Norman Warren

Born in London, 19 July 1934. Educated at Dulwich College in South London; studied music and theology at Corpus Christi College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge (BA 1958, MA 1962).Ordained in the Church of England in 1960; curate of Bedworth, Warwickshire, 1960-63; vicar of St Paul's Leamington Spa 1963-77; Rector of Morden 1977-89; Archdeacon and Canon of Rochester from 1989 to his retirement in 2000.

A gifted musician and a prolific writer and composer of hymn tunes and texts, songs, anthems, musical plays and instrumental pieces, mainly for the organ. Among his many paperbacks on the Christian life is the world's best-selling evangelistic booklet 'Journey into Life' with worldwide sales of 30 million.

Founder member of Jubilate Hymns, Norman Warren served on the teams which produced 'Youth Praise' (1966 and 1969) in which his first published work appeared. This was followed, among other publications, by 'Psalm Praise' (1973), 'Jesus Praise' (which he edited, 1982), 'Hymns for Today's Church' (1982), 'Carol Praise' (1987), 'Church Family Worship' (1988), and 'Sing Glory' (1999).He worked closely with Michael Perry, and they often collaborated, in print or in person, when introducing worship and training for churches and groups. More than a hundred of his hymn tunes are published world-wide, of which one is named after his wife Yvonne and others after members of their family. He died on 19 June 2019.