Sister Janet Mead was an Australian Catholic nun who had an international hit single in 1974 with “The Lord’s Prayer.”
- Died: January 26, 2022 (Who else died on January 26?)
- Details of death: Died in Adelaide, Australia of cancer at the age of 83.
- We invite you to share condolences for Sister Janet Mead in our Guest Book.
Religious calling and singing career
Mead began combining her love of music and her Christianity when she was still a teen, forming a rock band to perform at her church’s weekly Mass. She joined the Sisters of Mercy, where she taught music in local schools as well as continuing to offer rock music in worship services, one of the first to do so in Australia. Her 1974 recording of “The Lord’s Prayer” became a hit in Australia, the U.S., and Canada, making it to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. With its success, Mead became the first Australian recording artist to have a gold record in the United States. She was nominated for a Grammy Award, and she donated all of her royalties to charity.
“The Lord’s Prayer” was the only Top Ten hit in history with lyrics entirely taken from the Bible, and Mead was the second nun to have a U.S. hit record, after Jeanine Deckers, the Singing Nun who recorded “Dominique.” Mead recorded several albums but preferred to stay out of the spotlight and focus on her religious calling and her work as a teacher. In 2004, she was named South Australian of the Year for her work helping the homeless.
Notable quote
“I believe that life is a unity and therefore not divided into compartments. That means that worship, music, recreation, work and all other ‘little boxes’ of our lives are really inseparable and this is why I believe that people should be given the opportunity to worship God with the language and music that is part of their ordinary life.” —from the liner notes of Mead’s 1974 album “With You I Am”
Tributes to Sister Janet Mead
Full obituary: ABC News
