Exploring Worship - Friday 6 June @ 6:30 p.m.

About the event

The event will feature music from Sandra McCracken, Tim Nicholson and David Clifton, plus a time of interactive discussion and opportunity to ask our contributors about their approach to worship. Light refreshments and nibbles will be available afterwards.

This event is for everyone with an interest in worship music, whether singing in the congregation, leading, playing, writing or facilitating. All are welcome! 

Wycliffe Hall has set itself the modest task of fostering a New Renaissance of Christian scholarship, leadership and culture. As a key component of this vision, an innovative new project starting in autumn 2025 will help us to equip the Church to engage intelligently, creatively, winsomely, humbly with our society again, and to offer it a better song to sing. We will provide a unique formation experience to cultivate theological depth, artistic excellence, and multi-dimensional diversity in congregational music- and worship-leaders.

Event details

Date: Friday 6 June 2025

Time: 6:30-8:00

Venue: Wycliffe Hall, 52-54 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PW

Getting here: Wycliffe Hall is on major bus routes. Limited parking may be available on site (please contact us by email if you have any special access requirements) and pay-and-display on-street parking is available close by in Norham Gardens. 

Photography and filming: This event will include photography and filming: please contact us directly if you have any questions about this: conferences@wycliffe.ox.ac.uk. 

All are welcome: the event is open to the public and free to attend.

Please book your free ticket here

About Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson

Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson are touring musicians, songwriters, and leaders in worship and the arts based in Nashville, TN.  As a team, they bring together rich theological hymns, contemporary songs for the church and expressive musicianship as they lead.

The two enjoy playing music, hearing live music, running, reading, tacos, English tea and all sorts of outdoor adventures. Their biggest disagreement is whether the St. Louis Cardinals or the Atlanta Braves are the better baseball team.

Sandra and Tim live in Nashville, Tennessee with their three children and two family dogs. Sandra and Tim Nicholson are co-authors of a new children’s book, “The Maker of the Mountain” (April 2025) with B&H publishing.

Sandra McCracken Nicholson

Sandra is a singer-songwriter and 2023 Dove Award Winner who has 18 released studio albums spanning a 25 year career of writing and touring.  As one of the most prominent artist-writers for modern hymns, Sandra is also a writer and podcast host for CT Magazine and the author of ‘Send Out Your Light: The Illumination of Scripture and Song.” 

Tim Nicholson

Tim has worked as a church musician, a Christmas ornament salesman in Harrods, and a white water guide. He has shaped and directed music programs at  churches for nearly 20 years. He authored a series of music appreciation textbooks and articles for byFaith Magazine. Tim is an Eagle Scout and enjoys marathon running, triathlons, cooking, outdoor adventure, jazz, and baseball. 

About David Clifton

David is a musician, potter and painter. His role as Artist in Residence at Wycliffe includes organising our college choir, assisting with the Chapel music, curating termly art exhibitions, and teaching workshops.

He was Director of Music at St Paul’s Onslow Square, London, then Worship Music Leader at Holy Trinity Brompton, London, and Director of Music for London’s Tollington Parish before his appointment as a Director of Music and Arts in Knoxville, Tennessee USA. He has led worship for numerous conferences worldwide, spoken on the theology, history and practicalities of worship music and contributed to training events and workshops across the globe. Prior to his career in music, David taught Special Education. 

He was signed to PVK, Red Bus EMI and Virgin Records, and over the years has worked with some of the UK and Ireland’s finest songwriters, contributing to many recordings and tours by British, Irish and USA musicians. His own recording projects and collaborations include worship music, folk and ambient music, and can be found on all digital music sites.