Shauna Muamba tells Aled Jones how the prayers of so many brought hope when her husband Fabrice suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match in 2012.
David Grant explores the past, present and future of the Church in Stoke-on-Trent and introduces modern and traditional hymns from Longton Methodist Central Hall with performances by Kristyna Myles and Stuart Pendred.
Ahead of Burns Night, Sally Magnusson meets an expert on the bard, as well as a writer, a painter and a hip hop dancer, and introduces popular hymns and songs by Scottish writers, sung in Dunblane cathedral.
Russell Watson explores how his native Salford has changed since artist LS Lowry painted the industrial town. Russell also performs Jerusalem and introduces other popular hymns from St Peter's Church in Swinton.
Pam Rhodes meets people who believe they have encountered angels and introduces some popular angelic hymns.
Aled Jones discovers why Henry Olonga sacrificed his cricketing career. Aled also helps with animal stocktaking at London Zoo and introduces hymns for Lent and Only Boys Aloud in St John's Wood
David Grant explores how music transforms lives, with a group of young singers finding harmony together and a choir who are singing away the blues. Plus performances from singers Laura Wright and Ramin Karimloo, and hymns from St Mary's Church in Portsmouth.
Aled Jones visits St Davids in Pembrokeshire to discover how the city is celebrating the patron saint of Wales, takes a look around the fascinating cathedral and introduces wonderful hymn singing and music from tenor Rhys Meirion and Sound of Wales.
To celebrate the 25th birthday of Red Nose Day, comedian Tim Vine joins Aled Jones to launch a unique hymn-singing challenge and TV cook Mary Berry discovers how donations are turned into good food for one church-based project. This week's hymns, from around the UK, include I'll Go In The Strength Of The Lord and To God Be The Glory.
Pam Rhodes introduces hymns from the Military Wives and the congregation at St Alban's Church in Bristol; and meets some inspiring mothers who reflect on the significance of the day.
The Priests, Irish choral group Anuna and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir join Eamonn Holmes and the Ulster Orchestra for a special celebration of hymns and music from the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
Archbishop Justin Welby talks to Bill Turnbull about what the events of Holy Week mean to him and Emilia Fox reads from the Gospel accounts of Christ's Passion; with hymns from the congregation in Canterbury Cathedral, plus music from the Cathedral Choristers and Lexie Stobie.
Aled Jones celebrates Easter Sunday with seasonal hymns in London's Maida Vale, joined by Stephen Tompkinson and Nikki Amuka-Bird, who tell the remarkable story of the first Easter, and Only Boys Aloud with their version of The Lord's Prayer.
Aled Jones introduces the first of three programmes from Liverpool as the six finest junior school choirs in the UK sing to impress Myleene Klass, Suzi Digby and David Grant, who choose just three choirs for the final.
Aled Jones is in Liverpool as the best six senior school choirs in the land sing for the celebrity judges, Myleene Klass, Suzi Digby and David Grant who decide which three choirs will compete in the final.
The top three junior and senior school choirs from around the UK sing for this year's title in front of Myleene Klass, Suzi Digby and David Grant as Aled Jones introduces a nail-biting final from Liverpool.
Bill Turnbull is in the city that's on the up. He visits the striking new art gallery, the Hepworth Wakefield; and enjoys a tour of the newly refurbished cathedral, where there is traditional hymn singing and performances from the cathedral choir and Jonathan Veira.
David Grant meets adventurer Bear Grylls, actress Danniella Westbrook and Lord Taylor of Warwick to discover how they deal with fame and faith in the public eye, and to hear the hymns that inspire them.
The Sound of Music star returns home to Pembrokeshire where she grew up, goes kayaking in secret coves, meets the seaside missionaries and introduces rousing hymns and songs from John Owen-Jones and St Davids Cathedral.
David Grant is in Brighton for Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church, to meet worship leader Stuart Townend, who performs his thought-provoking song Vagabonds, and to introduce contemporary praise from Lou Fellingham and Phatfish.
Eamonn Holmes is in Northern Ireland to meet people whose faith plays an important role in their professional life. Plus music from Clannad's Moya Brennan and hymns from the combined choirs and congregations of Enniskillen.
Bill Turnbull explores the significant roles of Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral during HM the Queen's 60-year reign; the Bishop of London reflects on Her Majesty's lifetime of faith, a solo chorister describes taking part in the big day in 1953 and celebratory music sung in Canterbury Cathedral includes the glorious Coronation anthems I Was Glad and Zadok the Priest.
Pam Rhodes introduces congregational hymns that reflect every human experience and emotion, plus performances from Willard White and Russell Watson.
Pam Rhodes selects favourite hymns that mark the milestones in life - baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as national events and celebrations.
Pam Rhodes talks to school children about the Christian calendar and chooses suitable hymns for the whole year.
Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis talks about his Methodist faith, Diane Louise Jordan visits the Big Church Day Out in Sussex and introduces songsmiths Martin Smith, Rend Collective Experiment and summertime hymns in the great outdoors.
Exploring the reasons why certain towns and villages are associated with saints of old, Diane Louise Jordan joins the St Albans festival procession and discovers the stories behind St Neots and St Bees. Hymns, celebrating saints, include Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.
Bill Turnbull takes the ancient pilgrims' path to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where one of the world's most beautiful books was created over 1,200 years ago. St Mary's Parish Church is the setting for congregational hymns including Lord Of Beauty, Thine The Splendour, There Is A Gospel To Proclaim and O Splendour Of God's Glory Bright.
The Celtic Tenors, Robin Mark and Anuna guest in this musical celebration of hymns and songs by Irish composers from the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, led by the Ulster Orchestra and introduced by Eamonn Holmes.
To mark its 850th anniversary, Sally Magnusson visits the Scottish town of Paisley's impressive abbey for traditional hymns and songs, discovers the origins of the world-famous pattern and tries her hand at curling.
Adventurer Bear Grylls meets people inspired by their coastal surroundings and introduces uplifting music and hymns from Karl Jenkins, Julian Lloyd Webber and Llandaff Cathedral.
David Grant explores intriguing aspects of a county of contrasts and introduces hymns sung by the congregation at Blackburn Cathedral, plus music from the Cathedral Choristers and Carleen Anderson.
Bill Turnbull explores the significance of the Christian cross and introduces hymns from Holy Cross Church in Greenford. Peter Howarth, lead singer of The Hollies, performs The Old Rugged Cross.
Eamonn Holmes is in Londonderry for the world's largest gathering of Irish culture, as the All Ireland Fleadh fills the city's streets with music and song. And congregations join to sing hymns of praise at the Guildhall.
Aled Jones visits Whitby and the North York Moors in search of unusual harvests, and introduces hymns from farming and port communities all over the country.
David Grant introduces six talented gospel choirs from around Britain who must impress judges Ruby Turner, Bazil Meade and Carrie Grant and an enthusiastic audience in Birmingham Town Hall with their exciting gospel songs and hymns.
Judges Ruby Turner, Bazil Meade and Carrie Grant face the difficult task of selecting the best gospel choir from six remarkable finalists for this Songs of Praise competition from Birmingham Town Hall, introduced by David Grant.
Sally Magnusson visits the Scottish town of Paisley, home to a world-renowned sculptor who is creating a 'work of a lifetime', and a craft group whose colourful creation is set to go down in history. Plus inspirational hymns and traditional music from Paisley Abbey.
Connie Fisher explores the stunning Welsh landscape, meets people who have faced some uphill challenges and introduces hymns from Llandaff Cathedral and Welsh singers Cerys Matthews, Steve Balsamo and Elin Manahan Thomas.
Bill Turnbull introduces hymns from the Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick. He also meets one of the unsung heroes who maintained the nation's lifeline during the Second World War and hears about the cost of service for one of today's soldiers.
Hymns from Wakefield cathedral and world-class brass band music introduced by David Grant who encounters people inspired by the Yorkshire landscape along the long distance walking route, The Wakefield Way.
Pam Rhodes discovers how celebrated authors such as CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Michael Morpurgo inspire every generation, and introduces hymns from congregations around the country and the Senior School Choir of the Year.
David Grant joins in the festive preparations on the Isle of Man and introduces some Manx carols and Advent hymns from the Cathedral of St German in Peel.
Singer Paul Jones is Aled Jones's guest and talks about how he went from being a militant atheist to a devout Christian, and leads the congregation in some popular hymns.
Sally Magnusson meets young people in Wigan on a mission to get the town singing for Christmas, and schoolchildren who are putting faith first. She introduces candlelit carols from St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith RC Church, accompanied by talented young musicians.
Susan Boyle, Jonathan and Charlotte, Michael Ball and Hayley Westenra join five thousand singers at the Royal Albert Hall for this Songs of Praise special, as the results of a nationwide vote to discover Britain's most popular Christmas carols are revealed.
Bill Turnbull meets people who have been publicly honoured for their actions, including a social action pioneer and bus station manager, and introduces popular hymns and songs from around the UK. Matt Redman performs his international hit 10,000 Reasons.
David Grant discovers what we can learn from the wise men in the Christmas story and introduces seasonal hymns from Blackburn Cathedral plus inspirational songs by Carleen Anderson and Tessera.
Bill Turnbull meets people inspired by the tiny tidal island, including Iona - who perform in the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory - and he introduces hymns from the ancient parish church of St Mary the Virgin.
Diane Louise Jordan stays up all night to meet people who head to work while most of the country sleeps. She takes a night time trip along the River Thames and introduces a selection of hymns and performances with a night time theme.
Bill Turnbull discovers churches once on the verge of closure that have been completely transformed and introduces soprano Hayley Westenra together with hymns from the Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick.
Aled Jones visits London's Chinatown and introduces hymns from St Martin-in-the-Fields, a church with its own congregation of Chinese Christians, together with a performance by cellists Julian Lloyd Webber and his wife Jiaxin.
David Grant turns back the clock to the heyday of Sunday school classes, discovers from Bill Kenwright why they helped establish Everton Football Club and introduces evergreen hymns and songs from congregations and the School Choirs of the Year.
Pam Rhodes finds out how Liz Taylor's former body double is spending her retirement, and discovers what it is like to retire from your dream job when you are only 35. Plus favourite hymns from around the country.
Huw Edwards looks forward to St David's Day with the people of Llandaff, meets Wales rugby forward Toby Faletau, opera singer Kate Woolveridge and introduces congregational singing from Llandaff Cathedral.
Pam Rhodes discovers why Lent is significant, meets one of the women whose story inspired the film Calendar Girls, and introduces hymns from Bradford Cathedral with American singer Beth Nielsen Chapman.
Dan Walker visits a church transformed into a winter-themed sporting arena, meets the Paralympian long jumper hoping to leap into the record books and introduces hymns and songs that continue to inspire sports fans.
Eamonn Holmes is in Londonderry to meet people inspired by Ireland's patron saint and to introduce songs from the city's Guildhall and singer Eilidh Patterson.
Bill Turnbull celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Isle of Man, meets a Manx teenager who is saving the environment by 'growing' her own clothes and introduces hymns from Peel Cathedral and performances from singer-songwriter Christine Collister and Manx choir Caarjyn Cooidjagh.
In a special edition for Mothering Sunday, singer Candi Staton talks to Aled Jones about her faith and career. She performs the song Mama that she wrote for her mother.
Sally Magnusson talks to the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, as he shares his memories of being a young priest in Wigan.
Pam Rhodes introduces hymns from Bradford Cathedral, singer Beth Nielsen Chapman and Tom Courtenay, who reads from the biblical account of the last week of Jesus' earthly life.
Bill Turnbull eats a Polish traditional Easter meal, learns about the Moravian custom of remembering the dead and visits a Greek Orthodox church - all in Yorkshire.
David Grant hosts the annual competition from Birmingham's International Convention Centre. Choir guru Gareth Malone is on the panel of celebrity judges as six of the best junior school choirs in Britain sing a hymn to win a place in the final.
Celebrity judges Gareth Malone, Laura Mvula and Suzi Digby have the difficult task of choosing the choirs who will go on into the final as six of the best senior school choirs in the country sing their choice of hymn. David Grant presents.
It is the final of the competition and celebrity judges Gareth Malone, Laura Mvula and Suzi Digby must choose which one of the best junior and senior school choirs in the country gets to take home the trophy.
Aled Jones looks forward to the football World Cup in Brazil and meets the fans who are going out there to do more than just watch the matches.
Faith under fire! A survivor's story of how we fought the good fight on D-Day, 70 years ago.
Diane Louise Jordan celebrates the birthday of the church with dance group Rebirth and Christians from the Indian and Pakistani communities in Leicester who are breathing new life into an old church. Plus hymns ancient and modern from the city's stunning cathedral.
On Father's Day, Claire McCollum chats with Kristyn and Keith Getty. There's music from Matt Redman and great hymn singing from St Patrick's Church in Jordanstown.
David Grant and Diane Louise Jordan find out the connection between a famous holiday camp and the church and explore what makes one hymn the nation's favourite.
The world's most famous cycle race begins in God's own county so Connie and Claire find out how Yorkshire is planning on welcoming the hundreds of cyclists.
The results of a nationwide vote are sung by five thousand people in the Royal Albert Hall in this Big Sing special, with guest stars Russell Watson, Michael Ball, Andrea Begley, Friar Alessandro and the newly-crowned Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.
Sally and Diane are in Glasgow for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games. There are stirring, patriotic hymns to get you in the mood and the Songs of Praise family face their greatest challenge yet, as water-phobic Dad draws on his faith to try and swim like a triathlete.
In this special, Aled Jones interviews singer Tony Christie. Tony talks about his belief in angels and how his shyness has affected his career.
David Grant and Connie Fisher celebrate all things Scottish as they climb the Forth Road Bridge. With music from Dunfermline Abbey and Dunblane Cathedral.
In commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War 100 years ago, Bill Turnbull travels to Belgium with classical chart toppers Libera. St George's Memorial Church in the centre of Ypres is the setting for favourite hymns of the period.
Bill Turnbull and Claire McCollum are in London in search of sacred gardens, visiting Kew and Westminster Abbey. With hymns inspired by the wonder of God's creation.
David Grant learns how to Gregorian chant, Sally Magnusson goes cider-tasting in an ancient orchard and the Songs of Praise family try a religious retreat.
Pam Rhodes meets participants in Europe's longest running Caribbean carnival, which takes place in Leeds, and hip-hop artist Testament. She also introduces hymns from St Edmund's Church, Roundhay, and soloist Kristyna Myles.
In this special junior edition, David Grant is joined by CBBC favourite Hacker T Dog, Newsround's Hayley Hassall and The Voice UK winner Jermain Jackman. The Gospel Choir of the Year lead family-friendly sing-along songs from Gateshead Quays.
Bill Turnbull goes behind the scenes of some of Britain's most fascinating private chapels, from the ornate splendour of Europe's largest to possibly the smallest.
As the programme celebrates harvest, Claire McCollum visits Kenya. There's music from Stuart Townend and some traditional harvest hymns.
Diane Louise Jordan interviews Alpha Course pioneer Rev Nicky Gumbel, and visits churches taking new initiatives to invite people in.
Get ready for the glorious sound of gospel from the Hackney Empire in London as David Grant introduces six of the best amateur choirs in the country, who sing with all their heart and soul in the first of two programmes to see which choir will become the Gospel Choir of the Year.
It's decision time for celebrity judges Carrie Grant, Mica Paris and Muyiwa Olarewaju. From London's Hackney Empire, David Grant hosts the inspirational and exciting final of the competition as six amateur choirs take to the stage hoping to become the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.
Pam Rhodes visits Newcastle upon Tyne to explore the continuing significance of St Bede, the Geordie accent and the river itself; and she introduces traditional and modern hymns from Trinity Church, Gosforth, and performances by the High Kings.
Katherine Jenkins joins Aled Jones and Sally Magnusson in the Royal Albert Hall for a spectacular gala evening of glorious hymns and songs, including How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. Features Gregory Porter, Lucy Kay, Nell Bryden and the newly-crowned Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.
David Grant visits the Royal Albert Hall as preparations are underway for the Big Sing. He meets seasoned Big Sing stars as well as those making their debut, goes behind the scenes with the presenters and we revisit some of the very best performances from Big Sings past.
Claire McCollum is in the beautiful countryside of Mid-Ulster where she hears inspirational stories of faith and joins the congregation at St Michael's Church, Lissan for rousing hymn singing. With music from the Priests and Voices of Ireland.
Live from Aldershot, the home of the British Army, with traditional hymns and guest soloist Michael Ball. Introduced by Bill Turnbull.
There are exciting changes this week as Ade Adepitan joins Connie Fisher to bring you diverse stories, from the lottery winner who gave away millions to the plight of a Syrian Catholic family separated by war, all complemented by a rich mix of music from across the UK.
Two Premier League footballers unite with a Freetown rapper to raise funds to fight Ebola. Plus David Grant introduces singing from around the country.
It's Advent Sunday, so Cerrie Burnell visits a town centre bringing the nativity to the high street. Also featuring the remarkable story of the WWI Christmas truce, a reggae take on a popular hymn and congregations from Scotland to Aldershot.
Josie D'Arby discovers the inspiration for Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in Malton, celebrity chef James Martin creates a festive Dickensian tipple and Pam Rhodes goes carolling, hip-hop style. With seasonal singing from around the country.
Jermain Jackman, winner of The Voice, visits a school to set them a Christmas carol challenge. Plus there is a chance to sing along with festive favourites from around the country.
Katherine Jenkins and Jermain Jackman join Bill Turnbull and David Grant in the Royal Albert Hall for a glorious celebration of the first Christmas, with favourite carols including O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night. Featuring the Swingle Singers and Sol3 Mio.
Bill Turnbull celebrates the musical moments and memorable stories of faith from the Songs of Praise year and we unwrap the classic carol The Twelve Days of Christmas with seasonal singing from around the country.
Connie Fisher celebrates the spiritual side of Elvis Presley. David Grant joins Great British Bake Off finalist Luis Troyano as he creates two Epiphany treats. Plus hymns and songs from around the country.
Sally Magnusson is in Canary Wharf to hear about a floating church reaching out to the banking community, Pam's off to boot camp and there are hymns and songs to warm the soul.
A year on from the devastating Somerset floods, Claire McCollum visits Muchelney, a parish which became a beacon of hope. Plus music from around the country.
Josie d'Arby goes behind the scenes at a Leeds café where all the ingredients are recycled, our world-record organist takes on the mighty Manchester Cathedral organ, Claire McCollum visits a church and bingo hall building swap and there's inspirational singing from around the country.
David Grant explores changing attitudes to mental illness and how Christians are breaking down the stigma. Connie Fisher introduces the first part of the story of British Black Gospel music. Plus the launch of 2015's Gospel Choir of the Year Competition.
In conjunction with Radio 2's The Sunday Hour, HRH The Prince of Wales talks to Diane Louise Jordan about his concerns for persecuted Christians around the world and the radicalisation of young Muslims in Britain. Aled Jones uncovers the inspiration behind the adopted FA Cup anthem Abide With Me.
Following St Valentine's Day, Josie d'Arby goes speed dating with Christians in search of love, Connie Fisher brings us up to date with the history of British black gospel, and there are some wonderful hymns celebrating God's love for us all.
On Oscars weekend, Jane Hawking talks about her faith, her life married to atheist Stephen Hawking and her love of music, and actor David Oyelowo reveals the part he believes God played in his portrayal of civil rights leader Martin Luther King in the film Selma.
David Grant is joined by comedian Hal Cruttenden as they look forward to Red Nose Day and meet the vicar eager to sprinkle her sermons with comedy. Also, there are hymns to celebrate St David's Day.
Singer Rebecca Ferguson discovers the origins of her favourite hymn, Amazing Grace, and Pam Rhodes hears the story of a remarkable rescue at sea, reuniting those involved thirty five years on. Also including singing from across the country.
