Canon Garth Hewitt is a member of the Peacemaker Board of Reference and former founding trustee. Garth’s commitment to social justice pervades his music and led him to found the human rights charity Amos Trust in 1985. Having recently retired from Amos Trust, his focus now is on the Garth Hewitt Foundation. Garth’s catalogue of music is accessible here.

Garth’s life work is summarised in Against the Grain

A mixture of stories, theology, wisdom, music, humour – all building together to say something really important… but gently. 

Garth says of Against the Grain, “My book is a journey that reflects choices and influences both musical and spiritual. There are stories, and I talk about music, theology, the enjoyment, and why I made various choices. I take time to speak about various aspects of the songs and recording, there’s a chapter about the Greenbelt Festival and my involvement in the early days; one about the time when I was with EMI for the album Did He Jump or Was He Pushed produced by Cliff Richard, then chapters about the change where I started to reflect more on issues of justice, from Road to Freedom to Lonesome Troubadour; a chapter on theology called ‘Stealing Jesus Back’; one about the days at All Hallows on the Wall when I was with Christian Aid as well as Amos; a chapter on Palestine entitled ‘From St Jerome to Banksy’, and of course one on the Amos Trust as to why I started it. And in all of this some personal moments about family and friends. It’s a mixture which hopefully paints a picture that has something important to say about the road to justice and hope.”

“Garth Hewitt writes redemption songs and then sings them without fear. His voice comes through clearly in these pages, challenging us by his witness to act for justice. His is a brave voice, needed more than ever in a fearful world and in a sometimes timid church. Please God, it will help us sing redemption songs of our own.”
– The Revd Lucy Winkett, Rector, St James’s Piccadilly; previous Chair of Trustees of Amos Trust

“A singing, campaigning troubadour with an unquenchable thirst for justice.” – Simon Mayo, Broadcaster/Writer

“Garth Hewitt shows us what it means to be an activist, artist, and a person of faith—with his faith shaping everything else. Garth’s life and work has consistently addressed the urgency of justice, peace, and truth. Against the Grain is a wonderful account of Garth Hewitt’s pilgrimage and offers real insight into how such a journey is engaged and sustained—how you keep going when a committed life isn’t always easy. Garth and Gill have also shown us parents how to raise children who decide to live their lives hoping to change the world. Garth Hewitt’s journey and family is an inspiration to many of us and this autobiography will help educate and activate a new generation. Garth’s story shows us how to do the work of justice with guitar in hand.” – Jim Wallis, New York Times bestselling author of America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America, president of Sojourners, and editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine