In a landmark moment for the UK music industry, Nottingham-born singer Jerub has claimed the historic first-ever Number 1 on the newly launched Official UK Christian and Gospel Singles Chart. The singer, whose versatile sound blends soul with alt-rock, takes the top spot with his original country-style singalong, "Kumbaya."
The track, written by Kjetil Mørland, Paul Meehan, and Gideon Ogheneochuko Akpovi, is a poignant exploration of loss. Speaking on his chart-topping success, Jerub noted the spiritual roots of the title: "The word Kumbaya actually comes from the phrase ‘Come by here,’ which is a spiritual once sung as a prayer for comfort and help. To have it at No. 1 on this new chart is amazing!"
Developed by the Official Charts Company in collaboration with AStepFWD, a pioneering UK Christian media organization, the new weekly Top 20 chart is designed to platform homegrown talent. To ensure the chart reflects the "freshest releases," it specifically ranks singles by British artists released within the last 12 months, based on combined sales and streams.
AStepFWD CEO O’Neill Dennis hailed the launch as long-overdue: "For a long time, there’s been incredible music coming out of this space in the UK, often without the recognition it deserved. Seeing it now reflected in the official national chart is highly encouraging."
The launch comes as demand for faith-based music reaches an all-time high. Official Charts data reveals that the UK Christian and Gospel albums market has grown by 64% since 2015. In 2025, the genre reached a major milestone, surpassing 500,000 annual units for the first time.
Streaming has been the primary engine for this growth, now accounting for 93% of the genre's consumption. This surge was highlighted in 2025 by the massive success of Sault’s eleventh studio album, Acts of Faith. By spotlighting everything from gospel choirs to faith-based rap and R&B, this new chart provides a vital stage for one of the UK's most vibrant musical sectors.
