 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (August 2022) |
Premier Christianity is a monthly Evangelical Christian magazine published in the United Kingdom.[1] The magazine was started in 1965 as a newsletter with name Buzz.[2]: 18 It was sponsored by the organization Music Gospel Outreach (MGO) and shared a similar youth-focus with MGO and the soon arriving Jesus movement and the popularity of Jesus music, which boosted evangelical youth culture in the United Kingdom.[3]: 90–91
Reaching a circulation of 31,500 in 1980, Buzz became the best-selling Christian news publication in the United Kingdom.[2]: 19 In October 1988, publishers Elm House Christian communications, based in New Malden, Surrey relaunched the magazine as Twenty First Century Christian.[2]: 18 Circulation fell to only 18,000 by 1989.[2]: 19
The name was subsequently changed to Alpha as the youth-focused publishing enterprise reoriented towards an adult audience.[3]: 93 Youthwork magazine was launched as a supplement to Alpha and became its own independent magazine in 1992.[3]: 199
Acquired by Trinity Square in 1996, Alpha was rebranded Christianity.
Premier Media Group acquired Christianity in 1999. In 2001, the new publishers merged the magazine with Renewal, which they also owned, titling the combined publication Christianity and Renewal. The title changed back to Christianity in 2004 and then was updated again to Premier Christianity in 2014.[4]
- ^ Justin Brierley. "Buzz to Premier Christianity - 50 years and counting…". Premier Christianity. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Wroe, Martin (September 1989). "Declining Issues". Third Way. 12 (9). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b c Ward, Pete (1996). Growing up evangelical : youthwork and the making of a subculture. London: SPCK. ISBN 0281048401. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to the UK's leading Christian magazine". Premier Media Group. Retrieved 12 August 2022.