Peter Meadows, widely regarded as a pioneering force in British Christian media and a founding force behind Premier Christianity magazine and the Spring Harvest festival, has passed away. He was 84.
Meadows has been honoured as an innovator in Christian culture, and a man faithful to his mission and family.
In 1965, Meadows and his two friends, Geoff Shearn and Dave Payne, were seen as pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the UK. They formed a band, Unfettered, and were active on the early Christian music scene alongside Cliff Richard. They also went on to create MGO (Musical Gospel Outreach), which organised Christian concerts.
Les Moir, now an author and contemporary Christian music expert, attended those concerts as a teenager and later became friends with Meadows years later.
“Pete had a flair for marketing and for ideas, and so they were part of this coffee bar evangelism where contemporary bands would come in and play,” he said.
“Out of that, they started gathering all the Christian music artists at the time. They had conferences, retreats and gatherings.
“And then one day at a conference Pete Meadows held up a piece of paper and said, ‘This is going to be the newsletter.’ That newsletter was called Buzz. From that, the magazine started, and it later became Premier Christianity magazine.”
The move was described as unprecedented at the time.
Rev Cindy Kent, a close friend of Meadows, said: “All of this was groundbreaking. If you’d been around in the 60s, you’d know there was nothing like that.”
Moir added: “Buzz became the magazine you read to find out what was going on, and it became one of the most influential media outlets affecting the church at the time.”
Sam Hailes, editor of Premier Christianity, said it was an amazing effort to reach culture for Christ.
“The fact that it has persevered and carried on for decades is a testament to Peter’s entrepreneurial drive and his vision to create something brand new,” he said.
Meadows was also one of the founders of Premier Radio, which later became Premier Christian Radio under the guidance of Peter Kerridge.
Moir said: “He was part of that pioneering, visionary team that just wouldn’t give up. Once Pete had a vision for something, he wanted to see it happen.”
His legacy also includes coming up with the name for the global Christian charity Tearfund and helping to establish the Spring Harvest festival alongside Clive Calver.
Hailes said: “If you add up all the people who have encountered God through Premier Christian Radio, Spring Harvest, and Premier Christianity magazine, you are talking quite literally about millions of people who have either heard the gospel for the first time or been built up in their faith as a direct result of Peter Meadows’ incredible entrepreneurial drive, talent and work inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“He really does leave an extraordinary legacy of millions of lives touched.”
In November, Meadows, along with Payne and Sheehan, was given a lifetime achievement award by gospel music organisation Step FWD.
Rev Kent attended the ceremony and said it was incredibly moving to see him honoured.
“He went up and received the award by himself and made a wonderful speech on behalf of everyone.
“Seeing him on stage was the fulfilment of a lifetime of work given to God.”
Meadows’ final piece of work was a book titled John’s Gospel: The Seven Miracle Signs Revealing Jesus’ Glory.
Kent said Meadows will be remembered by many as a great innovator.
“You can lift up a stone in almost any area of Christian entertainment or publishing and see Pete’s fingerprints on the beginning of it,” she said.
On Saturday, Meadows’ daughter, Xanna Stuart, shared: “With a heavy but grateful heart, I’m sharing that yesterday my dad died peacefully.
“He taught me more than he ever knew, and his love shaped who I am.”
Xanna described him as “the best dad, father-in-law and grandfather,” adding that he is now “home with Jesus” and reunited with his late wife, Rosie Meadows.
