Fr. Liam Lawton

Fr. Liam Lawton

This is from Father Liam Lawton in Ireland – priest, composer, performer.

For as long as I can remember there was always music in my home. My grandparents loved music and handed down that love to their children who in turn did the same. I always loved singing and as a child imagined myself singing in all kind places, all kinds of songs! As I grew up I learned to play Piano and thus found another form of expression. It was my world of escape when things became difficult or sad. Music has always been a form of expression for all that life offers – the good and bad. When I was a teenager I began to listen to new forms of Irish music and was fascinated by the ethnic quality of what I was hearing. There was something ethereal, numinous and spiritual about the sounds I loved. Here was music that was ancient and yet spoke volumes to me. This was the music that I loved and still love.

When I said that as far back as I could remember there was music in my home, there was also prayer. My parents and grandparents were deeply spiritual people and prayer cam easy to them. It was an extension of life and God was to be found in the bits and pieces of everyday living. Music was anther form of expressing Gods praise and love. So when I embarked on my early college days I went armed with song and faith. Of course many young people did the same and some held on to such things and others decided to let go. My music allowed me to meet so many new people and my faith was my comfort when I was homesick and missed the security of a loving family.

I studied to become teacher and enjoyed the student life with all its complexities and enjoyments. I played in a rock band and enjoyed all its trappings. Something was missing in my life and I searched in all kinds of places and ways to fill this emptiness. Eventually I decided to join a seminary and from there on my whole focus changed. Even though I sang in the Seminary Choir much Gregorian Chant and other beautiful music I had a deep yearning to express a new for of prayer in music. It would take me many days and years to achieve this. When I left seminary I was ordained and found myself at the Cathedral where I worked for 7 years. Only after this time did I begin to write and compose new music as I was then teaching full time and had more time to reflect and work on composition. I returned to University to study for my Masters and the on completion have lived in the same area, performing, teaching and ministering in so many different places. God has been very good to me and I pray that my music continues to touch peoples’ lives in some small way.

I have always been moved by the ancient texts of this country- the Celtic monks who had a profound knowledge of Gods abiding presence and who expressed this in their prayers, writings and songs. This beautiful legacy has been of huge significance and inspiration to me and continues to be in my own writing.

I think at times there will always be conflict. The nature of life is that the sacred and the secular will at times conflict. I sometimes find consolation in both and at other times I am conscious of the tensions that exist between the two worlds. My music has always been part of my priesthood, another form of expression and prayer. At times I long for the freedom of being solely a musician. For years I saw my brothers going out to play in the clubs and would have given anything to be with them just to perform. At times I can feel labeled in my music because of my priesthood but that’s the tension I try and deal with.

Fr. Liam’s website – http://www.liamlawton.com