Chris Tomlin held off a considerable onslaught of new releases to remain at #1 on the Canadian Christian Music charts. The September release was the top selling album according to statistics assembled in Christian retails stores in Canada in October.

The strength of new releases changed the chart considerably with WoW Hits 2009 entering at #2, Brian Doerksen’s It’s Time entering at #3, Casting Crowns new Christmas album Peace On Earth entering at #4, and Michael W. Smith’s A New Hallelujah entering the charts at #8. The chart positioning for Michael W. Smith is noteworthy as the album released October 28th and still managed to hit the top ten based on only four days sales. Expect A New Hallelujah to challenge the higher reaches of the chart at the end of November.

Other new entries to the Top 50 include the newsboys (#20), GRITS (#28) and Paul Baloche (#31). A notable is downhere’s surge from #34 to the top ten at #10, Lincoln Brewster’s move from #41 to #7 and 51 Must Have Modern Worship Hits #42 to #9.

The charts are based on sales at Canadian Christian retailers for the month of October. Download your own personal copy of the CD chart here and the DVD chart here.