For Mothering Sunday, Diane Louise Jordan meets a mother who chose to adopt rather than have biological children. Plus a performance of Danny Boy from Celtic Woman.
In the week when the remains of Richard III are laid to rest at a special service at Leicester Cathedral, Bill Turnbull goes behind the scenes and reveals evidence of the king's deep Christian faith.
For the start of Holy Week Pam Rhodes visits Liverpool Cathedral for the final rehearsals of their Passion Plays and climbs the tower to ring the highest and heaviest peal of church bells in the world. Plus congregational hymns especially for Palm Sunday.
It's Easter Sunday. David Grant is visiting a farm where religion and farming come together for the traditional 'blessing of the lambs' ceremony. Pam Rhodes joins an open-air baptism on the banks of the River Jordan in Dorset!
Connie Fisher meets Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the world's most successful composers, to discover why he wants to help more churches get connected to the internet.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Claire McCollum explores one of the many spiritual stops along the epic Pennine Way - and we meet winning members of the Songs of Praise FA Cup Fans Choir, specially selected to sing Abide with Me at the Cup Final.
Aled Jones presents the junior semi-final of the School Choir of the Year competition from Nottingham, with six top choirs hoping to impress judges Tim Rhys-Evans, Yvie Burnett and JB Gill.
The senior semi-finalists compete for a place in the final of the 2015 School Choir of the Year Competition at the Albert Hall in Nottingham, in front of judges JB Gill, Tim Rhys-Evans and Yvie Burnett.
Songs of Praise marks the 70th anniversary of VE Day with interviews with those who were there and hymns from the original service of Thanksgiving in 1945.
Aled Jones presents the final of this year's School Choir of the Year competition from Nottingham's Albert Hall. Judges Tim Rhys-Evans, JB Gill and Yvie Burnett decide who will be crowned junior and senior school champions for 2015.
Former BBC political correspondent Martina Purdy reveals why she chose a new life as a nun. FA Cup choir winner, 100-year-old Jim Errington, looks forward to his big moment at Wembley. The Songs of Praise team visits Britain's fastest-growing church.
Aled Jones goes backstage at the Cup final at Wembley as the Songs of Praise FA Cup Fans Choir sings the traditional curtain-raiser, Abide with Me, joined by a crowd of 90,000. It could be the biggest singalong on the programme - ever!
Rap artists teach a Methodist congregation to modernise a traditional hymn to celebrate BBC Music Day. David Grant meets the singing pilgrims progressing around Britain.
Claire McCollum meets a real-life good samaritan. The remarkable Nick Vujicic talks about how he inspires hundreds of millions across the world with his message of faith and his belief in what he can do - despite being born with no arms or legs.
Josie d'Arby takes to the water at Cornwall's busiest RNLI station, Diane Louise Jordan joins a choir of fishwives, and rising opera star Angel Blue remembers her father on Father's Day.
150 years ago, one man's determination to help the poor in England led to a charity organisation that today is helping millions of people right across the world - the Salvation Army!
To mark the tenth anniversary of 7/7, Claire McCollum explores compelling stories of faith and hope, and Pam meets the Christians from Korea on a whistle-stop prayer tour.
Katherine Jenkins joins Aled Jones and Sally Magnusson in the Royal Albert Hall for a spectacular gala evening of glorious hymns and songs, including How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace.
The wedding season is upon us. Bill Turnbull joins a couple on their big day to find out how they prepared for a lifetime together, and we meet the wedding angels helping couples realise their dreams.
The story of the incredible gift one sister gave to another - a baby. And David Grant meets the young singer-songwriters using money from criminals to make music.
As Britain prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, Bill Turnbull meets the son of a World War II sailor who sacrificed his life to save his shipmates from a kamikaze pilot's attack.
Sally Magnusson examines the faith aspects of the migrant crisis in Calais. Plus a profile of Christian singer-songwriter Matt Redman, and the secrets of Shakespeare's favourite church.
The scenery of the Lake District provides the setting for Songs of Praise, as the programme joins Christian festival the Keswick Convention.
David Grant and Connie Fisher introduce six of the country's top amateur gospel choirs, who begin their quest to win the trophy.
Soul-stirring gospel music fills the Hackney Empire, as six of the country's top amateur choirs sing their hearts out to win the title.
As Her Majesty the Queen becomes our longest-reigning monarch, Sally Magnusson goes behind the scenes on board the Royal Yacht Britannia to discover what life was like on this floating royal home from home.
John Craven joins a farming family in Dorset to discover why bringing in the harvest this year has a special meaning, and Lindsey Chapman reveals how a Suffolk church helped visiting swifts survive the summer.
Aled Jones meets all creatures great and small at Ely Cathedral's annual pet service, and we catch up with former Westlife star Shane Filan, who gives a special solo performance.
Sally Magnusson joins Lord of the Rings fans at a Tolkien festival, David Grant visits the home of William Blake, and historian Richard Taylor is at Jane Austen's church. Plus some great hymns to sing along with.
Josie d'Arby visits Europe's largest travelling funfair in Hull, and Pete Waterman celebrates 70 years of the Rev W Awdry's Thomas the Tank Engine.
Aled Jones meets Neil Baldwin, who inspired the Bafta-winning drama Marvellous, and there's a rare look at Henry V's hidden chapel inside Westminster Abbey.
David Grant is in Rome as the Archbishop of Canterbury's cricket team take on the Pope's XI in the spirit of closer relations, and we have news of this year's Children in Need.
Bill Turnbull presents a special Remembrance programme from the Imperial War Museum, including the story of soldier Martyn Compton who survived a Taliban rocket attack to become a racing driver. Prince William described him as "inspirational".
At the beginning of Interfaith Week Connie Fisher discovers how cooking and singing is building bridges between religions. And presenter, actor and disability activist Adam Pearson speaks out about bullying, hate crime and the acceptance he found in church.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinal Vincent Nichols give their reaction to the atrocities in Paris and offer their messages of hope for the future.
John Craven visits Chatsworth House in Derbyshire as it gears up to welcome 100,000 Christmas visitors, and EastEnders actress June Brown reveals how her faith shapes her on-screen character Dot Branning.
It's Saint Nicholas Day and Songs of Praise has festive features and carols galore from across the country.
Bake Off favourite Mary Berry lets Songs of Praise into her home to make a Christmas cake and to talk about festive family memories.
A feast of carols and festive music from the Royal Albert Hall as star guests Ronan Keating, Alexander Armstrong, Ruby Turner and Shaun Escoffery join hosts Sally Magnusson and David Grant.
Connie Fisher celebrates the biggest musical moments and stories of faith from the past year, including the FA Cup Fans Choir singing Abide With Me at Wembley.
One of Britain's best-loved singers, Lesley Garrett, talks to Aled Jones about her life and faith, and leads the congregation at St Edmund's Church, Leeds, in singing her favourite hymns.
Ann Widdecombe goes behind the scenes of BBC drama Father Brown, which features a crime-solving priest, and Aled Jones is in the North East to hear about Hen Power and how it can help battle loneliness.
Sally Magnusson meets local hero George Parsonage, who has saved hundreds of people from the river Clyde. Claire McCollum visits a church in Northern Ireland with its own state of the art gym and the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir competition is launched.
In the aftermath of the recent devastating floods, John Craven uncovers acts of kindness and community spirit in Cumbria as the clean up continues there, and visits a water-damaged church that's become a flood relief centre.
David Grant meets residents at a rehabilitation centre who are turning to God in their mission to recover from addiction to drink and drugs.
Libby Lane, the first female bishop in the Church of England, reflects on the challenges and excitement of the past 12 months and comes face to face with her portrait.
Aled Jones presents a tribute to Terry Wogan, travelling to Enniskillen in Northern Ireland to talk to Terry's long time friend Father Brian D'Arcy . Father Brian presented Pause for Thought on Wake up to Wogan for many years and recalls his memories of Sir Terry.
Connie Fisher meets residents from what has been dubbed Britain's kindest village to discover what motivates their generosity. Hymns and music this week Give Me Oil In My Lamp performed by Nathan Jess and the Congregation of Green Pastures Church, Ballymena. There's A Wideness In God's Mercy performed by the Congregation of St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich. Blessed Assurance performed by Beechcroft Choir and the Congregation of New Testament Assembly, Tooting. Forty Days And Forty Nights performed by the Congregation of Bradford Cathedral. Who Can Compare With God performed by Graeme Duffin. We Cannot Measure How You Heal performed by the Congregation of Dunblane Cathedral. One Way performed by Mikey Powell and the congregation of New Community Church, Southampton.
David Grant visits the Post Office church and the congregation in a tent to see how the Church of England is coming up with creative ideas to encourage new members. Hymns and music this week: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story, performed by the congregation of St Mark's Church, Maida Vale Let Us Build a House, performed by the congregation of St Mary's Warwick Here I Am to Worship, performed by the congregation of Rauch City Church, Brixton O Jesus, I Have Promised, performed by the congregation of St Alban's Church, Bristol My Song is Love Unknown, performed by Barbara Dickson at St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow Faith, Hope and Love, performed by Westbury on Trym Parish Church Choir and Bristol Youth Choir Yesterday, Today and Forever, performed at Salvation Army Sale, Manchester.
Aled Jones visits Port Talbot, home of Britain's largest steelworks, as 4,000 workers and the wider community await news of hundreds of redundancies. And for St David's Day, Richard Taylor traces the history of the patron saint of Wales. Hymns and music this week: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah performed by Choirs and Congregation of Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church I Believe performed by Richard and Adam Beautiful One performed by performed by Beechcroft Choir Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord performed by Michael Powell and band All saints of Wales performed by Choir and Congregation of St Davids Cathedral There Is A Land performed by Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir Courage, Brother, Do Not Stumble performed by St Machar's Cathedral's congregation.
For Mothering Sunday, Pam Rhodes meets grandmothers who are devoting their lives to become full-time carers for their grandchildren. Music: Great in Power performed by Salvation Army, Sale Jesus Calls Us performed by the Congregation of St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen Beauty for Brokenness performed by the Congregation of Leicester Cathedral For the Beauty of the Earth performed by Peterborough Youth Choir I Love You, Lord performed by Grace Agbana at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen Amazing Grace performed by the Congregation of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick O My Soul performed by the Congregation of Keswick Convention.
Josie d'Arby visits Birmingham Children's Hospital to discover how 'Singing Medicine' is helping patients on the wards. Plus the Heart and Soul band putting the swing into hymns.
John Craven joins Archbishop John Sentamu on his six-month-long pilgrimage through the Diocese of York, and best-selling Irish singer Enya performs from All Hallows College.
For Easter Sunday, Pam Rhodes goes behind the scenes at a community Passion play in Poole to discover how it is changing people's lives. Music: See, What A Morning, performed by the congregation of St Germain's Church, Birmingham Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour, performed by the choirs and congregation of St Peter's Church, Swinton Now the Green Blade Rises, performed by the congregation of The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick Don't Cry, performed by Godalming Community Gospel Choir We Cannot Measure How You Heal, performed by the congregation of St Alban's Church, Bristol Thine be the Glory, performed by the congregation of St Mary's Church, Portsea.
Aled Jones hosts the junior semi-final of the School Choir of the Year Competition from Sheffield City Hall, with six fantastic choirs hoping to impress judges Katherine Jenkins, Connie Fisher and Ken Burton.
Six choirs sing for a place in the final of the Senior School Choir of the Year competition from Sheffield City Hall with judges Katherine Jenkins, Connie Fisher and Ken Burton and Aled Jones presenting.
As HM the Queen reaches her 90th birthday on Thursday, Pam Rhodes finds out more about her faith and we reveal some surprising facts about England's patron saint, St George. Music: The Lord's My Shepherd from St. Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow Great Is Thy Faithfulness from Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury You'll Never Walk Alone by Julian Ovenden Jerusalem from St George's Chapel, Windsor What a Mighty God We Serve from St Germain's Church, Birmingham I Vow to Thee My Country by Katherine Jenkins Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
Aled Jones presents the grand final of the School Choir of the Year competition from Sheffield City Hall, with judges Katherine Jenkins, Connie Fisher and Ken Burton deciding 2016's Junior and Senior School Champions.
Four hundred years after the death of William Shakespeare, Simon Callow investigates the great bard's spirituality, and Josie d'Arby joins in the celebrations as the great and the good come together in Stratford-upon-Avon. Music: All People That on Earth Do Dwell from Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Who Would True Valour See (To Be a Pilgrim) from Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Immortal Invisible, God Only Wise from Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot Rejoice the Lord Is King from St Albans Cathedral, St Albans Sonnet 146 from Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon Angel-Voices Ever Singing from Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon Blessed Assurance from St Germain's Church, Birmingham.
Sally Magnusson is in Belfast to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and the Easter Rising, two events which shaped the history of Ireland. Plus a competition for all Rugby League fans. Music: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven from St Colmcille's, Holywood Be Thou My Vision from St Michael's Church, Lissan Abide With Me from St Germain's Church, Birmingham Simple Gifts from Leeds Cathedral, Leeds Make Me a Channel of Your Peace from St Peter's Church, Kineton God Is Love from Green Pastures Church, Ballymena I Cannot Tell from the Guildhall, Derry.
For Pentecost Sunday Connie Fisher meets the bloggers and tweeters spreading the Christian message. Plus the Benedictine nun and her pet dog with thousands of followers online. Music: O God of Burning Cleansing Flame from William Booth College, London Spirit Break Out from Birmingham Christian Centre, Birmingham The Lord's My Shepherd by Elin Manahan Thomas & Llandaff Cathedral Choristers Get Happy by Julian Ovenden Go Forth and Tell from St. Albans Church, Birmingham Praise Is Rising from Christ the King Church, Brighton Breathe on Me, Breath of God from Trinity Church, Gosforth.
For Dementia Awareness Week, Pam Rhodes finds out how the recreation of a 1950s street is helping people with the disease. And the programme joins a spectacular pageant in Liverpool inspired by Pope John Paul II. Music: King of the Ages from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Eternal Father, Strong to Save from Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff Jealous of the Angels from St. Sepulchre's Church, London Holy, Holy, Holy from the Hackney Empire, London God Is Love from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral I'll Walk with God from St German's Church, Cardiff In Heavenly Love Abiding from St German's Church, Cardiff.
One hundred years after the Battle of Jutland, Claire McCollum is aboard HMS Caroline, the only remaining ship to have fought in this defining sea battle of the First World War. Plus there is music from Emmy Award-winning Irish tenor Eamonn McCrystal. Music: Will Your Anchor Hold from St. Aidan's Church, Leeds Eternal Father Strong to Save from St. Thomas' Parish Church, Belfast Courage, Brother, Do Not Stumble from St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen Good Shepherd of My Soul by Melisma If You Listen by Eamonn McCrystal All My Hope on God Is Founded from St. Alban's Church, Bristol Before the Throne of God Above from Green Pastures, Ballymena
Gospel singer Ruby Turner surprises the passengers at Birmingham New Street Station with a flash mob-style performance of Gospel classic This Train in celebration of BBC Music Day. With hymns and songs that celebrate the power of music. Music: Come, Christians, Join to Sing from St Albans Cathedral, St Albans 10,000 Reasons from St Germain's Church, Birmingham In Moments Like These/Lord I Lift Your Name on High (Medley) from the Hackney Empire All Things Bright and Beautiful by Katherine Jenkins Sing of the Lord's Goodness from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Sutton Coldfield This Train by Ruby Turner and Town Hall Gospel Choir Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer from the Monastery, Gorton.
Josie d'Arby joins 25,000 people at the annual Big Church Day Out in West Sussex, meeting festival-goers, people working behind the scenes and some of the top names in global Christian music performing on the main stage. Music: God, the Father of Creation from St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen This Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham Lord for the Years from The Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot Heart of Worship by Matt Redman Like a Candle Flame from Derby Cathedral, Derby Nothing but the Blood by Guvna B How Great Thou Art from Llandaff Cathedral.
For Father's Day, David Grant explores what makes a great dad, from the mountaineer raising money to help children like his son, to blogger EuGene and his family sharing top tips on fatherhood. Music: God Who Is Everywhere Present from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Good Good Father from Green Pastures, Ballymena The Father's Love from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral The Lord's My Shepherd from Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon Going Up Yonder from the Hackney Empire, London Beautiful One from Ruach City Church Dear Lord and Father of Mankind from St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow.
Sally Magnusson visits the Somme to commemorate one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the British Army and retrace the experiences of the devout young men who heard the call of duty. Music: Father Hear the Prayer We Offer from St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich O Love, That Wilt Not Let Me Go from St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen Be Still my Soul, The Lord Is on Thy Side from Church Of Christ The Cornerstone, Milton Keynes Rest in Peace by Libera Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool I Vow Thee to my Country from The Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot.
On Battle of Britain Memorial Day, Pam Rhodes visits RAF Duxford, a former Spitfire pilot shares his memories, and Laura Mvula performs a new song. Music: God Is Our Strength and Refuge from Holy Trinity, Folkestone Faithful One, So Unchanging from St Thomas' Parish Church, Belfast On This Troubled Day - Psalm 10 by the SHIYR Poets Thou Whose Almighty Word from St Alban's Church, Bristol Show Me Love by Laura Mvula Ave Maria by Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended from Leicester Cathedral, Leicester.
Following the referendum result, Songs of Praise explores how Christians are reacting to Brexit, and there are uplifting hymns and songs from across the UK. Music: In Heavenly Love Abiding from St German's Church, Cardiff We Cannot Measure How You Heal from St Alban's Church, Bristol Soul of My Saviour from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Sutton Coldfield Oceans by Jess Clemmons My Faith It Is an Oaken Staff from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Cornerstone from Birmingham Christian Centre, Birmingham For the Healing of the Nations from St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
Josie d'Arby visits the tiny Hebridean island of Iona to experience its unique spirituality, while on the Northern Irish coast teenagers combine surfing and faith. Music: The King of Love My Shepherd Is from the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Lindisfarne Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Ashton Lane The Church's One Foundation from Canterbury Cathedral Will You Come and Follow Me from St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow In Christ Alone from Ballydown Presbyterian Church, Banbridge, Northern Ireland A Life That's Good from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen God Who Is Everywhere Present from St Aidan's Church, Leeds.
Ahead of the Olympics in Rio, Josie d'Arby returns to the venue for London 2012 to meet Olympic heroes and hopefuls, and Pam Rhodes is in the Lake District to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter. Music: At the Name of Jesus from St Albans Cathedral, St Albans Here's to the Heroes by Amore Abide with Me from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Creation Sings from the Keswick Convention 2015 He Looked Beyond My Faults by Gregory Porter Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart from St Germain's Church, Birmingham Let All the World in Every Corner Sing from Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich.
