Cross Rhythms (magazine)

{{Short description|UK Christian music magazine}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

{{Infobox magazine

| title = Cross Rhythms

| logo =

| logo_size =

| image_file = Cross Rhythms.png

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Cover of the final issue of Cross Rhythms, published in summer 2005

| editor = Tony Cummings

| editor_title =

| previous_editor =

| staff_writer =

| photographer = Ian Homer

| category = Contemporary Christian music

| frequency = Quarterly

| circulation = 15,000

| circulation_year= 1995

| publisher = Cornerstone House

| founder = Tony Cummings

| founded =

| firstdate = {{Start date|1990|5|df=y}}

| finaldate = {{Start date|2005|8|9|df=y}}

| finalnumber = 85

| company = Cross Rhythms

| country = United Kingdom

| based = Stoke-on-Trent

| language = English

| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20051129020545/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk:80/}}

| issn = 0967-540X

| oclc = 500051110

}}

Cross Rhythms was the eponymously titled music magazine, produced by the Christian media organisation of the same name. It was founded under the name Cross Rhythms Magazine by editor Tony Cummings, and printer Mark Golding in April 1989, with the first issue being made available in May 1990.{{Cite journal |last=Kirk |first=Trevor |date=1 April 2000 |title=Time Tunnels |journal=Cross Rhythms |issue=56 |location=Stoke-on-Trent |publisher=Cornerstone House |editor1-first=Tony |editor1-last=Cummings |editor1-link=Tony Cummings |issn=0967-540X |oclc=500051110|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk:80/articles/music/Time_Tunnels_A_journey_through_the_history_of_Christian_music/33309/p1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129020545/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Time_Tunnels_A_journey_through_the_history_of_Christian_music/33309/p1/ |archive-date=29 November 2005}} Two years later, publication of the magazine was taken over by Cornerstone House, a publishing company owned by Chris Cole.{{Cite journal |last=Cummings |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Cummings |date=9 August 2005 |title=The End of the Beginning |issue=85 |page=10 |location=Stoke-on-Trent |journal=Cross Rhythms |editor1-first=Tony |editor1-last=Cummings |editor1-link=Tony Cummings |issn=0967-540X |oclc=500051110|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk:80/articles/music/The_End_Of_The_Beginning_Website_success_puts_CR_magazine_on_hold/15588/p3/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129020545/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/The_End_Of_The_Beginning_Website_success_puts_CR_magazine_on_hold/15588/p3/ |archive-date=29 November 2005}}

After partnering with Christian radio station United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) in 1995, the magazine was given more financial stability. Around this time, Cross Rhythms had a circulation of approximately 15,000.{{Cite journal|last=Givens|first=Steve|date=July 1995|title=The British are Listening!|journal=CCM Magazine|publisher=CCM Communications|location=Nashville|issn=1524-7848|oclc=40101404|volume=18|issue=1|page=20}} Around 2000, Cross Rhythms{{'s}} official website was launched, which continued online after the paper magazine ceased publication in the summer of 2005 with its 85th issue. {{As of|2009|8}}, the website is the sixth most viewed Christian website in the UK.{{Cite web|url=http://www.keshersearch.com/top50.htm|title=KesherSEARCH Top 50|access-date=4 August 2012|date=August 2009|publisher=KesherSEARCH|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814101214/http://www.keshersearch.com/top50.htm|archive-date=14 August 2012}}

Cross Rhythms centered almost exclusively on contemporary Christian music, with only the occasional review of more mainstream music. Each issue included interviews with musicians and bands, reviews of various albums and compilations, and features on music festivals or productions. Each issue also included a CD, narrated by Mike Rimmer, containing a selection of the songs featured in the magazine. Later issues featured Edges, a series of commentaries on major issues by communicator Mal Fletcher, and That Mysterious Cross, a series on the Christian cross by Chip Kendall of thebandwithnoname.