liturgy and recognises that appropriately chosen religious music can have a place in church life. It also insists that churches retain their sacred character and should not be opened indiscriminately to every kind of musical performance.

This is an important distinction. Music need not be composed specifically for the liturgy to have a genuine religious purpose, but neither does a Christian label automatically make every song or event suitable for a church building.

Perhaps we should ask not only, What kind of music is this? but also, What is this music saying, what purpose does it serve, and how is it being presented?

That is not an argument that every song belongs in every church. It is a call to discernment that considers the message as well as the musical form.

When the message reaches people

In my own experience of Christian concerts and musical evenings, I have repeatedly seen how music can reach people who might not regularly attend church. Some come because they enjoy music; others come out of curiosity, friendship or a desire to share an evening with their community. There are also those who arrive carrying personal difficulties, facing challenges in their lives, searching for answers or quietly seeking a deeper sense of faith, hope and belonging. They may not always know what they are looking for, or find it easy to express what is happening within them.

Yet, through a song, a few words of reflection or the Christian message being shared, something can resonate with them in a deeply personal way. A message of hope can reach someone who is struggling; a song of faith can speak to someone who is searching; and a moment of music can offer comfort to someone who feels burdened by life's circumstances.

I have witnessed and heard how songs, words and the Christian message have touched people, encouraged them and prompted reflection. For some, the experience has offered reassurance during difficult times. For others, it has renewed their sense of faith or allowed them to encounter the Christian message in a way that felt personal and accessible.

This is not to suggest that every concert has the same effect, or that music replaces worship, prayer or the wider life of a church. It does mean that we should not underestimate what can happen when Christian music is presented sincerely and thoughtfully.

Religious concerts may offer an opportunity for people who are no longer practising their faith, or who are seeking God, to encounter a genuine religious experience. That recognition is significant. It suggests that the potential spiritual value of such an event should not be dismissed simply because it takes place outside the liturgy.

Country Gospel and Christian country provide one example of how this can happen. Their storytelling tradition connects with familiar experiences of family, home, work, loss, perseverance and hope. When these themes are joined with the Christian message, faith can speak through the language of everyday life.

Sometimes a voice, an instrument and a song can communicate something that a person has been longing to hear.

Christian music is not simply a performance of a message. At its best, it is a living message.

If people leave a gathering having reflected on their faith, felt encouraged or found a renewed sense of hope, we should recognise that as something meaningful.

When fundraising becomes the priority

There is another matter that deserves honest consideration: the purpose behind organising a musical event in a church. Fundraising is important. Many parishes face real financial pressures, particularly in rural areas where maintaining buildings and meeting ongoing costs can be difficult. A Christian musical evening can bring a community together and, where appropriate, help raise funds for necessary repairs or parish needs.

But we must be careful.

When the priority becomes maximising ticket sales and raising as much money as possible, the faith element can risk becoming secondary.

The desire to fill every seat, attract the largest possible audience or generate the greatest return can influence decisions about the performer, repertoire, staging and presentation. Without proper reflection, an event can gradually become more concerned with its commercial success than with the purpose of the church in which it is taking place.

This is not an accusation against any particular parish or organiser. It is a responsibility that all of us should consider honestly.

Fundraising can serve the life of a church, but it should not determine the identity of an event. A good financial outcome cannot, by itself, establish that an event is appropriate for a sacred space. We must ask ourselves: are we organising a Christian gathering that may also raise funds, or are we organising a commercial event in a church because we believe it will attract a larger audience?

The purpose of the gathering must come before the potential return. Financial need deserves understanding, but it should never cause us to compromise the faith and purpose that make the church distinctive.

The artist is a servant of the message

Modesty and integrity are equally important. A Christian musical gathering does not have to be quiet, solemn or without joy. Gospel music can be exuberant, uplifting and celebratory. People can sing along, clap and respond with enthusiasm while still respecting the sacred character of the occasion.

The question is not whether the event is large or small, traditional or contemporary, quiet or joyful. It is whether the music, the musician and the event ultimately serve the Christian message and the community rather than themselves.

The musician is a servant of the message, not the owner of it.

That responsibility extends beyond the performance itself. It concerns the way an event is organised, the respect shown to the hosts, the audience and the building, and the integrity with which the Christian message is presented.

The Christian message should not begin when the first song starts and end when the final applause finishes. Those of us involved in Christian music must be willing to apply that principle to ourselves. The event is not simply about the artist, the applause or the number of people who attend. It is about what is being communicated, why it matters and what people take away with them.

Modesty does not mean a lack of quality, professionalism or enthusiasm. It means ensuring that the personality, production and commercial considerations never overshadow the purpose of the gathering.

A place for all in the choir

Church leaders have a responsibility to protect sacred space. Artists and organisers have a responsibility to respect it. Communities deserve to be heard, and Christian music deserves to be considered on the basis of its message, purpose and presentation, rather than judged solely by its musical genre.

Not every church needs to host concerts. Not every kind of music belongs in every setting. Different Christian traditions have different understandings of worship and sacred space, and individual parishes must be able to exercise proper discernment.

But we should not confuse protecting the sacred character of a church with narrowing our understanding of Christian music.

There is room for the choir, the organ, the hymn, the Gospel song, the country Gospel ballad and the contemporary Christian song. They do not all serve the same purpose, and they do not all belong in the same setting. Yet each can express faith sincerely when its message and purpose are true to the Christian tradition.

There should be a place for all in the choir — not because everything belongs everywhere, but because Christian faith has more than one musical voice.

The challenge is to preserve what is sacred without overlooking the ways in which faith continues to reach people today. We should welcome thoughtful discussion, proper standards and responsible decisions, while recognising that music can be a powerful means of praise, encouragement, community and Christian witness.

A church must remain a church. A Christian musical gathering must remain true to its purpose. And those who bring music into that space must remember whom the music is meant to serve.

If we can hold these principles together, the conversation can become more than a disagreement about a venue. It can become an opportunity to deepen our understanding of Christian music, strengthen our communities and ensure that the living message of faith continues to be heard.