Josie d'Arby marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain's most famous landscape gardeners, Lancelot "Capability" Brown, and Aled Jones samples some biblically-inspired beers, with inspirational hymns and music from across the UK. Music: All Things Bright and Beautiful from St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich For the Beauty of the Earth from St Alban's Church, Bristol Our God is Greater from Ballydown Presbyterian Church, Banbridge, Northern Ireland Morning Has Broken from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Lift Every Voice performed by Dana Masters How Great Thou Art from St Colmcille's, Holywood Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
Josie d'Arby finds out how Christians in the Gypsy and Traveller community express their faith, and she enjoys the rich heritage inside Britain's only Romany museum. Music: Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crown from Salvation Army, Sale The Lord's Prayer by Only Boys Aloud Good Shepherd of My Soul from Keswick Convention The Rugged Old Cross by Jess And The Bandits For Mary, Mother of Our Lord from St. Alban's Church, Bristol There Is Power in the Blood from Hackney Empire, London What a Mighty God We Save from St. Germain's Church, Birmingham
As the Notting Hill Carnival celebrates its 50th anniversary, Robert Beckford finds out about the Christian origins of carnival and meets the people who put their faith into the festival. Plus music from across the country and a special performance by Heather Small. Music: What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Praise Him from Ruach City Church, Brixton At the Name of Jesus from St Mary-e-Tower, Ipswich How Great Thou Art from Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff People Get Ready by Heather Small You Are Good from New Community Church, Southampton Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer by the Drifters Thine Be the Glory from St Mary's Church, Portsea
It is the big day for Aled Jones and the winners of the Rugby League Challenge Cup Fans Choir Competition as they step on to the pitch at Wembley to sing Abide with Me, accompanied by 80,000 fans at the Challenge Cup final. Music: I Will Enter His Gates/Every Time I Feel the Spirit from St John's, Hackney Jerusalem from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool Give Me Oil in My Lamp from Green Pastures, Ballymena Danny Boy by Lizzie Jones Let All the World in Every Corner Sing from the Monastery, Gorton Abide with Me by the Rugby League Challenge Cup Fans Choir and Aled Jones To God Be the Glory from Hackney Empire, Hackney.
To mark Mother Teresa being canonised, Ann Widdecombe explores the making of a saint, and the programme meets an orphan who owes his life to Mother Teresa's care. Plus inspirational hymns and music from across the UK. Music: For All the Saints from Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Lord for Tomorrow and Its Needs from St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich You Raise Me Up by Shane Filan Christ Has No Body But Yours by Exultate Singers This Little Light of Mine from Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne Beautiful One from New Testament Assembly, Tooting Beauty for Brokeness from Leicester Cathedral, Leicester.
On the 15th anniversary of 9/11, Sally Magnusson meets Christians who have responded with faith, hope and love in the face of attacks on their freedom. And Terry Waite reflects on 25 years since his release from captivity. Hymns include How Deep the Father's Love and There Is a Redeemer. Music: King of the Ages from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool There Is a Redeemer from St Albans Cathedral, St Albans Blessed Be Your Name from Ballydown Presbyterian Church, Banbridge It Is Well with My Soul by Laura Mvula The Clouds Veil by Father Liam Lawton Lord Make Us Servants of Your Peace from St. Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow My Jesus, My Saviour from St. Germain's Church, Birmingham.
It is London Fashion Week, and David Grant is on the catwalk in Old Spitalfields Market to meet models with a difference. TV reverend Kate Bottley tries out some couture clergy wear. Music: Let Us With Gladsome Mind from St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich Still Haven't Found from St German's Church, Cardiff Take My Life from Dunblane Cathedral Be Thou My Vision from St Alban's Church, Bristol Go Tell It On The Mountain from the Hackney Empire, London I Look To You from St Germain's Church, Birmingham For The Beauty Of The Earth from the Salvation Army, Sale.
Pam Rhodes is joined by historian Kate Williams to explore why, and she discovers the new city churches that formed the heart of the city that rose from the ashes.
Pam Rhodes is at the former Rowntree's chocolate factory in York, discovering how the Rowntree family supported wartime Quakers facing imprisonment as conscientious objectors. Music: To God Be the Glory from Hackney Empire, London Breathe on Me, Breath of God from Trinity Church, Gosforth Mighty to Save from the Salvation Army, Sale Here I Am to Worship by Joshua Kessler The Summons from Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool Oh God, You Search Me and You Know Me from St Alban's Church, Bristol.
Fabulous favourite hymns, old and new, from the spectacular Royal Albert Hall, with guest stars Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Laura Mvula and the Priests. Music: When the Saints Go Marching In In Christ Alone, performed by Keith and Kristyn Getty The Lord Is My Shepherd Dear Lord and Father of Mankind Somewhere, performed by Michael Ball and Alfie Boe Great Is Thy Faithfulness Lord of the Dance, performed by the Priests Lord for the Years Show Me Love, performed by Laura Mvula Shine, Jesus, Shine.
The Reverend Kate Bottley goes behind the scenes at London's iconic Billingsgate Fish Market as she prepares for a Harvest Festival of the Sea. With inspirational hymn-singing and music from across the UK. Music: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands from St John at Hackney, London Think of a World Without Any Flowers from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Thankful by Yvonne Lyon We Plough the Fields and Scatter from St Patrick's Church, Jordanstown I, the Lord of Sea and Sky from St Andrew's Metropolitan Cathedral, Glasgow Eternal Father Strong to Save from St Thomas' Parish Church, Belfast For the Beauty of the Earth from St Alban's Church, Bristol.
To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, which claimed the lives of 144 people, including 116 children, Aled Jones hears from two people speaking for the first time about the day that changed their lives and shocked the world. Music: Love Divine from Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff Jesu Lover of My Soul from St David's Cathedral, Cardiff Hymn Song performed by Alexander Armstrong Now Behold the Lamb from the Hackney Empire, London All Through the Night from St German's Church, Cardiff Aberfan Hymn from Morriston Tabernacle, Swansea Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah from Tabernacle Chapel, Cardiff.
Soul-stirring gospel music fills the Hackney Empire as six of Britain's top amateur choirs begin their quest to be Gospel Choir of the Year.
David Grant introduces six of the country's best amateur gospel choirs, and one of them is named Gospel Choir of the Year.
Sally Magnusson presents from RAF Brize Norton. Plus stories from a veteran of the Arctic Convoys and a mother whose son died in the line of duty. Music: I Vow to Thee, My Country from the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot O God, Our Help in Ages Past from the Salvation Army, Sale Be Still, My Soul from All Saints Church, Cheltenham Amazing Grace by Katherine Jenkins Eternal Father, Strong To Save from St Albans, Bristol The Lord's Prayer by Russell Watson Abide with Me from St Aidan's Church, Leeds.
Professor Robert Beckford explores the impact of Britain's first black churches on the nation's Christian culture and visits the UK's first known New Testament Church of God. Music: What a Wonderful Change from St James the Greater, Leicester Nearer My God to Thee from Hackney Empire, London Be Still for the Presence of the Lord from All Saints Church, Cheltenham How Great Is Our God (The Splendour of the King) from the Salvation Army, Sale Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke Lord, You Are Good from Birmingham City Church, Birmingham Build Your Kingdom Here from New Community Church, Southampton.
For Advent Sunday, Connie Fisher meets a man who gave the precious gift of life to a relative stranger, and worship leader Matt Redman sings his new Christmas song. Music: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel from St Alban's Church, Bristol Lord of All Hopefulness from All Saints Church, Cheltenham In Christ Alone by The Gettys Jesus Calls Us! from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen How Far by Matt Redman Just the Beginning from New Testament Assembly, Tooting Hark What a Sound from Romsey Abbey, Romsey.
Josie d'Arby goes behind the scenes at Bath Abbey during one of its busiest times of the year. Kate Bottley uncovers the origins of Christingle, and Hugh Dennis celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Radio 4 Christmas appeal. With Christmas carols and festive music. Music: Joy to the World from Bath Abbey, Bath O Little Town of Bethlehem from St Mark's Church, Maida Vale The People That in Darkness Sat from St Albans Cathedral, St Albans When a Child Is Born by Sean Escoffery Hark the Glad Sound from All Saints Church, Cheltenham Mary, Did You Know? By Tessera It Came Upon the Midnight Clear from Romsey Abbey, Romsey.
The Reverend Kate Bottley joins a special Christmas trip to Lapland with the families of children with serious illnesses. The Military Wives perform a Christmas song. Carols include Hills of the North Rejoice and The Angel Gabriel. Soon and Very Soon from St Germain's Church, Birmingham The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came from All Saints' Church, Cheltenham Love Came Down at Christmas from St Alban's Church, Bristol O Little Town by Matt Redman Hills of the North Rejoice from the Monastery, Manchester Home for Christmas by The Military Wives Choir While Shepherds Watched from St Albans Cathedral, St. Albans.
David Grant visits the medieval town of Dunster to take part in their candlelit procession and to sing special Somerset carols, and Katie Melua performs O Holy Night. Music: The First Nowell from Romsey Abbey, Romsey Christ Be Our Light from All Saints Church, Cheltenham O Holy Night by Katie Melua The Calypso Carol from St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Church, Wigan Do You Hear What I Hear? by Russell Watson What Child Is This? from the Hackney Empire, London I Saw Three Ships from The Monastery, Gorton.
Gareth Malone and Laura Mvula join Aled Jones for a feast of favourite carols and festive music in a seasonal special from the Royal Albert Hall. Music: Hark the Herald Angels Sing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by The Gettys Silent Night Walking in the Air by Gareth Malone and Voices Once in Royal David's City For Unto Us a Child Is Born Away an a Manger by Aled Jones Good King Wenceslas Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas by Laura Mvula O Come All Ye Faithful.
2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, so Aled Jones goes behind the scenes at Hampton Court Palace, favourite haunt of Henry VIII and his six wives. It was at Hampton Court Palace that Henry engineered a split with the church in Rome. There is also a look back at the very best of Songs of Praise from the last 12 months.
Josie d'Arby meets those whose faith has brought freedom from spiralling debt, and Katie Melua performs Rachmaninov's All Night Vigil. Music: Brightest and Best Are the Sons of the Morning from St Mary-Le-Tower, Ipswich Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here from Green Pastures, Ballymena Siyahamba from St James the Greater Church, Leicester All Night Vigil by Katie Melua and Gori Women's Choir When I Survey the Wondrous Cross from Romsey Abbey, Romsey Better Is One Day by Grey Coat Hospital Gospel Choir Holy Spirit Ever Living from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
Days before Donald Trump enters the White House as president, we find out about his family connections to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Music: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky from St Andrew's Metropolitan Cathedral, Glasgow A Gaelic Blessing by St Albans Abbey Girls Choir Eternal Father Strong to Save from Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff Bring Him Home from Morriston Tabernacle, Swansea Spirit Break Out from Birmingham City Church, Birmingham What a Mighty God We Serve from St Germain's Church, Birmingham Spirit of God, Unseen from St Peter's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh.
It's Hull's big year as the UK's City of Culture, and Aled Jones discovers what that means for England's biggest parish church and how Hull's famous sons, from William Wilberforce to the latest BBC Face of Hull, are all getting in on the act. Give Me That Old Time Religion from Hackney Empire, London The King of Love My Shepherd Is from St Mary-Le-Tower Church, Ipswich You Raise Me Up by Celtic Woman Now Thank We All Our God from Warwick Road United Reform Church, Coventry The Power of Love from the Salvation Army, Sale We Shall Overcome by Laura Mvula with Gareth Malone's Voices Choir Angel-Voices, Ever Singing from Romsey Abbey.
Josie d'Arby celebrates Chinese New Year at a magic lantern festival and we meet Stella Parton, sister of Dolly, who shows that musical talent and faith run in the family. Plus a performance of the Nunc Dimittis from Alexander Armstrong. Music Let All the World in Every Corner Sing from St-Martin-in-the-Fields, London Christ Be Our Light from All Saints Church, Cheltenham Great Is Thy Faithfulness from New Community Church, Southampton Nunc Dimittis performed by Alexander Armstrong and the Royal Holloway Chapel Organist and Choir 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) performed by Steve Thompson Keep on Walkin' performed by Stella Parton Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies from Trinity Church, Gosforth.
It's the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen, and Connie Fisher visits the Hampshire house where the celebrated romantic novelist lived to examine her - not always flattering - portrayal of clergymen. Music Lift High the Name of Jesus performed by Keith and Kristyn Getty from Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast At the Name of Jesus from Romsey Abbey Magnificat from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Sutton Coldfield Great Day performed by Noah Stewart I Love You Lord Today from St Germain's Church, Birmingham In Paradisum performed by Huddersfield Choral Society with the BBC Philharmonic To God Be the Glory from Winchester Cathedral.
Aled Jones visits north Wales to follow the pilgrim trail to Bardsey Island, reputed to be the resting place of 20,000 saints. Kate Bottley is in Dublin to uncover the real St Valentine. Music: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah from Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord from New Community Church, Southampton Here Is Love, Vast as the Ocean from St German's Church, Cardiff Sing by Angel Blue, St Jude on the Hill, London I Will Sing the Wondrous Story from St James the Greater, Leicester Nearer, My God, to Thee by Treorchy Male Voice Choir, Morriston Tabernacle Chapel Who Would True Valour See from Manchester Cathedral, Manchester.
Marking the 25th anniversary of the Church of England's vote in favour of women's ordination, David Grant meets the first female Anglican priest and the next generation of women preparing for the priesthood. Music: My Jesus, My Saviour from St Germain's Church, Birmingham Come Down, O Love Divine from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen When Love Was King from St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire from Auckland Castle, County Durham I Stand Amazed from William Booth College, London We Believe from Orangefield Presbyterian Church Take My Life and Let It Be from Romsey Abbey.
Josie d'Arby is down on the farm in Dartmoor, joining girls from inner-city London who are being given a taste of rural life. And the famous bells of Southwark Cathedral are hoisted back up their tower. Music: For All the Saints from St Padarn's Church, Aberystwyth Father, Hear the Prayer We Offer from St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich Angel-Voices Ever Singing from Southwark Cathedral, London Waiting for the Word by Peter Skellern O Come, Let Us Sing by Twyford Church of England High School Let All Things Now Living from St German's Church, Cardiff Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, Our Blessed Redeemer! from Hackney Empire, London.
Thirty years after the Zeebrugge ferry disaster, which resulted in the loss of 193 passengers and crew, Aled Jones is in Dover to hear first-hand accounts from survivors and precious memories from people who lost loved ones. Music: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story by Keith and Kristyn Getty and the congregation of Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast Dear Lord and Father of Mankind from St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Faryl and the International Harp Ensemble Sing of the Lord's Goodness from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Sutton Coldfield Eternal Father, Strong to Save from Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff The Peace by Graham Kendrick and the congregation of All Saints Church, Sheffield All My Hope on God Is Founded from St James the Greater, Leicester.
With Britain facing a housing crisis, Josie d'Arby visits the Lake District to see how the church can make a difference. And to mark the season of Lent, Dr John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, discusses the subject of forgiveness. There is music to celebrate St Patrick's Day and a performance by flautist Sir James Galway. Music: Here I Am To Worship from Hackney Empire, London There Is A Hope from Keswick Convention, Keswick Come People Of The Risen King from Ballydown Presbyterian Church, Banbridge Ag Críost An Síol by The Priests from Mount Stewart House, Newtownards The Lord's My Shepherd by Sir James and Lady Galway When I Needed A Neighbour from Romsey Abbey Let Us Build A House from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
For Mothering Sunday, David Grant meets a mum who became a boxing coach to help youngsters in her community and a foster mum who took in three young asylum seekers from Afghanistan. The archbishop of York continues his special interviews for Lent, and there is music to lift the soul. Music: For the Beauty of the Earth from St Alban's Church, Bristol Might to Save from City Gates Church, Ilford Praise Is Rising by Paul Baloche Chariot's Comin' and Swing Low from St Colmcille's Holywood, Holywood In Christ There Is No East or West from St James the Greater, Leicester Make Me a Channel of Your Peace from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
Josie d'Arby visits the fishing port of Peterhead and meets the trawlermen whose job is one of the most dangerous in Britain. Plus a look back at a music revolution in the church 50 years ago. Music: Eternal Father, Strong To Save from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth When Morning Gilds The Skies from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Praise Him from All Saints Ecclesall Parish Church, Sheffield When I Survey The Wondrous Cross from Morrison Tabernacle Chapel, Swansea Spirit Of The Living God from St Nicholas's Church, Nottingham Lord, You Have Come To The Seashore from St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow Good, Good Father from City Gates Church, Ilford.
The Reverend Kate Bottley is in the Yorkshire Dales for lambing season, and the archbishop of York meets the mother who forgave those responsible for the death of her son. Music: Lord Of The Dance from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Now Thank We All Our God from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth All To Jesus I Surrender from All Saints Ecclesall Parish Church, Sheffield The Lion And The Lamb from City Gates, Ilford Ride On! Ride On In Majesty! From St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich For The Beauty Of The Earth by the BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year 2015 There Is A Green Hill Far Away from St Albans Cathedral, St. Albans.
For Easter Sunday, Sally Magnusson discovers how the people of Greater Manchester have come together to stage an ambitious outdoor performance of the greatest story ever told - Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Music: See What a Morning from All Saints Church, Ecclesall When I Survey the Wondrous Cross from Romsey Abbey Trust Me by Manchester Inspirational Voices with Wayne Ellington This I Believe from City Gates Church, Ilford There Is a Redeemer by Kathryn Scott with The Belfast Opera Community Chorus Jesus Christ Is Risen Today from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth Thine Be the Glory from St Albans Cathedral.
David Grant visits Leybourne Animal Centre in Kent, run by the oldest welfare organisation in the world - the RSPCA - founded nearly 200 years ago by a Church of England vicar. Hymns/Music All Things Bright and Beautiful from St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich How Great Thou Art from Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast Praise Him by Paul Lee with Adventist Vocal Ensemble Let All the World in Every Corner Sing from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth Jerusalem from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Morning Has Broken by Jules Knight Holy, Holy, Holy from City Gates Church, Ilford.
Josie d'Arby celebrates 30 years of saving lives with the Cornwall Air Ambulance, and we visit the church service in London that is bound to put a smile on your face! Hymns/Music O Praise Ye the Lord from St James the Greater, Leicester Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth Here for You from City Gates Church, Ilford Precious Lord from Saint Jude-on-the-Hill, London Here Is Love, Vast as the Ocean from Ballydown Presbyterian Church, Banbridge Sing Hosanna from Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne How Shall I Sing That Majesty from St German's Church, Cardiff.
Sally Magnusson visits Guernsey as its people approach the anniversary of the liberation of the island from German occupation in May 1945. She hears from a woman who lived under Nazi rule and how, even today, a community café run by ex-offenders is still liberating people. Music: All Hail the Power of Jesus Name by Keith and Kristyn Getty Thy Hand, O God, Has Guided from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth Happy Land by Bel Canto Choir Father Hear the Prayer We Offer from All Saints Church, Cheltenham Locus Iste by The Templar Scholars Choir Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) from City Gates, Ilford Jesus Shall Reign Where're the Sun from St Albans Church, Bristol.
Pam Rhodes explores how a tiny island in the Lake District inspired a Victorian clergyman to become one of the founders of the National Trust. Music: O Jesus I Have Promised from All Saints Church, Ecclesall For the Fruits Of His Creation from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth Bring Us Closer by Manchester Inspirational Voices It Is a Most Wonderful Thing from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Sweet Is the Work from St German's Church, Cardiff A Living Prayer by Ward Thomas Lord, For the Years from All Saints Church, Cheltenham.
Josie d'Arby meets nuns behind the scenes at a convent in Pembrokeshire and hears how they dedicate themselves to life in a closed community. Church detective Richard Taylor explores the history of Baptists in the UK. Music: King of Glory, King of Peace from St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich As the Deer Pants from St Aidan's Church, Leeds The Lord's My Shepherd from St Germain's Church, Birmingham O Sanctissima Maria from St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen In Christ Alone by Keith and Kristyn Getty Christ Be in My Waking from All Saints' Church, Cheltenham Before the Throne of God Above from City Gates Church, Ilford.
In the aftermath of the terror attack in Manchester, Aled Jones discovers how the city is pulling together and the role that faith is playing in the recovery.
Josie d'Arby is in Liverpool to celebrate the golden jubilee of the city's iconic Metropolitan Cathedral and to share a very special occasion with two of its young parishioners. And there's music to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Music: Hail Redeemer, King Divine from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Lord Of All Hopefulness from Lutyens Crypt at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Here Is Love, Vast As The Ocean from All Saints Church, Ecclesall O Thou Who Camest From Above from St. Alban's Church, Bristol Bread Of Life from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Sutton Coldfield Holy, Holy, Holy from St. James the Greater, Leicester What A Friend We Have In Jesus by St. Peter's Church of England School Choir.
Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker and his wife Tiggy reveal what it is like to become a carer when your partner has to battle cancer. Plus the soldiers preparing for this year's Trooping the Colour. Music: The Summons from St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth You Raise Me Up by Celtic Woman I Vow to Thee My Country from All Saints Church, Cheltenham Make Me a Channel of Your Peace by Tessera Wonderful, Merciful Saviour from St Germain's Church, Birmingham When I Needed a Neighbour Were You There from Romsey Abbey, Romsey Blessed Be the Name of the Lord from City Gates, Ilford.
Connie Fisher joins the Street Angels of Magaluf as they patrol the Spanish party town, offering aid and advice to dusk-to-dawn revellers.
David Grant travels along the Settle to Carlisle Railway, taking in the spectacular views and hearing the story of the workers who risked their lives to build the remarkable Ribblehead Viaduct. my, Sale.
Aled Jones visits Chatsworth for its first ever flower show, Pam Rhodes discovers more about the estate's royal history, and former JLS star JB Gill talks faith and farming. With hymns from the Cathedral of the Peak, St John's Tideswell.
Sean Fletcher visits Mont Saint-Michel in France to meet some modern-day pilgrims and discover the religious history of this iconic and majestic monastery. Josie D'Arby reveals its link to St Michael's Mount in Cornwall.
Aled Jones takes to the Welsh hills with Mike Peters from the band The Alarm on a walk to raise money for NHS cancer services. The Rev Kate Bottley meets a royal composer at St Asaph's Cathedral and the hospital chaplain who connects with dementia patients by singing like Elvis!
Aled Jones is at Southwark Cathedral in London to reveal how people are pulling together in a spirit of love, light and unity after the recent tragic events in the capital. Josie d'Arby finds out how the Salvation Army supports the emergency services and meets Britain's youngest black vicar as he gives his first service.
Claire McCollum is in Port Sunlight to hear how Christian entrepreneur William Hesketh Lever built this idyllic village to house his soap factory workers. The Reverend Kate Bottley meets the remarkable 13-year-old who sings like an angel.
Josie d'Arby joins thousands of Christians at the annual New Wine gathering in Somerset, and Connie Fisher visits Abbey Road Studios on the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' song All You Need Is Love.
Sally Magnusson is in Edinburgh to celebrate 70 years of its world-famous International Festival, and JB Gill meets gospel music legends The Blind Boys Of Alabama. Plus hymns from Edinburgh's Stockbridge Church, including The Lord Is My Shepherd and Immortal Invisible.
To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Songs of Praise celebrates how she broke down barriers through her amazing charity work and meets those who benefitted. At the Mildmay HIV Hospital in London, Pam Rhodes talks to a nurse and the mother of a patient who Diana met before he died. Sally Magnusson journeys to Nepal to discover the impact Diana made by shaking hands with patients who had leprosy, and Aled Jones takes a personal tour of the newly created memorial White Garden at Kensington Palace.
Claire McCollum travels to County Mayo in Ireland to join thousands of pilgrims as they climb Ireland's holy mountain - Croagh Patrick. Sean Fletcher visits another point of major interest for pilgrims, Knock Shrine. Sally Magnusson travels to Nepal to reveal how mountaineer Doug Scott is giving something back to the people. Claire tells the story of the Celtic Christian who became a pirate queen. There is also a spectacular performance of Amazing Grace by Celtic Woman.
Katherine Jenkins travels to the monastery on Caldey Island, just off the coast from the holiday resort of Tenby in west Wales, to sample monastic life in the 21st century. This monastery funds itself through its own businesses and small enterprises, and Katherine is guided around the monastery by Brother David, one of the longest-serving monks, who is also a published poet. Josie d'Arby travels to Swansea to meet the father-and-son duo behind the choir Angelicus Celtis, the Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists. With hymns and songs from the beach at Tenby Harbour.
Aled Jones is in the seaside town of Eastbourne during its famous International Air Show. He takes to the skies with the Blades aerobatic display team and meets a 95-year-old World War II pilot who is supported by their charity work. Aled also meets one of the RAF's first female pilots, who swapped the cockpit for the pulpit, and Pam Rhodes visits a charity making aviation accessible to people with disabilities. Hymns come from the Eastbourne Bandstand with worship leader Lou Fellingham leading the 1,000-strong congregation.
Aled Jones and JB Gill are at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show to celebrate harvest. Aled tries his hand at herding ducks, while JB Gill finds out about the show's long Christian heritage and meets the world's leading rugby referee, who talks about his faith. With hymns from the sheep-shearing shed.
Sean Fletcher celebrates 60 years of the space race at the National Space Centre in Leicester, and the Reverend Kate Bottley meets a Christian astronaut who walked on the moon. Hymns include Cornerstone and Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies.
Katherine Jenkins puts on her walking boots and joins a Christian retreat walk around Winchester that aims to restore mind, body and soul. Sean Fletcher visits Stable Life, the charity using horses to help young people, and he meets the Reverend Richard Coles, who talks openly about the mental health issues he suffered as a teenager. Music: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation from St John the Baptist, Tideswell Dear Lord and Father of Mankind from Christ Church URC, Port Sunlight We Cannot Measure How You Heal from Stocksbridge Church, Edinburgh I Want Jesus to Walk with Me from LSO St Luke's It Is Well with My Soul from Eastbourne Bandstand Lord for the Years from All Saints' Church, Northampton.
Aled Jones feels the warm welcome of the valleys in Pontypridd, where he hears how the bridge the town is named after was built by a chapel minister and sees how Syrian refugees are making the area their home. JB Gill finds out how singing and art come together in Christian worship and meets a chapel-inspired contemporary artist. Music: Here Is Love from St Catherine's, Pontypridd The Church's One Foundation from St Asaph Cathedral The Ancient of Days/Since Your Love Gotta Hold on Me from St Catherine's, Pontypridd The Peace from St Catherine's, Pontypridd Beauty for Brokenness from Southwark Cathedral All People that on Earth Do Dwell from Christ Church URC, Port Sunlight You Are Good from St Catherine's, Pontypridd.
Claire McCollum is in Dungannon, County Tyrone, as she introduces music and inspirational stories of faith from across Ireland. She takes to the sea on a tall ship for a voyage designed to bring together teenagers from both sides of the border. Sean Fletcher discovers more about the devastating Irish famine 170 years ago and how a small group of Quakers launched an enormous relief effort. And there's a special performance from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Nathan Jess.
The Reverend Kate Bottley visits Hereford Cathedral and is shown its famous treasure, the mappa mundi, the world's largest surviving medieval map. She also meets a Christian and her family who have farmed the same land for four generations. Top jazz singer Gregory Porter tells JB Gill about his own Christian faith and performs the song When Love Was King. Former military man and bodyguard Stuart Anderson explains how Christianity has impacted his life. Hymns include For All the Saints, Great Is Thy Faithfulness and There Is a Redeemer.
Sean Fletcher visits Milton Keynes as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. He has a kick-about with freestyle footballer Daniel Cutting, whose faith has inspired him to break five world records. Reverend Kate Bottley visits a Christian project restoring broken bicycles while turning around young lives. She also meets award-winning worship leader Noel Robinson and there is music from his band, including We Seek Your Kingdom and Freedom.
In a special programme, Claire McCollum is in Enniskillen where, an IRA bomb exploded during a Remembrance Day ceremony 30 years. Viewers will hear inspirational stories of hope and faith, including the story of Gordon and Joan Wilson, whose daughter Marie was the youngest victim. Joan recalls how her husband's deep Christian faith inspired his famous words hours after the atrocity - 'I bear no ill will to anyone' - which many believe helped the peace process. Sean Fletcher reveals how the MOD is helping relatives of servicemen declared missing in action and meets Alma Williams from Cheshire, who is finally able to bury her brother 74 years after his death. Music: O Christ the Same - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen. Be Still My Soul - All Saints' Church, Cheltenham Jealous of the Angels - performed by Jennifer Bostic O God Our Help in Ages Past - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen I Vow to Thee My Country - Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot Abide with Me - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen.
Katherine Jenkins is in Windsor to mark Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip's seventieth wedding anniversary. She is joined by Prince Michael who, as a five-year-old pageboy, was at the heart of the ceremony. Kate Bottley talks to another couple celebrating their seventieth anniversary this year. And we meet the sculptor who designed the commemorative £5 coin and travel to the Royal Mint to see it being struck. Plus glorious hymns from around the UK, including the Queen's favourites sung at her wedding. Music: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven - St John the Baptist, Tideswell The Lord's My Shepherd - St John the Baptist, Tideswell Great is Thy Faithfulness - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen Love Divine - St Asaph Cathedral Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Sheffield City Hall How Great Thou Art - Hereford Cathedral.
David Grant hosts the competition to find the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year 2017. Five leading amateur choirs take to the stage of Central Hall Westminster in London to compete for the prestigious trophy. The judges are singer-songwriter Seal, broadcaster and worship leader Muyiwa Olarewaju, and award-winning gospel specialist Karen Gibson. Music: The BIG Sing: Gospel Voices perform Praise the Lord Oxford Gospel Events Choir perform Glory Glory Hallelujah LCCM Choir perform Total Praise Royal Voices perform What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Singology perform Steal Away The five choirs together sing Oh Happy Day.
David Grant presents the final of the annual Gospel Choir of the Year competition, as five leading amateur choirs take to the stage of Central Hall Westminster in London to raise the roof with the glorious sound of gospel. Deciding which choir will win are three judges - singer-songwriter Seal, broadcaster and worship leader Muyiwa Olarewaju and award-winning gospel specialist Karen Gibson. Music: LCCM Choir perform Hosanna Royal Voices perform Glory to Glory Oxford Gospel Events Choir perform Faith Singology perform Born to Die The BIG Sing: Gospel Voices perform Souled Out Rachel John performs I Look to You.
Josie d'Arby celebrates Advent by following the journey of a Christmas tree from a Devon forest to a village church, while its farmers share their own deeply held Christian faith. In Plymouth, a church minister with cancer describes how God is helping him look forward to Christmas. JB Gill meets B Positive, a new choir founded by the MOBO Awards and the NHS to encourage people from all different backgrounds to give blood, and he donates his own for the first time. Songwriter Matt Redman performs a Christmas song - How Far, while the Hereford Cathedral Choristers sing The Truth from Above. Plus there are hymns and carols both old and new, including Hills of the North Rejoice, Christ Be Our Light, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Here I Am to Worship and The First Nowell. Music: Hills of the North Rejoice led by BBC Philharmonic with Huddersfield Choral Society Christ Be Our Light sung in St Patrick's Church, Dungannon How Far, written and performed by Matt Redman O Come O Come Emmanuel sung in Hereford Cathedral Here I Am to Worship led by Noel Robinson at Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes This Is the Truth Sent from Above performed by Hereford Cathedral Choristers The First Nowell sung in Romsey Abbey.
Songs of Praise presenters each choose their favourite carol, and some are sung by candlelight in Winchester to celebrate Christmas. Sean Fletcher visits the Hospital of St Cross to find out about their tradition of giving food to pilgrims, and he catches up with former presenter Debbie Thrower, now a lay canon in Winchester Cathedral. Music: Once in Royal David's City - Church of St Cross, Winchester O Little Town of Bethlehem - Church of St Cross, Winchester It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Romsey Abbey When a Child Is Born - Hackney Empire Away in a Manger - Church of St Cross, Winchester In the Bleak Midwinter - Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - Winchester Cathedral Choristers O Come All Ye Faithful - Church of St Cross Winchester.
Katherine Jenkins and JB Gill celebrate Christmas with 5,000 Songs of Praise viewers by singing carols in the Royal Albert Hall, including Ding Dong Merrily on High and The Twelve Days of Christmas. Katherine and JB also give their own special performances and reveal the story behind Trafalgar Square's Christmas tree. Music: Ding Dong! Merrily On High 12 Days of Christmas Angels from the Realms Silent Night Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Claire McCollum travels by boat from the London Eye to the Greenwich prime meridian to find out what New Year means to Christians. 5,000 Songs of Praise viewers raise the roof of the Royal Albert Hall with glorious hymns including Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, Crown Him with Many Crowns and Over All the Earth. Plus there are special performances from Westlife's Shane Filan, Mary Jess and all-boy choir Libera.
To mark Epiphany, Sean Fletcher is in Durham for the UK's largest light festival. He joins tens of thousands of visitors who come to see the medieval city and towering cathedral transformed by light installations. Falling each year on 6 January, Epiphany is the twelfth day of Christmas and marks the end of the festive period. Sometimes known as Three Kings' Day, it is a time to remember the story of the wise men led by a star to Bethlehem to worship the infant Jesus. Sean meets professor of physics Tom McLeish to discover more about this part of the Christmas story and explores the great cathedral to learn more about its rich Christian history. Music: Brightest and Best - Church of St Cross, Winchester We Three Kings of Orient Are - St Mark's, Maida Vale O Lord of Every Shining Constellation - Christ Church, Port Sunlight It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Romsey Abbey My Jesus, My Saviour - St Catherine's Church, Pontypridd Lux Aeterna - Pershore Abbey O Worship the King - Pershore Abbey Angel Voices Ever Singing - Romsey Abbey.
Katherine Jenkins hosts a special programme as Songs of Praise joins Her Majesty the Queen to celebrate 150 years of the Christian charity Scripture Union. We discover how one man teaching Bible stories to children in north London in 1867 started a movement that now works in 130 countries around the world. One of our most cherished modern hymn writers Bishop Timothy Dudley Smith reveals how, even in his nineties, his faith continues to inspire him to write music. And Pam Rhodes meets Douglas Gresham, the stepson of the great CS Lewis, to find out how he let the light of his Christian faith shine through his children's books. Music: Lord for the Years - St Mary's Islington 10,000 Reasons - St Mary's Islington Your Love Will Last Forever - St Mary's Islington God of Unchanging Grace - St Mary's Islington Tell All the world of Jesus - St Mary's Islington.
Hymns and songs from the historic Methodist Central Hall Westminster with guest Julian Lloyd Webber, who reminisces about his father's time there as organist. The Rev Tony Miles and Rev Martyn Atkins reveal the hall's links to the United Nations. Connie Fisher visits the St Vincent's Family Project supporting local young families and children, and she hears from performers from the West End's musical theatre about the challenges of being a Christian in the world of show business. Music: O Thou Who Camest from Above - Methodist Central Hall Westminster What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Methodist Central Hall Westminster Love Divine - Methodist Central Hall Westminster Say Yes - Methodist Central Hall Westminster Father of Everlasting Grace - Methodist Central Hall Westminster.
Sean Fletcher joins his church's 4am tea run in London's Covent Garden to mark Homeless Sunday. The Rev Kate Bottley meets a teenager in Preston who creates unique gift bags for those living on the street, and we meet the man converting old shipping containers into ingenious new homes in Bristol. Music: The King of Love My Shepherd Is - The Church of St Cross, Winchester Beauty for Brokenness - Southwark Cathedral Let Us Light a Candle in the Darkness - Romsey Abbey When I Needed a Neighbour - Christ Church, Port Sunlight Hear the Call of the Kingdom - Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester All My Hope on God Is Founded - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen Plus a performance of Vagabonds from Stuart Townend and his band.
One hundred years since British women over the age of 30 first got the vote, Rev Kate Bottley celebrates pioneering Christian women. She visits Mansfield College in Oxford to learn about Constance Coltman, the first woman to be ordained in a UK denomination over a century ago. Josie d'Arby gains exclusive access to an exquisite 400-year-old church altar cloth which experts say is from a skirt actually worn by Queen Elizabeth I. Josie also meets Ruth Awogbade, who launched her own Christian fashion magazine. And all this week's music, from across the UK, is inspired or written by women. Music: Blessed Assurance - LSO St Lukes, London In Heavenly Love Abiding - St German's Church, Cardiff What a Beautiful Name - St Catherine's Pontypridd Before the Throne - Enniskillen Take My Life and Let it Be - Romsey Abbey He Will Hold Me Fast from Belfast - Kristyn Getty Tell Out My Soul - St John the Baptist, Tideswell.
Claire McCollum joins bishop James Jones in Lincoln to learn about the links between Christianity and forests. The 800-year-old Charter of the Forest is given a 21st-century relaunch and JB Gill meets a former addict whose Christian faith, combined with his new job as a tree surgeon, have together cured his addiction. In Essex, a group prepares for Lent with 'Forest Church', plus hymns and songs celebrating creation, including Great Are You Lord and Indescribable. Music: This Is Amazing Grace, from Green Pastures, Ballymena For the Fruits of His Creation, from St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell Indescribable, from Holy Trinity Platt Church Be Still for the Presence of the Lord, from Christ Church, Port Sunlight Your Name, from Presbyterian Assembly Buildings, Belfast Great Are You Lord, from City Gates, Ilford To God Be the Glory, from St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen.
In a programme celebrating Britain's greatest hymnwriters, modern legend Graham Kendrick tells Sean Fletcher about the story behind his contemporary anthem Shine, Jesus, Shine, and Pam Rhodes talks to the leading modern hymnwriters Timothy Dudley Smith and Bernadette Farrell. At the Royal Albert Hall a congregation of 5,000 sing some of the country's favourite hymns. Music: Love Divine from the Royal Albert Hall When I Survey the Wondrous Cross from the Royal Albert Hall Christ Be Our Light from All Saints Church Cheltenham And Did Those Feet (Jerusalem) from St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell Tell Out My Soul from the Royal Albert Hall In Christ Alone from St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Shine Jesus Shine from the Royal Albert Hall.
The Rev Kate Bottley finds out how St John Ambulance began as an ancient Christian order in Jerusalem back in the 11th century and brushes up her first-aid skills. JB Gill meets the first person in the UK to donate an organ to a complete stranger. Music: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story from St Asaph Cathedral Our God Saves from All Saints Church, Ecclesall He Who Would Valiant Be from Hereford Cathedral Christ Be in My Waking from All Saints Church, Cheltenham I, the Lord of Sea and Sky from St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow Bless the Lord oh My Soul from the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes All People that on Earth Do Dwell from Christ Church, Port Sunlight And in memory of Billy Graham, Just As I Am from Hereford
Josie d'Arby and Claire McCollum are in St David's in Pembrokeshire to explore the area's saintly connections. Josie meets a couple who've found a new way to live with dementia and Claire visits a farm where city children get to experience country living. There's also a special performance from Katherine Jenkins. Music: All Saints of Wales from St Davids Cathedral O God You Search Me and You Know Me from St Davids Cathedral Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer from St Davids Cathedral Praise the Lord His Glories Show from Morriston Tabernacle Chapel, Swansea How Great Thou Art performed by Katherine Jenkins on the Pembrokeshire coast The Day Thou Gavest from St Davids Cathedral.
To celebrate Mothering Sunday, Katherine Jenkins meets parents and their newborn babies at Basildon's Maternity Unit. It's particularly poignant for Katherine, as she's expecting her second child this April. She also talks to two midwives about the joys and the challenges of their work, and how they feel called by God to do their job. Katherine also meets Katharine Hill, UK director of the charity Care for the Family to hear her tips for parenthood and learns about often overlooked references in the Bible of maternal language to describe God. Pam Rhodes meets Lizzie Lowrie, who held a service in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral entitled Mother's Day Runaways last year. It was aimed at the increasing number of women who, for reasons of loss, singleness or infertility, cannot bear to be in church for a traditional Mothering Sunday service. The idea came from Lizzie's own personal journey - happily married to a trainee vicar, she expected children to follow, but has since suffered six miscarriages. Mother Pippa Ankers talks of bringing up her son Barney who has Down's syndrome. Barney speaks of his strong Christian faith and shows off his drumming skills, while Pippa shares her experiences of raising a child with additional needs. Music: Our Father God in Heaven from St Alban's Church, Bristol For the Beauty of the Earth from Church of St Cross, Winchester Blessed Be Your Name from City Gates Church, Ilford Forty Days and Forty Nights from Hereford Cathedral Ave Maria performed by The Priests What a Beautiful Name It Is from New Wine Festival Now Thank We All Our God from St Patrick's Church, Dungannon.
