Anthony Packwood is one of Canada’s most exciting new worship leaders.  For more than 10 years, he has been leading worship in the Calgary area, writing songs that call for a deeper, more intimate encounter with the living God and encouraging Christians to make worship their chosen lifestyle, not a musical genre.

 Anthony was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the youngest child and only son of Gene and Judy Packwood, and brother to Kate.  Moving to Calgary when he was four, the family attended Holy Trinity Anglican Church until Anthony’s father discerned a call to ordained ministry.  The family picked up again and moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where Gene attended seminary.  Once his time at seminary was completed, God placed Gene in ministry in a small town just north of Calgary, and once more the family relocated, though this time Kate remained in Saskatchewan.  The Packwoods settled in Airdrie, AB and it was there that God began revealing His plans for Anthony.

 Anthony picked up a guitar.  And the power of the Holy Spirit was unleashed in his life.

 There has been no turning back.  Anthony has led worship with several bands, including Taberah, Soul Purpose and 4 Quart Kettle, all the while writing and compiling an impressive list of worship songs and nurturing new musicians along the way.  His songs are being sung in churches around the Anglican Diocese of Calgary, and in the Anglican movements of Teens Encounter Christ and Cursillo.  Currently, Anthony leads worship at the church he attended as a young boy, Holy Trinity Anglican Church; God in His faithfulness has brought Anthony full circle.  Yet God calls Anthony out to other places as well; more and more he is being sought out by different groups and churches to share his passionate worship with others.

 Anthony has a remarkable ability to “practice the presence of God” and through his worshipper’s heart, others are learning of the joy and peace that comes from intimacy with Jesus.  Anthony’s greatest desire is that others will press in to the heart of God and come to a deeper understanding of Him, and that they will choose to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Written by Shauna Ginn