Norman Goreham

Norman J Goreham is a presbyter in the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Born in 1931 and educated in England, he developed a love of Christian hymns as a boy during the Second World War, when, his mother, a devout woman, would sing hymns to her family during air raids to keep everyone's spirits up. However he did not start writing hymn texts himself until he retired.
Ordained in 1958, he served in England, West Africa and the United States of America before taking up residence in New Zealand in 1976. He holds honours degrees in theology from two British universities, is married and has two adult children, two adult grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was the winner of the 1977 contest for a hymn to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (USA).
In the same year he won a contest to provide a hymn for the 700th anniversary of Saint Nicholas' Church, Remenham, near Henley-on-Thames (UK).
Then he was co-winner of the 2011 Hymn Contest of the Macalester Plymouth United Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA) for a hymn on the theme of social justice.
Other hymns and psalm settings of his have appeared in:
Hymns for the Journey (Gemini Press International), Singing the New Testament (Faith Alive Christian Resources), Psalms for All Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship (Faith Alive Christian Resources), Gifts in Open Hands: More Worship Resources for the Global Community (The Pilgrim Press) and Worship Live (On-line worship resource).