The Rev Kate Bottley celebrates spring on a farm run by Christians in Derbyshire. Owners Roger and Beryl have offered a fresh start to local young people for 40 years by giving them work on the farm. JB Gill meets a Christian couple attending a church-run marriage-preparation course. Methodists in Derby open a brand new townhouse to replace their old church building. There is also a tribute to the late Billy Graham, the US evangelist who affected millions of Christians around the world and who died in February. The programme has hymns old and new, including Be Thou My Vision, And Can It Be, and Our God Is Greater. The Irish hymn St Patrick's Breastplate marks St Patrick's Day, and a performance of Drop Drop Slow Tears reminds us we are in the season of Lent. Music: Our God Is Greater, led by Noel Robinson from the Church of Christ Cornerstone, Milton Keynes All Creatures of Our God and King, from St John the Baptist, Tideswell I Bind Unto Myself Today, from Down Cathedral, Downpatrick My Jesus My Saviour, from the Church of St Cross, Winchester And Can It Be, from Hereford Cathedral Be Thou My Vision, from Platt Church, Manchester.
For Palm Sunday, Sean Fletcher visits St Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain and where the original hot cross bun comes from. The programme also meets the amateur artists behind Bridport's modern paintings of the Stations of the Cross. Music: Come Christians, Join to Sing, from St Albans Cathedral The Servant King, from St Albans Cathedral When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, performed by Katy Treharne The Power of the Cross, from Keswick Convention Lord of the Dance, from St Aidan's Church, Leeds Ride On! Ride on in Majesty!, from St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich There Is a Redeemer, from St Albans Cathedral.
For Easter Sunday, Aled Jones is in his hometown of Bangor in north Wales to hear the Easter story. Claire McCollum is in her hometown of Belfast in Northern Ireland to see the impact the Good Friday agreement has had 20 years on. Aled also celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the Royal Air Force with a visit to RAF Valley. With Easter hymns from Bangor Cathedral and a special performance from Cor Glanaethwy. Music: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, from Bangor Cathedral The Day of the Resurrection, from Bangor Cathedral Total Praise, from LSO St Luke's, London See What a Morning, from St Germain Church, Birmingham To God Be the Glory, from St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen Light After Darkness, from Bangor Cathedral Thine Be the Glory, from Bangor Cathedal.
Sean Fletcher explores the power of singing to express the Christian faith and also to change people's lives for the better. Sean meets music historian and choir conductor Dr Andrew Gant, who reveals that communal singing may be as old as cave painting and explains its unique relationship with the Christian faith. He attends the True Worship Summit in north London - an international conference celebrating gospel music - and joins hundreds of singers from all over Europe to take part in singing workshops led by some of the biggest names in gospel, including the founder of the London Community Gospel Choir Bazil Meade and Grammy Award-winner Donald Lawrence. Sean speaks to those involved to learn more about the power and purpose of gospel music. Strictly finalist Alexandra Burke speaks about her Christian faith, and how her late mother inspired her to sing and perform. And the Rev Kate Bottley meets The Missing People Choir - a remarkable singing group that brings together people who are enduring every family's worst nightmare - they all have loved ones who disappeared. Kate speaks to Peter Boxell, whose son Lee went missing in 1988, and to Peter Lawrence, whose daughter Claudia disappeared in York in 2009. They tell Kate how the choir helps them cope and about reaching the final of Britain's Got Talent last year - which led directly to some families being reunited. Music: O Happy Day from LSO St Luke's And Did Those Feet (Jerusalem) from St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell Happiness by Ken Dodd and the Love & Joy Gospel Choir It Is Well with My Soul from Hackney Empire The Truth Is by Alexandra Burke Souled Out by the Big Sing Gospel Choir How Great Thou Art from Holy Trinity, Platt, Manchester.
Songs of Praise celebrates faith and compassion by marking 50 years of the Christian overseas aid charity Tearfund. Presenter Claire McCollum talks to a top chef whose view of chocolate has been transformed by a trip to a west African cocoa farm and she meets the aid workers who survived the Nepal earthquake of 2015. The Reverend Kate Bottley talks to Christian students on a five-day charity challenge diet of only beans and rice. Hymns and songs on the theme of compassion include O Jesus I Have Promised, Mighty to Save and Beauty For Brokenness, written by Graham Kendrick for Tearfund's 25th anniversary. Music: How Deep the Father's Love for Us from Green Pastures, Ballymena Brother Sister Let Me Serve You from Pershore Abbey Lord I Lift Your Name from LSO St Luke's, London Inspired by Love and Anger from Romsey Abbey Mighty to Save from Salvation Army, Sale Beauty for Brokenness from All Saints Church, Ecclesall O Jesus I Have Promised from Bangor Cathedral.
Josie d'Arby presents Songs of Praise from Northampton's All Saints Church. To mark the 25th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence's murder his mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence talks to Sean Fletcher about how her faith has helped during her 18 year fight for justice for her son. On the eve of St George's Day, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin reveals the Middle Eastern identity of England's patron saint. Josie finds out about the Good Loaf cafe run by the Christian charity Crime 2 Christ and visits the town's premier rugby club, the Saints, which was founded by a clergyman at the end of the 19th century. Music Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven from All Saints' Church, Northampton For All the Saints from All Saints' Church, Northampton This Is Amazing Grace from City Gates, Ilford Be Still for the Presence of the Lord from Christ Church URC, Port Sunlight The Water Is Wide by Blake and The Military Wives Choir Oh When the Saints Go Marching In from St Alban's Church, Bristol Lord for the Years from All Saints' Church, Northampton.
Aled Jones hosts the first semi-final of a brand new singing competiton, The Young Choir of the Year 2018, from the Pontio Centre in Bangor. Five junior choirs from across the UK sing to win a place in the final. Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord by Hereford Cathedral Junior School Fel Yr Hydd/As the Deer by Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn Look Around You by Kent College Choristers Let There Be Peace on Earth by The Musical Originals Singers The Lord Bless You and Keep You by New Forest Children's Choir Jesus Is the Name We Honour by Junior Semi-Finalists
Aled Jones hosts the second semi-final of the brand new singing competition - Young Choir of the Year 2018, from the Pontio Centre in Bangor. Five senior choirs from across the UK sing to win a place in the final. I, the Lord of Sea and Sky by Godolphin Vocal Ensemble Be Still My Soul by Strathearn School Chamber Choir Prydferth Waredwr/Beautiful Saviour by Ysgol Y Strade Poor Wayfaring Stranger by Ellesmere College Chamber Choir We've Come to Worship You by St Anne's Gospel Choir Cornerstone by Senior Semi-Finalists.
Aled Jones hosts the final of the Young Choir of the Year 2018 competition from the Pontio Centre in Bangor. The junior and senior choir finalists sing their choice of inspirational song to impress the judges and lift the trophy. Go Down, Moses by Hereford Cathedral Junior School Haleliwia/Hallelujah by Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn Siyahamba by The Musical Originals Singers Galw Enw'r Iesu/Calling on My Jesus by Ysgol Y Strade Hallelujah, Get Happy by Strathearn School Chamber Choir Swing Low, Sweet Chariot by St Anne's Gospel Choir.
On Pentecost Sunday Kate Bottley is in Manchester to hear from survivors and families of the Manchester terrorist attack one year on. She meets a woman who tragically lost her son that night and a Methodist minister who was in the arena with her 11-year-old twin daughters. With hymns from churches across Greater Manchester and a very special performance from Katherine Jenkins and Parrs Wood High School choir. Lord of All Hopefulness - Manchester Cathedral Beauty for Brokenness - St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish All My Hope on God Is Founded - St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish How Deep the Father's Love for Us - Holy Trinity Platt Church You'll Never Walk Alone - Katherine Jenkins with Parrs Wood High School Choir Come Down, O Love Divine - St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish There's a Wideness in God's Mercy - Manchester Cathedral.
Claire McCollum visits the city of Perth on the banks of Scotland's longest river, the Tay. She meets Lady Mansfield at Scone Palace and finds out more about its role in the country's religious history. Once a large abbey and religious community, it was the site of the Scottish Parliament and the crowning place of Scottish kings. We also mark 175 years since the Free Church of Scotland was established in an event known as The Disruption and reveals the story of how its founding inspired early photography. JB Gill meets local minister, the Rev Scott Burton, whose passion is kayaking on the River Tay. He explains to JB how the river has taught him many lessons, brought alive biblical imagery and helped shape his life and faith. Claire also explores the Perthshire countryside on horseback and visits an inter-denominational Christian adventure camp where young people from all over Scotland, and from a range of backgrounds, come to enjoy outdoor activities and to hear the Christian message. With hymns from Perth Cathedral, St Ninians and a performance from Ward Thomas. Music: Let All the World - Perth Cathedral, St Ninian's The Church's One Foundation - St Asaph Cathedral When I Found Jesus - Paisley Abbey Holy, holy, holy - Hackney Empire Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - Perth Cathedral, St Ninian's Proof - Perth Cathedral, St Ninian's Praise to the Holiest in the Height - Perth Cathedral, St Ninian's.
Sean Fletcher and the Rev Kate Bottley hear how the Christian faith sustains those affected by cancer, including former Blue Peter host and TV presenter Simon Thomas, Baptist minister the Rev Andy Stammers, campaigner Della Ogunleye and cancer specialist nurse Mary Mountford-Lister. Sean visits Maggie's Oxford, a centre that specialises in support and care for those diagnosed with cancer. Kate meets a support group for black women who are dealing with effects of breast cancer. Music includes In Christ Alone, Break Every Chain, God Is Love His The Care, and Keep You Here, a special song from Stuart Townend written after his late brother's cancer diagnosis. Music: Crown Him with Many Crowns from Holy Trinity Platt Church, Manchester I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say from All Saints Church, Cheltenham In Christ Alone from Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor Keep You Here by Stuart Townend & Family Break Every Chain from Birmingham Christian Centre God Is Love, His the Care from St James the Greater, Leicester.
Aled Jones returns to Grenfell Tower 12 months after Britain's worst peacetime fire, in which 71 people lost their lives, to hear inspiring stories of faith and to find out how the community is coping. He catches up with the pastor still helping survivors and hears the moving story of one woman and her family, who lived on the 13th floor of the Tower. He meets Gaby Doherty who has written a book capturing stories of hope from within the community and finds out how one young man volunteers his time to create new green spaces for families to enjoy. Josie d'Arby heads south to meet Esme Page who was so moved by the fire she set up Cornwall Hugs Grenfell to provide free holidays for those affected and there's music from around the country offering words of comfort and support. Music: We Cannot Measure How You Heal from Southwark Cathedral Everlasting God from Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor What a Friend We Have in Jesus from Hackney Empire Make Me a Channel of Your Peace from Pershore Abbey God is Love, His the Care from St James the Greater, Leicester All You Need is Love performed by Vocal Creation When I Needed a Neighbour from Christ Church URC Port Sunlight All My Hope On God is Founded from Southwark Cathedral.
The Rev Kate Bottley is in Launde Abbey in Leicestershire to explore the power of prayer and reveals how more Christians are using apps and daily e-mails to help them worship. Pam Rhodes finds out about plans for a huge wall of answered prayers and meets a very special baby born over four months early. With special performances from Only Boys Aloud and soprano Margaret Keys. Father Hear the Prayer We Offer from The Church of St Cross, Winchester The Lord's Prayer from St Mark's Church, Maida Vale Be Still for the Presence of the Lord from Christ Church, Port Sunlight Great Are You Lord from City Gates Church, Ilford Come Now Is the Time to Worship from Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor Irish Blessing performed by Margaret Keys The Lord's My Shepherd from Eastbourne Bandstand.
Sean Fletcher is in Tilbury Docks near London to mark 70 years since the SS Empire Windrush brought nearly 500 new settlers from the Caribbean, an event that came to symbolise the beginning of modern Britain. He travels up river and into London to explore the challenges those new arrivals and their families have faced right up to the present day, and to celebrate the faith and music they brought with them. He meets the 90-year-old bishop who reflects on his first impressions of arriving in Britain nearly 70 years ago. A young mother shares how her faith is sustaining her through the great distress caused by the 2018 Windrush crisis, and Britain's first black female comedian Angie Le Mar discusses her latest play that celebrates the Windrush generation and the Pentecostal faith she grew up with. Josie d'Arby visits the magnificent St Paul's Cathedral on the trail of one of the world's most famous bears. She hears how the final adventure of Paddington, written just before author Michael Bond passed away in 2017, came to be set in one of Britain's most famous cathedrals. With a rich mix of music, including uplifting gospel songs and a performance from Grammy Award-winner Gregory Porter. Music: Every Time I Feel the Spirit from LSO St Luke's Leaning on the Everlasting Arms from St Elisabeth's, Reddish How Great Is Our God, by Beechcroft Choir and New Testament Assembly Congregation, Tooting Dear Lord and Father of Mankind from Christ Church URC, Port Sunlight Great Is Thy Faithfulness from St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen He Looked Beyond My Faults from St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London The Lion and the Lamb from City Gates Church, Ilford.
Claire McCollum and JB Gill celebrate 70 years of the NHS with staff and former patients. Claire visits Trafford General, where the then health secretary Aneurin Bevan launched the National Health Service in 1948. JB Gill joins Tim, who is a chaplain to paramedics, to find out how he supports both the ambulance crews, patients and their relatives. Senior manager Olivia Amartey reflects on the role her Christian faith has played during her 35-year career in the NHS. Medical student Libby Adderley talks about how the NHS support that helped her overcome anorexia made her determined to give back by becoming a doctor. Traditional hymns and modern songs include Great in Power, Knowing You Jesus, Brother Sister Let Me Serve You, and My Jesus My Saviour. Sopranos Mary-Jess and Joanna Forest perform a special arrangement of Ave Maria. Music: Praise Him You Heavens from Sale Brother Sister Let Me Serve You from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish All I Once Held Dear from All Saints Eccleshall, Sheffield Where the Spirit of the Lord Is from Birmingham City Church Ave Maria performed by Mary- Jess Leaverland & Joanna Forest from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish My Jesus My Saviour from Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour from St Aidan's Church, Leeds.
The Rev Kate Bottley is in the Lake District to explore the stunning scenery of this World Heritage site. She joins a church youth group taking part in a team-building exercise at the YMCA's National Centre, Lakeside, tries her hand at sailing on Lake Windermere and even has a go on the outdoor centre's zip wire. The programme finds out about the inspirational beauty of God's creation in Eycott Hill Nature Reserve through professional photographer Andrew Heptinstall, and JB Gill visits Cartmel Priory, thought to be the first church in the world to have created a virtual reality experience. There is also a stunning new performance of Amazing Grace from the international singing group Il Divo. Music: 10,000 Reasons from Keswick Convention Give Me Joy in My Heart from Tenby Harbour Be Thou My Vision from St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Amazing Grace performed by Il Divo All Things Bright and Beautiful from St John the Baptist, Tideswell Guide performed by Gareth Davies-Jones Come People of the Risen King - Keswick Convention.
The programme visits the village of Walsingham in Norfolk, one of the country's most holy places and, as Pam Rhodes finds out, a major pilgrimage destination famed for its shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Sean Fletcher joins pilgrims travelling to Mont St Michel in Normandy, and Katherine Jenkins spends the day with Brother David on holy Caldey Island. Music: He Who Would Valiant Be - Cheltenham O God You Search Me And You Know Me - St Alban's Church, Bristol I, The Lord Of Sea And Sky - St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Kumbaya - Tenby Harbour Praise The Lord - The Big Sing Gospel Voices It Is Well With My Soul - The Band Stand, Eastbourne Lord, Reign In Me - Reddish Church.
Claire McCollum explores Northern Ireland, beginning at Giant's Causeway - a Unesco world heritage site. She speaks to a local geologist who explains how the interlocking columns of rock were formed and how he marries his science with a deep faith in a creator God. JB Gill takes a ride around the Strangford Lough in County Down with a Christian cycling group. He's put through his paces on the narrow countryside roads and finds out from the team leader how cycling brings them closer to God. We also mark the 125th anniversary of the Girls' Brigade. Founded in 1893 in Dublin by a pioneering woman named Margaret Lyttle, Girls' Brigade aims to empower girls, develop skills, build friendships and explore the Christian faith. Groups now meet in 51 countries around the world and we drop in on a thriving company in Sunderland to see what it's all about. Claire meets Belfast boy Philip Mulryne who left professional football behind to become a Catholic priest. Philip was signed up to Manchester United as a teenager and had many successful seasons with Norwich City, but as he reached the end of his 20s he realised there was something missing. He tells Claire about his journey to finding fulfilment in the Christian faith which led him to the priesthood and even a vow of poverty. With traditional hymns and modern worship songs from across Northern Ireland including a performance from singer-songwriter Kathryn Scott. Music: To God Be the Glory - Green Pastures Church, Ballymena By Faith - Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast Shall We Gather at the River? - St Colmcille's Church, Holywood, County Down Cornerstone - Ballydown Presbyterian Church, Banbridge Speak to Me - Kathryn Scott Soul of My Saviour - St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen.
200 years after the birth of Emily Bronte, Aled Jones is in Haworth in Yorkshire exploring the Christian upbringing of the author of Wuthering Heights, and we revisit other Christians who have inspired us over the last 12 months. Blessed Assurance from Halifax Minster Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee from Christ church URC All Creatures of Our God and King from St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell Blessed Be Your Name from William Booth College, London Vagabonds by Stuart Townend Be Still My Soul from All Saints Church, Cheltenham Ye Servants of God from St Aidan's Church, Leeds.
Katherine Jenkins explores the seaside resort of Hastings, revealing how the battle of 1066 changed British Christian history, and meets the volunteers from a local church who help mums by providing Moses baskets full of donations for newborn babies. Sean Fletcher finds out how Voces8 are inspiring young people to take up choral singing, and Claire McCollum meets a young man whose faith has helped him make it all the way to representing Great Britain at the World Transplant Games. Katherine performs the classic hymn Jerusalem. Music: Summer Suns Are Glowing from Pershore Abbey Jerusalem from Pershore Abbey Shine Jesus Shine from Tenby Beach Every Time I Feel the Spirit from LSO St Lukes When Love Came Down from Holy Trinity Platt Lux Aeterna from Pershore Abbey Praise My Soul from St John The Baptist, Tideswell.
Sean Fletcher is in Alton in Staffordshire, not at its famous theme park Alton Towers but at its castle, now a Catholic youth retreat centre which raises self-esteem, and builds and strengthens friendships. He meets the young Christians running it who help ensure the youngsters leave with some treasured memories. The programme looks back at two stories of amazing faith featured over the last year, including the fantastic freestyle footballer from Milton Keynes and the Christian astronaut who walked on the moon but found more fulfilment when he gave his life to God.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits the Great Yorkshire Show, where the chaplain to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society tells her about the show's 160-year history and how the church has always played a central role. Kate finds out more about the challenges facing the agricultural community and meets Kate Dale, the Christian farmer who is reaching out to offer support. JB Gill visits Thirsk to discover the story of the real-life Yorkshire vet behind the ever-popular books of James Herriot. Herriot was the pen name of Alf Wight, and JB meets his son Jim at the museum that was once his father's veterinary practice and their family home. They walk up to Sutton Bank to enjoy what Alf described as 'the finest view in England' and talk about Alf's Christian values and the enduring success of All Creatures Great and Small in print and on screen. Kate also meets the newly appointed bishop of Ripon, Helen-Ann Hartley, for tea and scones and talks about moving to Yorkshire and her vision for her new role. With hymns and songs celebrating the beauty of creation, including a performance from teenage singing star Elan Catrin Parry. Music: All Creatures of Our God and King from Our Lady's Church, York Love Divine from the Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells Praise to the Holiest from Our Lady's, York All Things Bright and Beautiful from Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor Morning Has Broken performed by Elan Catrin Parry from Kendal Parish Church Oh Give thanks unto the Lord for He Is Good from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish Praise to the Lord, the Almighty from Our Lady's Church, York.
