A former regional press editor who left the newsroom to become a Methodist minister has used his journalism skills to scoop a national hymn-writing prize.

The Rev Gareth Hill, who edited The Free Press of Monmouthshire in Pontypool, and was later head of journalism at Cornwall College, was one of four winners in a BBC Radio 2 contest to pen the lyrics for a new hymn or worship song.

He wrote the hymn Dear Lord, where are the signs of hope?, which was set to music by contest judges Barry Rose and Dave Bilbrough after being chosen as one of the winning songs.

The hymn, sung to the new tune, has also been played on BBC Radio Cornwall and Radio 2.

Gareth (pictured) said he had written the hymn to mark the induction of the Rev Dr Martyn Atkins as this year’s President of the Methodist Conference and then entered it in the annual competition.

He said: “Every time you write a hymn or song you want to know if it’s any good so to have it chosen as a national champion is a pretty satisfying endorsement.

“I’ve been writing hymns and worship songs for around 30 years and really want to see the church wrestle with the challenge of contemporary culture – both by embracing its musical styles and singing the questions that 21st century people are asking.

“Too often we try to repeat what we’ve been doing for the past 100 years and think that by singing the same old stuff louder we’ll make more impact.

“The church needs to be more honest – that’s why this hymn asks where the signs of hope are to be found. The answer is also in the hymn: it’s when Christians learn to walk in Jesus’ shoes and love like he did.”

Gareth has been working as a full-time Methodist minister in Wadebridge, North Cornwall, with responsibility for a number of churches, for six years.

Prior to that he had spent 28 years in journalism, starting out on his home town newspaper The Free Press of Monmouthshire, in Pontypool, which he later went on to edit.

He also worked as a sports writer for the South Essex Recorders and as a sub-editor and deputy features editor on the South Wales Echo before becoming head of journalism at Cornwall College and training more than 400 newspaper reporters during his ten years there.

He has written dozens of hymns and plays guitar and sings in a contemporary group called GraceNotes. He also helped pioneer the Tubestation surf and skateboard church in Polzeath where the pulpit has been replaced by a skateboard ramp.