During the strangeness of Covid – while we couldn’t go out and do many things we usually take for granted – plenty of people began home renovation projects or learned to make sourdough. At Figtree Anglican, however, some of the young adult community penned an album of music, and a bunch of people caught what the parish’s creative arts and music minister, Greg Bell, calls “the songwriting bug”.

It’s a few years down the track now, but the songs that began to emerge during that period, and in the months since, have now been released as an album under the banner of Figtree Worship.

“A number of songs have been percolating for a while and our congregation have got to know them,” Bell says. “They’ve provided little bits of feedback along the way, so we were hearing those things before we came to the recording process. So, there’s been a discipleship process in the songwriting, which has been lovely.”

The album, titled The Throne is Not Empty, contains a dozen songs that grew out of everything from sermon series to personal experience. Bell explains that once Figtree Worship’s group of 11 volunteer musos and songwriters began to select the final tracks for the album, a natural theme began to emerge of God’s sovereignty and lordship.

At the same time, Bell has been recording parts of the book of Revelation, read by former Archbishop Harry Goodhew, who is a member of the church. One of Figtree Worship’s songwriters, Brent Barrett, asked if the album could open with Goodhew’s reading of Revelation 4, and it now appears as the track “Come Up Here” to the refrain “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty”.

“We start and end the album with that throne room imagery, but then we journey through all sorts of Christian living things... relying on Jesus’ character and sovereignty above all things,” Bell says. “That was language we used among all the team: that we never understand where we’re going but we’re confident that Jesus is sovereign and he is on the throne.”

He adds that nine of the 12 songs were recorded live at the church and specifically written for congregational singing. Two others were written more as personal faith reflections for the times in everyone’s faith journey that these are needed.

“We want to gather on Sunday and worship, but we also want to offer music [for] days when you’re feeling a bit flat and you need that encouragement... tot lift people as they walk with Jesus for that week.”

Streams of the complete album and its various singles have continued to rise, which pleases Bell no end. 

He says that ultimately “it was for our church first – we want our own people to be built up, discipled, encouraged in their walk with Jesus and then, if other churches hear stuff and like it, that’s great.

“There was a lot of prayer and humility around what we were doing and trying to submit ourselves to where God wanted to take us. This is ultimately for God’s glory, and he will use it the way he intends.”

The Throne is Not Empty is available on music streaming services. For CDs and other resources click here.