It's been 40 years since the last papal visit to Ireland, and Claire McCollum is there to join the celebrations for the historic visit of Pope Francis. The Holy Father specially chose Dublin to host the World Meeting of Families 2018, the largest international gathering of families in the world. We meet up with the 100 strong group travelling from the Archdiocese of Birmingham to be part of the event and we're in Croke Park Stadium for the Festival of Families. One of the places Pope Francis will visit is Knock Shrine and Sean Fletcher finds out what draws 1.5 million pilgrims there every year. There's also another opportunity to see how Claire got on when she joined pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick, known as Ireland's holy mountain, on Reek Sunday. Claire finds out why some young Christians choose to climb barefoot, despite the mountain being covered in sharp stones. There are hymns from Ireland and a performance of Amazing Grace by the group Celtic Woman, filmed on Clew Bay. Music: In Christ Alone - St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Good Good Father - Green Pastures, Ballymena Be Still and Know that I Am God - St Colmcille's, Holywood Amazing Grace - Celtic Woman Alleluia (Pachelbel's Canon) - The Priests Now Thank We All Our God - St Patrick's Church, Dungannon.
Claire McCollum is in Newcastle upon Tyne to see Christian artefacts discovered nearby at Hadrian's Wall, and the programme sees how the city that loves football is helping children with disabilities. JB Gill catches up with Gospel Choir of the Year judge Karen Gibson to find out what it was like to sing at the recent royal wedding, and there are hymns from the Church of St Thomas the Martyr in the heart of the city, led by Philippa Hanna. Before the Throne of God Above - The Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle For the Beauty of the Earth - Kendal Parish Church Stand by Me - The Drifters Sing Unto the Lord - St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish Agnus Dei - Shaun Escoffery What a Beautiful Name - The Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle How Great Thou Art - The Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle.
Josie d'Arby visits Bristol's 40th Balloon Fiesta and meets Christians making a difference in the city, including mayor Marvin Rees and a cleaner given a surprise gift by university students. Josie joins members of St Peter's Hospice, sharing its 40th birthday with the Balloon Fiesta, and takes to the skies for an unforgettable hot air balloon ride. She also hears from a Christian changing the lives of homeless people by converting shipping containers into homes. Hymns are from around the UK, including three from St Alban's Church in Bristol. All for Jesus - St Alban's Bristol Here Is Love - St Catherine's, Pontypridd Leaning on the Everlasting Arms - LSO St Luke's, London We Cannot Measure How You Heal - St Alban's, Bristol The Lord's My Shepherd - Eastbourne Bandstand Open the Eyes of My Heart - St Thomas The Martyr, Newcastle O Thou Who Camest from Above - St Alban's, Bristol.
As the RAF marks its centenary, Aled Jones is at the Rhyl Air Show in north Wales to hear the extraordinary stories of two Second World War pilots, Welsh local hero David Lord, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, and 97-year-old Ernie Holmes, a Lancaster bomber pilot who miraculously survived being shot down over occupied territory. Josie d'Arby visits Winchester Cathedral 100 years after a simple gravestone inscription inspired the creation of the worldwide movement Alcoholics Anonymous. And the programme meets Christian Joey G, who is using rap music to bring the message of Jesus to the young people of north Wales. There is also a special performance by Blake and The Military Wives Choir, as well as hymns and songs from north Wales and across the UK. I Will Sing the Wondrous Story - from St Asaph Cathedral When I Survey ehe Wondrous Cross - from Eastbourne Bandstand Over All the Earth (Lord Reign In Me) - from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish We Will Stand Together - by The Military Wives Choir Be Still My Soul - from Pontio Arts Centre Strength Will Rise As We Wait Upon the Lord (Everlasting God) - from Pontio Arts Centre The Day Thou Gavest - by John Ellerton.
Katherine Jenkins is back from maternity leave to celebrate Harvest Sunday from Exeter in Devon where she makes ice cream on a dairy farm run by Christians. JB Gill visits a church in the middle of a farm. With singing led by Graham Kendrick and a special performance from Sir Bryn Terfel. Great Is Thy Faithfulness - from St David's Church, Exeter We Plough the Fields and Scatter - from All Saints' Church, Northampton All Things Bright and Beautiful - by Katherine Jenkins Will Your Anchor Hold - from St Pol de Leon Church, Penzance Trees - by Sir Bryn Terfel Beauty for Brokenness - from St David's Church, Exeter For the Beauty of the Earth - from St David's Church, Exeter.
Sean Fletcher reflects on peace and forgiveness by meeting a Christian mother whose son was murdered in a knife attack and who now runs a boxing club to encourage reconciliation between rival gangs. Pam Rhodes talks to the Reverend Nigel Bennett, who survived the 7/7 attack and maintains forgiveness has been essential to his recovery. At Lambeth Palace Sean joins Christians and Muslims learning to gain deeper mutual understanding at a young peacemakers forum. And Canon Andrew White, the vicar of Baghdad, reflects on the results of his pioneering peacemaking work in the Middle East, which he undertook despite the risks to his own life and having MS. With hymns on the theme of peace from around the UK, including Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Blessed Assurance and There's a Wideness in God's Mercy. Music: Blessed Assurance, LSO St Luke's, London Now to Jesus, St Thomas the Martyr Newcastle with Philippa Hanna and Abby Eaton There's a Wideness in God's Mercy, St Elisabeth's Reddish When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, St Patrick's Dungannon The Peace, St Catherine's Pontypridd with Graham Kendrick and Sound of Wales Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Pershore Abbey Thy Hand O God Has Guided, Christ Church Port Sunlight.
The Rev Kate Bottley meets Christian car fans at the Goodwood Revival classic car races. Chaplains Antony Feltham-White and Keith Morrison explain why they bless the race track, and the owners - the Duke and Duchess of Richmond - describe how they welcome a Christian presence at the event. Opera and Christian singer Jonathan Veira performs and tells a story of a friendship forged through a love of classic cars. Kate meets Rev Adam Gompertz, car designer and artist, who has brought his love of God and cars together in his role as a clergyman. Current Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya celebrates 60 years of the children's TV show with former presenters and Christians Tina Heath and Simon Thomas. Music: Be Thou My Vision, Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester Send the Fire Today, Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes with Noel Robinson O Love That Will Not Let Me Go, performed by Jonathan Viera In Christ There Is No East or West, Kendal Parish Church There Is a Redeemer, St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle with Philippa Hanna It Is to You I Give the Glory, St Elisabeth's Reddish, Manchester Cornerstone, Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor.
Rev Kate Bottley is in Birmingham to hear how Christianity is at work in this modern, multicultural city. She visits Winson Green to meet the Christian couple who have dedicated their lives to working in urban areas. They have some unusual ways of connecting with people, including walking their alpacas to the local school and back. Josie d'Arby catches up with Julian Lloyd Webber, principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and hears from students aiming to become the next generation of cathedral organists. There is also a special performance from past student, singer-songwriter Laura Mvula. For Black History Month the programme finds out about the faith and food that the Caribbean community has brought to the city, and there are hymns from St Germain's church in Birmingham. Music: Blessed Assurance - St Germain's Church, Birmingham The Servant King - St Albans Cathedral Crown Him with Many Crowns - Royal Albert Hall It Is Well with My Soul performed by Laura Mvula How Great Thou Art - St Elisabeth's Church Reddish When I Was Lost - William Booth College London What a Mighty God We Serve - St Germain's Church, Birmingham.
Josie d'Arby visits Lee Abbey retreat centre in Devon to find out why Christians take their holidays there and how it brings rest and refreshment to people from all over the world. JB Gill helps to distribute copies of the Gideons Bible around London and discovers how one of the charity's Bibles in a hotel room transformed the life of one young man. And a Christian couple explain why they spend their holidays on a canal boat studying the Bible and praying for others. Music: This Is Amazing Grace from New Wine United, Somerset The Lord's My Shepherd from Kendal Parish Church Everlasting God from St Elisabeth's Reddish We Have a Gospel to Proclaim from Bangor Cathedral Rain led by Noel Robinson from the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes Great Is Your Faithfulness led by Philippa Hanna from St Thomas the Martyr Newcastle Father Lord of All Creation from Pershore Abbey.
Katherine Jenkins introduces a feast of favourite hymns as the Songs of Praise presenters and the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, reveal the hymns and worship songs that mean the most to them. The archbishop explains that his favourite has always remained close to his heart because it was the first hymn he sang after experiencing the love of God for himself and becoming a Christian. Katherine explores the beautiful surroundings of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the famous Chelsea Pensioners and designed by Sir Christopher Wren. She is shown around Wren's chapel in the heart of the community and meets a Chelsea Pensioner who is a regular in the congregation. Chart-topping British country duo The Shires chat to Claire McCollum about growing up singing in churches and choirs and perform an exclusive version of their favourite hymn, Jerusalem. Music: How Great Thou Art from Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us from St Michael's Church, Southampton And Can It Be from St Pol de Leon, Penzance Heart of Worship by Philippa Hanna from St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Newcastle Here Is Love, Vast as the Ocean from Our Lady's Church, York Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish Jerusalem The Lord's My Shepherd from St John the Baptist, Tideswell Dear Lord and Father of Mankind from Christ Church, Port Sunlight.
Songs of Praise remembers Wilfred Owen, one of the greatest war poets in the English language. He was killed in action a hundred years ago on 4 November 1918, during what became one of the very last battles of World War I. Aled Jones and Frank Field MP discuss how Wilfred Owen captured both the horrors and, as he saw it, the futility of war, outside the Birkenhead home where the poet lived from the age of four. Locally-born actress Dame Patricia Routledge reads her favourite Wilfred Owen poem and joins the congregation to sing hymns in his memory at Christ Church in Birkenhead, where the poet attended services as a boy. Wilfred Owen enthusiast Martin Impey reveals his latest illustrations depicting the tragedy of war, and we meet the winner of Prince William's national poetry competition for a new work inspired by the poets of the First World War. Also in the programme, Aled Jones and Russell Watson join forces for the very first time to sing a beautiful medley of Where Have All the Flowers Gone and Here's To the Heroes. Hymns include For the Healing of the Nations and Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.
For a special programme on Remembrance Sunday, Katherine Jenkins is in Southampton to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War. Using rare diaries and newspapers from the time, Katherine discovers how the famous port city was the primary embarkation point for British forces with eight million individual troop movements recorded between 1914 and 1918. As the birthplace of the Spitfire, Southampton also played a crucial role in achieving victory in World War II. Katherine meets Don and Margaret, both in their 90s, who helped to build the iconic aircraft. They share vivid memories of the factory being bombed and how parts continued to be made in garages, workshops and even laundrettes across Southampton to enable the RAF to win the Battle of Britain. Sean Fletcher visits a Christian school project using contemporary music to engage young people in what peace means for their generation. Music: For All the Saints from St Michael's Church, Southampton Eternal Father, Strong to Save from St Michael's Church, Southampton Brave performed by The Military Wives Choirs featuring Laura Wright O God, Our Help in Ages Past from St Michael's Church, Southampton Keep the Banner Flying High From St David's Exeter Abide with Me from St Michael's Church, Southampton.
David Grant hosts a highlight in the Songs of Praise calendar, the Gospel Choir of the Year Competition 2018. In the first of two programmes, five of the best amateur choirs in the country take to the stage at The Albert Hall Nottingham to sing in front of the judges, including award-winning choir director Gareth Malone, gospel choir leader Karen Gibson and actor and singer Shaun Escoffery. The competing choirs are IDMC from central London, Keele University Gospel Choir from Staffordshire, Shalom Chorale from east London, Spring Into Soul from Worthing and C3 Vocals from Cambridge. There is also a performance of Blinded By Your Grace by The Kingdom Choir, who performed at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Music: Soon Ah Will be Done performed by Shalom Chorale Hosanna/The Anthem performed by Keele University Gospel Choir. Sow in Tears performed by Spring Into Soul O Come to the Altar performed by C3 Vocals. God Put a Rainbow performed by IDMC Blinded by Your Grace performed by The Kingdom Choir.
David Grant hosts the exciting climax of the Gospel Choir of the Year Competition 2018. Five of the best amateur choirs in the country return to the stage at The Albert Hall Nottingham to sing in front of the judges, including award-winning choir director Gareth Malone, gospel choir leader Karen Gibson and actor and singer Shaun Escoffery. The competing choirs are IDMC from central London, Keele University Gospel Choir from Staffordshire, Shalom Chorale from East London, Spring Into Soul from Worthing and C3 Vocals from Cambridge.
Josie d'Arby joins the archbishop of Canterbury, who shares his thoughts on the significance of the Christingle tradition in modern times, as well as some poignant personal memories of feeling lonely at Christmas as a child. Sean Fletcher meets with children from five different local schools as they make some Christingles in preparation for a special evening service held at All Saints' Church in Hoole, Chester. Although the tradition of Christingle originated in the Moravian church in Germany in the 18th century, the Children's Society held their first Christingle service in this country half a century ago and it is estimated there are over 6,000 such services held in the country nowadays. Sean also sits in on rehearsals for a musical drama based on the story of the Nativity, written by the teachers and pupils of Bishop's Blue Coat Secondary School in Chester. On this first Sunday of Advent, there's a varied selection of seasonal hymns old and new from around the country and a special performance of an Advent favourite from soprano Laura Wright. Music: Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending - Kendal Parish Church Like a Candle Flame - St David's Church, Exeter Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - St Alban's Church, Bristol Lord of All Hopefulness - Hereford Cathedral O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Performed by Laura Wright Something Inside So Strong - Performed by Kingdom Choir Christ Be Our Light - Our Lady's, York.
Katherine Jenkins journeys back to her childhood church in Neath, south Wales, for Advent. She meets family and friends to reflect on her Christian faith and explores how it has deepened over recent years. She shares tender moments with her mum, and ends her journey in the church where she grew up and learned to sing. Music: Hills of the North Rejoice, St Michael's Church Southampton What Child Is This?, St Albans Cathedral Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Pershore Abbey Nearer My God to Thee, Hackney Empire Adore - a new song from Graham Kendrick, in St David's Exeter Plus two performances by Katherine Jenkins - Blinded by Your Grace and Jealous of the Angels.
Aled Jones visits Mousehole in Cornwall to make a traditional Star Gazey Pie with Michelin-starred chef Chris Eden and to hear about the legend of Tom Bawcock, the heroic Cornish fisherman who saved the village from starvation. Sean Fletcher talks to Sir Cliff Richard, who is celebrating 60 years in showbusiness and who performs his brand new Christmas song. Poet Lemn Sissay, who was fostered and later spent time in a children's home, tells Sean about the Christmas dinners he puts on each year for young people who have been through the care system and might otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. There are also favourite carols and performances from Fisherman's Friends and Mevagissey Male Voice Choir, all from St Pol de Leon Church in Paul. Carols include Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, The First Nowell and O Little Town of Bethlehem. Music: The First Nowell from St Pol de Leon Church, Penzance Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy from St Pol de Leon Church, Penzance It Came Upon the Midnight Clear from St Pol de Leon Church, Penzance While Shepherd's Watched Their Flock by Night from St Pol de Leon Church, Penzance The Miracle of Love performed by Sir Cliff Richard at Wilton's Music Hall, London Hark! The Herald Angels Sing from St Pol de Leon Church, Penzance
Aled Jones celebrates Christmas with festive carols from the McEwan Hall, Edinburgh, including O Come All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World. With special guests Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins and Collabro. Music: Joy to the World Silent Night Aled Jones and Russell Watson I Wish You Christmas performed by Katherine Jenkins Shepherd's Medley Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas performed by Collabro O Holy Night performed by Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Katherine Jenkins is in Edinburgh for the Scottish Big Sing from the McEwan Hall. With special guest performances from Susan Boyle, The Overtones and The Ayoub Sisters. JJ Chalmers discovers the history of bagpipes and finds out more about the upcoming Hogmanay celebrations in the city. Music: Scottish Big Sing Signature Tune To God Be The Glory Pie Jesu performed by The Ayoub Sisters Will You Come And Follow Me? Oh Happy Day performed by The Overtones Amazing Grace Stand By Me performed by Susan Boyle Lord For The Years Scottish Signature Tune 2.
Sean Fletcher finds out how Greek Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany, and the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin explains its meaning. In Durham, Christian astronomer the Rev Professor David Wilkinson talks to the Rev Kate Bottley about the scientific theories behind the star of Bethlehem. And in Coventry, at a baby baptism service in the Greek Orthodox tradition, a member of the congregation explains why baptism is so important to their faith. Hymns come from around the UK on the theme of Epiphany. Music: O Worship the Lord from St Michael's Southampton Brightest and Best from Church of St Cross, Winchester Be Still for the Presence of the Lord from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish Indescribable from Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester Lord I Lift Your Name on High from LSO St Lukes London Shine Jesus Shine with Graham Kendrick from St David's Exeter All Night Vigil performed by Katie Melua and Gori Women's Choir.
Aled Jones explores one of Jesus's best-known teachings Love Thy Neighbour and discovers how it is being put into action on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. Aled meets local historians to discover Sheppey's amazing hidden heritage - the island was the cradle of British aviation with an intrepid group of pioneers, led by the Short Brothers, establishing themselves on the island in the early 1900s. It also has a rich maritime history having maintained a dockyard of great strategic importance for over 300 years. Students from the local high school get Aled involved in their award-winning Dementia Cafe, where residents of local care homes are invited for afternoon tea, entertainment and conversation, all organised and performed by the teenagers. The Rev Cindy Kent tells Aled about moving to the island and the great sense of community she has found there. She also reflects on her pop star past as the lead singer of the group The Settlers in the 1960s and 70s. And JB Gill visits Sheerness Youth Club, where one youth worker has been serving the young people of Sheppey for nearly 60 years! With hymns and songs from across the UK to celebrate the love of God and the Christian call to love our neighbour. Music: Love Divine from St Asaph Cathedral I, the Lord of Sea and Sky from St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Make Me a Channel of Your Peace from St James the Greater, Leicester I Have Decided to Follow Jesus from Hackney Empire Once Again from Albert Hall, Nottingham When I Needed a Neighbour from Southwark Cathedral How Deep the Father's Love For Us from Kendal Parish Church.
Rev Kate Bottley talks to Padre Alistair about what led him to start up an open-water swimming club and the incredible benefits it brings. Claire McCollum heads to London for a fitness class with a difference, and we meet Chris Andrews, who is working with junior school kids to incorporate strong faith with strong fitness. Music: Hymn books at the ready! Here's what we're singing this week. Morning Has Broken - The Church of St Cross, Winchester Everything Is Possible - St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Newcastle Revival - Performed by Jenn Bostic The Lord's My Shepherd - Kendal Parish Church. Strength Will Rise - Pontio Arts Centre The Day Thou Gavest - Bangor Cathedral.
