A CHRISTIAN singer/songwriter inspired by Pembrokeshire has produced a new booklet of her hymn and gospel songs.

Ruthie Thomas is the first black hymn writer to be published in a mainstream collection in the UK, and in 2011 released her CD, Heaven Direct.

Ruthie, the daughter of a Pentecostal minister, lived for several years in Tenby where she had previously spent many happy holidays, and she was inspired to compose several of her hymns there.

Recently she moved to Glamorganshire, and is working on promoting her new booklet, He’s Here, which features 11 songs, some of which are suitable for schoolchildren, who she particularly enjoys working with. An accompanying CD is also available.

“It is my earnest hope that schools, choirs and congregations will take a look and see it perhaps as a missing piece in the sphere of hymnody,” said Ruthie.

He’s Here is available from in the Heaven Direct Music catalogue on gwales.com and all its hymns are also on the Christian Copyright Licensing website for use by churches.