The Rev Kate Bottley and JJ Chalmers join a mass charity sleep-out in Edinburgh city centre raising funds for homeless people and meet Christians helping those who have slept rough. Kate joins charity workers on a food van visiting a homeless hostel, and meets those who've survived life on the street and are now moving on with hope. In Manchester, one enterprising Christian describes an ingenious solution - a hostel on wheels he's created by converting a tour bus. Many of the hymns and songs come from Stockbridge Church in Edinburgh. Music: Let All the World in Every Corner Sing We Cannot Measure How You Heal Will You Come and Follow Me Meekness and Majesty from St David's Church, Exeter, with Graham Kendrick Leaning on the Everlasting Arms from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish. Before the Throne of God Above from St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle, with Philippa Hanna And a lovely performance of Be Thou My Guardian and My Guide.
Katherine Jenkins visits the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral to celebrate Candlemas - the commemoration of the infant Jesus being presented at the temple in Jerusalem. She discovers the origins and meaning of this ancient feast day with the canon chancellor and learns more about the cathedral's fascinating history from one of the tour guides. Sean Fletcher visits Charles Farris Candles, a firm that manufacture and supply ten million candles to churches each year. And nearly 12 months on from the devasting nerve agent attack in Salisbury, the cathedral's new dean, Nick Papadopulos, tells Katherine how the city is striving for peace and unity. With hymns and songs from across the UK celebrating God's light shining in the darkness. Music: Light of the World (Here I Am to Worship) from Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes Nunc Dimittis from Salisbury Cathedral Like a Candle Flame from Derby Cathedral Lux Aeterna from Pershore Abbey Hear the Call of the Kingdom from Albert Hall, Nottingham Faithful one from St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Newcastle The Day Thou Gavest from Salisbury Cathedral.
As St Valentine's Day approaches, Katherine Jenkins visits the Tower of London where it is thought the earliest recorded valentine was written in the 15th century. She explores the tower's two beautiful chapels and meets the first female beefeater. We find out about Christian digital dating and join two young people hoping to find their valentine. Finally, Sean Fletcher hears from the couple passing on the secrets of their long and happy marriage to those planning to tie the knot, and Gregory Porter sings about love. Music: Hymn books at the ready! Here's what we're singing this week. God Is Love, His the Care- Albert Hall, Nottingham The King of Love My Shepherd Is - The Church of St Cross, Winchester Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord - St Thomas the Marty's Church, Newcastle When Love Was King - Performed by Gregory Porter O Jesus I Have Promised - Bangor Cathedral The Church's One Foundation - Christ Church Oxton, Birkenhead God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him - All Saint's Church, Northampton.
The Rev Kate Bottley pays a half-term visit to Whitby in North Yorkshire to discover how Quaker values impacted the life of explorer Captain James Cook, and how the life of St Hilda of Whitby influenced the town. Josie d'Arby visits a Christian-run project in Newcastle which makes lunches during the half-term holiday for children who normally have free school meals. On board a replica of Captain Cook's boat Endeavour, author Vanessa Collingridge explains how Cook conducted himself with honesty and integrity influenced by the Quakers of Whitby. Most of our hymns are from churches across northern England, including One More Step, King of Kings Majesty, Mighty to Save, Oceans, and He Who Would Valiant Be. Music: One More Step Along the World I Go from Albert Hall, Nottingham He Who Would Valiant Be from Christ Church, Birkenhead King of Kings, Majesty from Kendal Parish Church The Lord Is My Shepherd from Our Lady's Church, York, performed by Ischia Gooder and Raphael Bellamy Plaice Mighty to Save (Everybody Needs Compassion) from Sale Salvation Army Oceans from St Aidan's Church, Leeds performed by Jessica Clemmons The Old Rugged Cross from the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle upon Tyne with Philippa Hanna
Aled Jones explores the amazing network of man-made caves under the streets of Nottingham and discovers the hidden Christian history of the city. In the company of city archaeologist Scott Lomax, Aled learns that there are 860 caves carved out of the soft Nottingham sandstone, some dating back over 1000 years, and they could have been the setting for secret Catholic worship. Aled also goes in search of Nottingham’s most famous son – the legendary Robin Hood – and discovers that his unique brand of social justice may have sprung from a strong Christian faith. One of the earliest references to the outlaw has him praying in St Mary’s Church in Nottingham before he is arrested by the Sheriff’s men. Aled explores an ancient dungeon underneath the National Justice Museum that could just possibly have been where Robin was held. JB Gill visits Pulp Friction, a Nottinghamshire charity that aims to help people with learning difficulties to develop skills for employment. Having started with a bike that uses pedal power to make smoothies, the enterprise has grown and now runs the canteen at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters. For many of the volunteers it’s a reflection of what Jesus did – loving and empowering those who are often marginalised. And we meet Goose, a former paratrooper who rides a motorbike known as The Preacher – it’s a custom bike covered in scripture and artwork of Jesus. Goose explains how he uses his own experience to support ex-military personnel in his new role for the charity Care After Combat. With wonderful hymns old and new from Nottingham's Albert Hall.
Katherine Jenkins visits one of Britain’s most eco-friendly churches and meets the Christians who are caring for God’s creation by going green. Josie d’Arby joins a crafty family who are turning old glass and lead into beautiful, eco-friendly stained-glass creations. As we enter Lent we meet a Christian who went plastic free for 40 days last year, and Katherine discovers how churches are helping third-world farmers as part of Fair Trade Fortnight. Katherine also finds out how an inner-city church in London is saving energy and has brought wildlife back into the heart of the capital. Music: All Things Bright and Beautiful, St Michael’s Church, Southampton I The Lord of Sea and Sky, St Elisabeth’s Church, Reddish Beautiful One, Ruach City Church, Brixton All Creatures of Our God and King, The Church of St Cross, Winchester In Christ Alone, Aled Jones and Russell Watson Praise to the Lord, The Almighty, St Patrick's Church, Dungannon Immortal Invisible, St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
It’s the first Sunday of Lent and Sean Fletcher visits the university city of Oxford to take on a generosity challenge where, instead of giving something up for Lent, he joins in with a new movement of Christians who ‘give back’. At the St Aldates Centre he serves a meal for others and helps to improve a local garden. Claire McCollum meets Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin and hears about the meaning of this important time for Christians, and how it is marked in many churches. And Mary Foley, whose daughter was tragically murdered, explains how her Christian faith helped her on a journey of forgiveness. Hymns and songs come from around the UK and include Crown Him With Many Crowns, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, and the Wesley favourite And Can It Be.
Katherine Jenkins visits the Titanic Quarter in Belfast for St Patrick’s Day. She learns about the rich history of the area once occupied by the Harland and Wolff Shipyard, where Titanic was built. On board the Titanic’s tender vessel, the SS Nomadic, she meets Maureen McKinney, whose grandfather worked on the construction of the famous liner. Katherine also visits the Dock Cafe at the heart of the growing new community of Titanic Quarter. Supported by six different Christian denominations, it runs as an honesty cafe, where customers pay whatever they feel is fair, and hosts a weekly event for international residents. On St Patrick’s Day, Claire McCollum visits a unique Belfast church that’s built in the shape of a shamrock. The rector tells Claire how Ireland’s patron saint used the simple shamrock to explain the doctrine of the holy trinity as he preached across Ireland in the fifth century. Music To God Be The Glory – St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen Be Still And Know That I Am God – St Colmcille’s, Holywood I Bind Unto Myself Today – St Patrick's Church, Dungannon What A Friend We Have In Jesus – Banbridge, Northern Ireland Bless This House – Margaret Keys (performance) This Is Amazing Grace – Green Pastures Church, Ballymena – led by Nathan Jess Be Thou My Vision – St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon
Claire McCollum hears the story of the largest Lampedusa cross in the UK, and how it has become a symbol of hope for thousands of asylum seekers. She meets the woman whose vision of a drop in centre for the homeless and the lonely has become a reality. JB Gill is on the university campus talking to students about the role of faith in their lives and he pays a visit to the National Library to learn about the Welshman who wrote the much loved hymn Guide me o Thou Great Redeemer. Music: Here I Am to Worship – Aberystwyth Arts Centre When I Needed a Neighbour – Christ Church, Port Sunlight Jesu Lover of My Soul – Aberystwyth Arts Centre The Church’s One Foundation – St. Asaph Cathedral Beauty for Brokenness – St Elisabeth’s Church, Reddish Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer - Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church Praise Is Rising – Aberystwyth Arts Centre
To celebrate Mothering Sunday, Katherine Jenkins visits the National Trust’s Tyntesfield Estate in Somerset to find out more about the history of this Christian festival, to learn how to make the traditional Simnel cake and to explore the stunning Gothic chapel there. We meet the remarkable mother who, in a lifetime dedicated to caring, has fostered over 800 children, and we hear from a group of mothers who came up with a clever solution to the challenge of helping their disabled adult children leave home and live independently. The music reflects this special day, and there’s a very personal new song from Katherine, inspired by the birth of her son.
For the fifth Sunday of Lent, Sean Fletcher is in Brighton with Christian music-makers whose faith inspires their work, and Josie d’Arby meets a music therapist. Church musician Simon Lole describes how faith and music have inspired him through a time of illness, and Katherine Jenkins performs How Great Thou Art. Music: Before the Throne of God Above – Eastbourne Bandstand. Led by Lou Fellingham and band How Deep the Father’s Love – Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester Living Lord – Blackburn Cathedral He Turned It – performed by Shalom Chorale Everything Is Possible – St Thomas The Martyr, Newcastle led by Philippa Hanna How Great Thou Art – performed by Katherine Jenkins Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Eastbourne Bandstand. Led by Lou Fellingham and band.
Aled Jones and a choir of Christians make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land to walk in Jesus's last steps, visiting some of the most sacred Christian sites on the planet. These include the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried and resurrected. All our hymns are sung by our choir in Jerusalem. Shaun Escoffery, star of the West End musical The Lion King, performs Andrew Lloyd Webber’s song Gethsemane, from Jesus Christ Superstar. Music: My Song is Love Unknown, Songs of Praise Choir and local Jerusalem singers in St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem Ride On! Ride On In Majesty!, Songs of Praise Choir in the Tower of David, Jerusalem Tell Me the Story of Jesus, Songs of Praise Choir in the Tower of David, Jerusalem Gethsemane, Shaun Escoffery in Kidron Valley, Jerusalem When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Songs of Praise Choir in the Tower of David, Jerusalem All Glory, Laud and Honour, Songs of Praise Choir and local Jerusalem singers in St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem
In an Easter Sunday special filmed in Jerusalem, Aled Jones and Helen Bond, professor of Christian origins, visit the sacred site where many Christians believe Jesus’s resurrection happened over 2,000 years ago. With Easter hymns recorded in the Holy Land, and special performances by Aled Jones, West End star Shaun Escoffery and English soprano Laura Wright.
After the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, many of which deliberately targeted worshipping Christians, we meet members of the Sri Lankan Christian community in the UK who share their grief, their prayers and their hopes for a better future. Also following the major fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Josie d’Arby asks how it’s possible to recover from such disasters, revealing how Britain’s York Minister was rebuilt following a similar incident 35 years ago. She also explores some of the nation’s great galleries and discovers how the Christian faith is celebrated and expressed through art. In the National Gallery she meets Ben Quash, Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London, to discuss Caravaggio’s famous depiction of the resurrected Jesus at Emmaus as an example of art’s power to illuminate scripture. He tells Josie about a new free online resource which uses art to explore the Bible. Josie also meets National Gallery director Gabriele Finaldi in front of one of the gallery’s most precious treasures, The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo Da Vinci. Exactly 500 years since Leonardo’s death, Gabriele explains why his work is so revered and how his painting has a deep impact on people of faith. At St Martin in the Fields, Josie meets Christian painter Oliver Pengilley, who often paints during church services as an act of worship. He explains how he believes God sends him images to paint and that God uses his art to speak to people. Oliver paints a picture and the finished piece is revealed at the end of the programme. Hymns: Praise to the Holiest In the Height – Our Lady’s Church, York Ave Maria – Mary-Jess and Joanna Forest We cannot measure how you heal – Southwark Cathedral Angel Voices Ever Singing – Pershore Abbey God I look to you – Aberystwyth Arts Centre Praise My Soul The King of Heaven – St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell
The Reverend Kate Bottley is in the north east to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cleveland Way, one of Britain’s favourite national trails. She joins a group walking the part known as the pilgrimage route, from Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx Abbey. There she speaks to historian Dr Michael Carter to discover what life was like for the 600 monks who lived there during the 12th century, and Katherine Jenkins performs John Rutter’s beautiful Gaelic Blessing among the ruins of the abbey. JB Gill is north of the Cleveland Way in Middlesbrough, at a restaurant giving people a second chance in life, and we visit Scargill House in Yorkshire, the Christian centre that’s been welcoming visitors for 60 years. Plus music from all around the country, celebrating the beauty of God’s creation. Music Praise To The Lord The Almighty – Our Lady’s Church, York For The Beauty Of The Earth – Church of St Cross, Winchester We Say Yes – Aberystwyth Arts Centre Joyful, Joyful – Finalists from the Gospel Choir of the Year 2018 Let Us Build A House – St Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen Gaelic Blessing – Katherine Jenkins On Eagles Wings – Our Lady’s Church, York
Sean Fletcher visits the 20,000-strong Christian event Spring Harvest in Minehead, Somerset, for its 40th anniversary. Sean speaks to those who have been running the event for four decades and hears how it inspires and equips thousands of Christians to learn more about their faith. Radzi Chinyanganya meets a family in Manchester whose lives were radically changed by attending Spring Harvest – it inspired them to move home and start running a community project. With worship songs from the event as well as hymns from around the UK. Music: This Is Amazing Grace – led by Andy Smith at Spring Harvest, Minehead Meekness and Majesty – led by Graham Kendrick at St David’s Church, Exeter Lord I Lift Your Name On High – St Elisabeth’s Church, Reddish The Servant King – Our Lady’s Church, York Amazing Grace – Albert Hall, Nottingham Knowing You Jesus – Kendal Parish Church Living Hope - led by Andy Smith at Spring Harvest, Minehead
It’s the junior semi-final of the 2019 Songs of Praise Young Choir of the Year competition from Victoria Hall in Bolton. Five fabulous choirs made up of singers aged 12 and under sing for a place in the grand final in a fortnight’s time. They’re hoping to impress the expert panel of judges: Russell Watson, Carrie Grant and JB Gill. Music: Circles of Motion – Bax Choir, Heath Mount School The Gospel Train - Blackheath Preparatory School Chamber Choir How Can I Keep From Singing- Kent College Choristers Kumbaya -Perfect Pitch Chariot’s Comin’! ( Swing Low Sweet Chariot)- Amherst School Choir My Jesus, My Saviour – Junior Semi Finalists
Six of the best young choirs in the country compete in the final of the Songs of Praise Young Choir of the Year competition at Victoria Hall in Bolton, presented by Aled Jones. They’re hoping to impress the expert panel of judges, Classical Brit award-winner Russell Watson, celebrity vocal coach Carrie Grant and Mobo award-winner JB Gill from JLS, and be named the Junior and Senior champions for 2019. I’m Goin' Up a Yonder - Bax Choir, Heath Mount School The Lamb - Amherst School Choir Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet - Perfect Pitch Faithful One - Francis Holland School Senior Chamber Choir Steal Away - Tring Park Choir Shine Down - NChant, The Rochester Grammer School How Great Thou Art - Aled Jones and Russell Watson
On 6th June 1944 the largest invasion force ever assembled landed on the beaches of Normandy. D-Day, as it became known, was a turning point in the Second World War that led to the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe, but it came at a heavy cost. Almost a hundred thousand of the Allied forces and local civilians lost their lives on that day and in the fierce Battle of Normandy that followed. To mark this 75th anniversary, Aled travels to Normandy with 93-year-old Christian veteran Harry Billinge, who was just 18 on D-Day. He is aware this is one of the last trips he will make. On Gold Beach, where Harry came ashore, he recalls the sound of the guns and the memories of the men he fought alongside, as well as those in his group who were killed. And later, in the immaculate war cemeteries in Bayeux, Harry shares with Aled memories of how he used to pray with his fellow soldiers in the heat of battle and how his faith has helped him in his tireless efforts not to forget those who gave their lives. Former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers visits the Imperial War Museum in Duxford to read the diary of chaplain Leslie Skinner, a Methodist Minister who was the first Padre to land on D-Day. He meets Padre Skinner’s daughter Annette and hears how this modest man carried 46 wounded men back to boats, even though he was injured himself, and how his Bible - tucked carefully away - took a bullet and saved his life. We also learn about the top secret planning for D-Day that began years before the invasion at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. Home of the genius code-breakers including Alan Turing and Bill Tutte, Bletchley Park decoded millions of intercepted enemy messages giving invaluable intelligence to the forces on the frontline. We hear from 95-year-old Christian veteran Rena Stewart about her time at Bletchley and how after living through war, peace becomes even more precious. The episode has a very special performance of Abide With Me from Aled Jones on the beaches and a
For Father’s Day, Sean Fletcher is in London to meet a dad whose personal sacrifice saved his son’s life when he donated a kidney in a televised operation watched by millions. We hear how music-making has strengthened one father’s bond with his son, and we discover how a mobile youth club, based on a bus, is bringing faith, hope and positive role models to teenagers. Laura Wright visits St Pancras station to sing along with a pianist who plays hymns to entertain passers-by, and we launch the vote to find the UK’s favourite hymn. Music: Lord of All Hopefulness – Southwark Cathedral Total Praise – LSO St Luke’s London How Deep the Father’s Love – Kendal Parish Church The Lion and the Lamb – Aberystwyth Arts Centre What a Beautiful Name – Performed by Laura Wright Give Thanks – Warwick Rd URC Coventry Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Pershore Abbey
The Rev. Kate Bottley visits New Lanark, 25 miles south of Glasgow, where in 1786 Christian businessman David Dale ran one of the most successful cotton mills in Scottish history. Kate meets with Paige Hughes from the New Lanark Trust to discuss how Dale’s faith impacted the way he managed his workers, providing high quality accommodation and giving the child workers an education and encouraging them to attend church. Claire McCollum meets Susan Boyle, who is currently celebrating ten years in show business. And in Alloa, Kate visits St Mungo’s Church as it marks its 200th anniversary. She meets the Rev. Sang Cha to learn how the church is engaging with the local community to help support their brand new youth initiative, Connect Alloa. Music O Worship the King – Glasgow Cathedral Spirit of God Unseen as the Wind – Stockbridge Church, Edinburgh Beauty for Brokenness – Paisley Abbey Immortal Invisible – Perth Cathedral, St Ninians’s Jesus Christ Is Waiting - Glasgow Cathedral Amazing Grace – Susan Boyle Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - Glasgow Cathedral
On 1st July 1969, a 20-year-old Prince Charles was formally invested with the title The Prince of Wales in Caernarfon Castle. It was an event watched by a worldwide audience of half a billion people. 50 years on, Katherine Jenkins returns to the historic castle to reflect on that momentous occasion and to explore the rich religious history of North Wales, including discovering a 700-year-old book of worship preserved in Bangor University. Along the coast from Caernarfon, local Christian Jay Lusted shares how his faith has helped him to accept his physical disability. Born with a rare form of dwarfism, he explains how he believes God made him for a purpose and helped him realise his dreams of becoming an actor and having a family of his own. Pam Rhodes explores a subject close to Prince Charles’s heart today – the plight of persecuted Christians. She reflects on a special service she attended with Prince Charles in Westminster Abbey which highlighted the suffering and challenges faced by many Christians. She then meets Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church and a Christian family who fled Pakistan to hear first-hand accounts of religious persecution. With hymns and worship songs from across Wales. Come, Now Is the Time to Worship – Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor Thy Hand O God Has Guided – Bangor Cathedral In Heavenly Love Abiding – St Asaph Cathedral Here Is Love Vast as the Ocean – Tenby Harbour This Is Amazing Grace - Aberystwyth Ars Centre When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – performed by Katy Treharne Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah – St Asaph Cathedral
The Rev Kate Bottley is at Glastonbury, home of the world famous music festival, to meet its Christian founder Michael Eavis. Kate finds out how it all began, and how the Somerset farmer’s faith has been important to him throughout the growth of the event. Also, Kate finds out how this summer, for the very first time, the Quakers are pitching a tent on the Glastonbury site for festivalgoers to experience Quaker worship. She meets Jon, who’s heading up the Quaker team, to hear why a Christian denomination known for silent meditation has decided to come to one of the country’s loudest events. Plus there’s another chance to see when Josie d’Arby met Chris Sayburn, the head of worship for one of the biggest Christian gatherings in the UK, New Wine, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this summer. We also catch up with the man behind the plans to build a new British Christian landmark, the Wall of Answered Prayer, now that the winning design has been chosen. With hymns and songs come from across the UK.To God Be The Glory - Eastbourne Blinded By Your Grace - Stormzy at Glastonbury Festival Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind - St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen Holy, Holy, Holy - St Elizabeth’s Church, Reddish Spirit And Truth - New Wine Lord Of The Dance - Christ Church, Birkenhead Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven - Tenby Harbour
Sean Fletcher and the Rev Kate Bottley hear how the Christian faith sustains those affected by cancer, including former Blue Peter host and TV presenter Simon Thomas, Baptist minister the Rev Andy Stammers, campaigner Della Ogunleye and cancer specialist nurse Mary Mountford-Lister. Sean visits Maggie's Oxford, a centre that specialises in support and care for those diagnosed with cancer. Kate meets a support group for black women who are dealing with effects of breast cancer. Music includes In Christ Alone, Break Every Chain, God Is Love His The Care, and Keep You Here, a special song from Stuart Townend written after his late brother's cancer diagnosis. Music: Crown Him with Many Crowns from Holy Trinity Platt Church, Manchester I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say from All Saints Church, Cheltenham In Christ Alone from Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor Keep You Here by Stuart Townend & Family Break Every Chain from Birmingham Christian Centre God Is Love, His the Care from St James the Greater, Leicester.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing Claire McCollum reveals the extraordinary story of how astronaut Buzz Aldrin took Holy Communion on the moon. The programme visits Ely Cathedral, where a giant replica of the moon is on display as part of their science festival. A former British NASA engineer, who worked on the space programme, gives his first-hand account of the Apollo 11 mission, and in Ely itself, we visit the house where Oliver Cromwell lived at the start of the English Civil War. Plus there’s the launch of the Young Choir of the Year Competition 2020. Music How Great Thou Art – Hereford Cathedral Abide With Me – Glasgow Cathedral Indescribable – Holy Trinity Platt Manchester O Lord Of Every Shining Constellation – Christ Church Port Sunlight Underneath The Stars – Voces 8 All People That On Earth Do Dwell – Old Royal Naval College Greenwich Immortal, Invisible – St Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen
Aled Jones visits the annual MotoFest event in Coventry, a huge free festival of motoring, car racing and exhibitions in the city centre. He meets its founder James Noble, a former car industry expert who is now a church leader. Local singer Rob Halligan explains how Coventry Cathedral inspired him to write songs, and the Reverend Kate Bottley meets young Christian entrepreneurs helping the city’s refugees. Most of the hymns and songs come from Warwick Road United Reformed Church, also in Coventry.
Katherine Jenkins visits St Mary’s University Twickenham, the oldest Catholic University in the UK, to explore the power of faith. Radzi Chinyanganya is in Trafalgar Square for the Christian family festival Thy Kingdom Come. Here, church leaders including the archbishop of Canterbury and thousands of Christians from across London unite in prayer and worship. Radzi also visits the Sutton Eagles pan-disability football club to find out how faith and football are helping 16-year-old Thomas. Music Jerusalem – St Elisabeth’s Church, Reddish Thy Hand O God Has Guided – Glasgow Cathedral Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah – Tenby Harbour Bless The Lord – LSO St Luke’s The Lord’s Prayer – Only Boys Aloud All Things Bright And Beautiful – St Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Eastbourne Bandstand with Lou Fellingham
The Rev. Kate Bottley gets a taste of life on campus at Ripon College in Oxfordshire, where for over 160 years Christians have trained for the priesthood. She meets a heavy metal singer whose life changed direction when she felt God calling her to become a vicar. There’s another chance to hear the moving testimony of Baroness Lawrence whose son Stephen was tragically murdered in 1993. We meet up with her again to hear about the exciting new research centre she has helped set up in memory of her son. We look back on Kate's meeting with an inspirational couple whose Christian calling involved alpacas and running a community house in Birmingham. We catch up with them to find out how their brand new Church in a Yurt is helping transform their neighbourhood. Our music comes from right across the UK and celebrates the theme of God’s calling on the lives of Christians. Music Rejoice the Lord Is King - Kendal Parish Church Will You Come and Follow Me - Stockbridge Church, Edinburgh We Seek Your Kingdom - Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes Be Still for the Presence of the Lord - St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish Be Thou My Vision – Holy Trinity Platt Church, Manchester Locus Iste – The Templar Scholars We Say Yes - Aberystwyth Arts Centre
During the summer wedding season, Claire McCollum celebrates faith and marriage by visiting a couple in Cheshire whose church wedding was staged for just a thousand pounds thanks to Christian volunteers from the congregation. The Rev. Kate Bottley meets members of the United Reformed Church who three years ago voted to allow same-sex marriages in their churches, and a Christian same-sex couple who are able to marry in church as a result of this change. JB Gill discovers the secret of a successful marriage with a couple who share very different beliefs – Aidan is an avowed atheist but his wife Jennie is a committed Christian. Popular wedding hymns come from across the UK including Praise My Soul The King of Heaven and Love Divine.
Claire McCollum explores the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales via motortrike and meets the Christian woman behind the trike tours who feels close to God whilst on three wheels. They make a stop at a spiritual landmark, Jervaulx Abbey. We look back on the Rev. Kate Bottley’s visit to the Yorkshire coast, when she found out about the patron saint of Whitby, St Hilda, whose life and teachings inspired the community of nuns living in the area. We pop back to see how the sisters have settled into their new building, which was being built when we last visited. There’s also another chance to see when Kate visited one of the largest agricultural shows in the UK, the Great Yorkshire Show, and met up with Christian farmer Kate Dale. A year on, we catch up with Kate at her farm in the Vale of York. Claire’s final stop on her trike tour of the Yorkshire Dales is Wensleydale Creamery, where she finds out about the famous Wensleydale cheese invented hundreds of years ago by Cistercian monks. Claire sees how the monks’ recipe is still used today, and gets to sample some of the cheese herself. With hymns and worship music from across Yorkshire and beyond.
Aled Jones visits the magnificent Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire. Often described as the finest Elizabethan house in all of England, Aled discovers how Christianity is woven through Burghley’s 450-year history and explores some of its most spectacular features including the ornately painted hell staircase and heaven room. From one fine country house to another – ahead of the premiere of the Downton Abbey movie, Aled meets its creator and writer Lord Julian Fellowes. In Brompton Oratory, a chapel where Lord Fellowes often worships, he tells Aled about the film and his Catholic faith. And back in Lincolnshire, Sean Fletcher marks 45 years since the disaster at the Flixborough chemical plant. He meets survivor John Irvine, who was blinded in the explosion, and finds out how he came to faith in the years that followed. With hymns from St Martin’s Church in Stamford, including O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.
Katherine Jenkins explores 'heavenly designs' 350 years after Christopher Wren’s began work on his masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral. She meets Christian architect Niall McLauglin, who specialises in sacred buildings and explains why Wren remains such an inspiration to him. The Dean of St Paul's describes the time the cathedral nearly lost its iconic dome, and jewellery designer Ruth Mary Chipperfield explains how her faith informs her work. Josie d’Arby meets the Christian modern art collective Morphé Arts, which supports young artists embarking upon their careers. And Christian couple Rev. Dr Giles and Kate Kendall show how the faith-inspired design of their zero-carbon vicarage is leading the way in sustainability. Hymns and songs come from across the UK and include Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation and Cornerstone.
In this special episode, the Reverend Kate Bottley visits the sacred Christian pilgrimage site of Lourdes in south west France, revealing how she first went as a child. Each year around six million people make a pilgrimage to this small town where many believe miracles can happen. Back in 1858 a young girl saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, in a grotto on the edge of her village of Lourdes, and ever since many Christians have considered it to be a place of spiritual and physical healing. We hear the remarkable story of one man who believes his terminal illness was cured here over 50 years ago. Around 100 people each year claim to have been cured in Lourdes, and Kate meets Dr Alessandro Franciscis from the International Medical Committee of Lourdes, who assess people’s claims to have been miraculously healed. A highlight of the trip for Kate is when she joins a pilgrim from the Leeds diocese and together they bathe in the holy waters. And music from around the UK, including a stunning performance of Ave Maria from Mary Jess and Joanna Forest. Music: Praise To The Holiest In The Height – Our Lady’s Church, York We Cannot Measure How You Heal – Stockbridge Church, Edinburgh Ave Maria – Mary-Jess and Joanna Forest I Will Give Thanks – Aberystwyth Arts Centre Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace – All Saints’ Church, Northampton Christ Be Our Light – St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon Tell Out My Soul – St John The Baptist, Tideswell
The Rev Kate Bottley visits the magnificent Norwich Cathedral to discover how a 50-foot helter-skelter in the nave is attracting families, allowing them to see the beautiful ceiling sculptures and bringing the Bible to life in a new way. She meets Canon Andy Bryant, the man behind the idea of installing the helter-skelter, and cathedral dean Jane Hedges, who explains that the cathedral’s central purpose has always been to offer a sacred place where all can reflect and celebrate the whole of life. A short walk from the cathedral, Kate embarks on a personal pilgrimage to St Julian’s church to learn more about the city’s most famous daughter, Julian of Norwich, a medieval Christian mystic who wrote down her reflections on the visions of Christ she received in 1373. Still inspiring Christians today, Julian’s book Revelations of Divine Love is the oldest English book written by a woman. At a time when many churches are celebrating their harvest festival, Kate also travels into the Norfolk countryside to join farmer Robert More and help bring in his wheat harvest. Robert’s family have been working the same land for over 300 years, and he tells Kate how his strong Christian faith has helped him through the tough times and why he is always thankful to God at harvest time. New presenter Simon Thomas returns to Norfolk – his home county – to discover the remarkable East Anglian tradition of angel roofs. In the parish church of Swaffham, he is introduced to 192 beautifully carved wooden angels that have looked over worshippers for over 500 years. Simon discovers the powerful symbolism of angels in Christianity’ past and present.
Claire McCollum visits St George’s cathedral in Hertfordshire to meet members of the UK’s thriving Coptic Orthodox community and to discover how its roots can be traced all the way back to first-century Egypt. She meets archbishop Angaelos to discover how the Coptic Orthodox tradition fits in the worldwide family of the Church and what makes their worship unique. She learns that they have a pope and that the tradition was the cradle of monasticism. Claire also meets Fadi Mikhail, a young iconographer whose work can be seen in churches and cathedrals across the world. He explains the great significance of icons in worship and the deeply spiritual experience of creating them. In central London, young Coptic Orthodox Christians speak about putting their faith into action through the Coptic City Mission. Each week for the past 20 years the group has run a project to help the homeless, offering food, company and long-term support. And Laura Wright meets classical-crossover stars the Ayoub Sisters. She asks them about growing up in a Coptic Orthodox family in Glasgow and how the worship of their church influences their music today. The sisters then perform a beautiful arrangement of an Arabic hymn. With hymns and songs from across the UK celebrating the truths that unite the worldwide family of God.
Aled Jones travels to the Isle of Wight, famous for music festivals, yacht racing and as the family home of Queen Victoria. On the day that Cardinal John Newman is declared a saint, the Rev Kate Bottley finds out all about him by visiting one of his enduring legacies, the Oratory in Birmingham, and she talks to members of the Catholic church about the significance of his canonisation to Christians everywhere. Aled takes to the sea around the Isle of Wight with Christian sailing couple Rick and Angie Ganley, whose adventures at sea have brought them closer to God. Rick tells the story of how his faith helped him through a near death experience, and both reflect on the peace and proximity to God they enjoy whilst out on the water. Also in the programme we hear from a Christian who lives on the Isle of Wight and has dedicated her life to writing and illustrating books about Jesus for children. We learn about the history of Northwood House, which was transformed from a luxurious summer residence into a stately home and then into a sanctuary for an exiled order of nuns and the wounded of two world wars. There’s congregational singing from the grounds of Northwood House and two hymns written by Cardinal John Newman, to mark the day of his canonisation. Music Will Your Anchor Hold – The Wight Proms, Isle of Wight Praise to the Holiest in the Height – Our Lady’s Church, York The Lord’s My Shepherd - The Wight Proms, Isle of Wight I, the Lord of Sea and Sky – The Wight Proms, Isle of Wight Lead, Kindly Light – Arundel Cathedral God I Look to You – Aberystwyth Arts Centre The Day Thou Gavest – The Wight Proms, Isle of Wight
The Rev. Kate Bottley visits the beautifully restored Gorton Monastery in Manchester. Songs of Praise has followed the story of this magnificent Franciscan church and friary over many years and has witnessed its transformation from ruin to restoration. In the latest chapter of the story, Kate hears how new research is revealing the monastery to be a fine example of sacred geometry in architecture. For centuries, people have observed that certain ratios and proportions are found again and again in the natural world. These phenomena are known by some as sacred geometry because they are believed to replicate the architecture of the creator. Many sacred buildings have been designed along these principles and now Gorton Monastery is being recognised as one of the best examples. Kate also visits the Oasis Centre in Gorton, a Christian project at the heart of the community that offers everything from free meals to crisis support and literacy lessons. It was set up by Victoria Armstrong, who tells Kate that it all began when she came to Gorton as a student and had an extraordinary encounter with God. 26 years on, she’s still in Gorton and the community have just raised £1.1 million for a brand new, purpose-built centre. Bishop of Manchester David Walker shares his childhood memories of Gorton Monastery and tells Kate about a new initiative to help the homeless this winter. Churches of all denominations across the city are coming together and working with the Muslim community to open churches and mosques as night shelters throughout the coming months. And JB Gill is in the centre of Manchester meeting those behind a new Christian movement that aims to reconnect the Church with the radical teachings of Jesus. The movement is called Red Letter Christians, a name inspired by Bibles that print Jesus’s words in red. JB meets the founders, US Christian activists Dr Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne, as well as the British church leaders that are bringing the movement to th
Katherine Jenkins is in the picturesque county of Pembrokeshire in Wales, where she visits one of the smallest chapels in Britain, perched on a sea cliff and built in memory of the hermit monk St Govan. Katherine performs Make Me a Channel of Your Peace in front of St. Govan’s tiny seaside chapel. We follow the journey of a brand new statue of Wales’s patron saint, St David, from its birthplace in Wales to its new home in the Valley of the Saints in France and hear about the inspiration that drove its sculptor. Katherine also takes a historical tour around the Bishops Palace close to St Davids, once the most majestic building in Wales. Radzi Chinyanganya visits a Christian retreat in the north of the county to meet Chrissie Bailey, who attributes her recovery from a debilitating illness to the power of prayer she experienced there. Plus rousing congregational singing from the cathedral in St Davids and from around the country.
Singer Russell Watson tells Aled Jones how a near-death experience transformed his Christian faith. Born and bred in Salford, Russell explains how he took his first musical steps and then got his big break when he began to perform at sporting events. He quickly became affectionately known as the Voice. However, at the height of his career, Russell was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and although a successful operation saved his life, this brush with his own mortality was to change him. Russell is reunited with the Christian surgeon who saved his life and he reveals how, after his illness, his faith became stronger. At his home, Russell and Aled reflect on music, singing and faith, and Russell's family describe how his life has changed since he became a person of faith. This special episode also features performances by Aled and Russell, including In Christ Alone, The Lord's My Shepherd and Ave Maria. Other hymns include Be Thou My Vision and My Jesus My Saviour.
Katherine Jenkins marks Remembrance Sunday by visiting the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) near Lichfield in Staffordshire to see how its tranquil surroundings bring comfort and hope to those who’ve lost loved ones in the armed forces. Sean Fletcher hears from Chelsea Pensioner and Britain’s Got Talent winner Colin Thackery, who performs a special arrangement of the inspirational song You Raise Me Up. The chaplain at the NMA explains how the loss of his young son gives him empathy for those coming to remember loved ones. Katherine discovers how faith sustains a trustee of the War Widows Association whose husband died in the Falklands conflict. And Sean meets a young soldier who found comfort from New Testament words in a treasured family Bible, as he mourned the loss of his friend in the Afghanistan conflict. Music: O God Our Help in Ages Past, from Salvation Army, Sale, Manchester For the Healing of the Nations, from Christ Church, Birkenhead Abide With Me, from St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen I Vow to Thee My Country, performed by members of Military Wives Choirs in St Michael’s Church, Southampton Eternal Father Strong to Save, from St Michael’s Church, Southampton You Raise Me Up, performed by Colin Thackery at the National Memorial Arboretum O Christ the Same, from St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen
YolanDa Brown hosts a highlight in the Songs of Praise calendar, the Gospel Choir of the Year competition 2019. In the first of two programmes, five of the best amateur choirs from across the country take to the stage at Reading Town Hall to sing in front of this year’s judges. Our gospel choirs have to impress three new judges - leading gospel vocal coach Mark De-Lisser, West End star Brenda Edwards and pop icon Rick Astley. This year the choirs are from all around the country. From Hull comes G Choir, from Preston in Lancashire it’s One Voice Community Choir, there’s Cambridge University Gospel Choir, from Coventry Nexus ICA Gospel Choir, and in their home town is Reading Community Gospel Choir. Plus we have a guest performance from MOBO award winner Lurine Cato. Which choir will be your favourite?
YolanDa Brown hosts the grand final of the Gospel Choir of the Year competition 2019. Five of the best amateur choirs in the country perform at Reading Town Hall. Our choirs have to impress leading vocal coach Mark De-Lisser, West End musical theatre star Brenda Edwards and pop icon Rick Astley. The choirs are G Choir from Hull, One Voice Community Choir from Preston, Cambridge University Gospel Choir, Nexus ICA Gospel Choir from Coventry and Reading Community Gospel Choir, and the highlight of the programme comes when all five choirs join together to perform I Go to the Rock, led by one of the biggest names in British gospel music, Lurine Cato.
For the first Sunday of Advent, Sean Fletcher visits a Christmas fair in the stunning Blair Castle in Perthshire and meets Christians preparing for the Christmas season. TV star and singer John Barrowman reflects on his personal faith and performs a song close to his heart, Be Thou My Vision. Sean also meets stallholder Jean Alexander, who makes unique teddy bears. Her faith has sustained her and helped her to forgive those who killed her husband in 1997. Sean learns about the Christian history of the Blair Castle estate from archivist Keren Guthrie. In Aberdeenshire, Claire McCollum joins ultra-marathon runner Mark Calder to raise awareness of Christians living in Iraq. Together, they reflect on peace during the advent season. Advent hymns and songs include Hills of the North Rejoice, Here I Am To Worship, and Come Down O Love Divine.
Claire McCollum steps back in time to experience an Edwardian Christmas at Beamish open-air museum near Durham. From carol singing in the old pit village to making seasonal sweets, Claire discovers how faith was at the heart of festive traditions a century ago. She also speaks to Rev. Rachel Mann about Christina Rosetti, the remarkable woman who wrote one of the nation’s favourite carols, In the Bleak Midwinter. JB Gill meets Jonathan Bryan, an extraordinary young Christian who is telling his story against all odds. Jonathan, 13, has severe cerebral palsy and is able only to move his eyes, and yet by picking letters from a special board with the movements of his eyes he is able to communicate and has now written an autobiography. He wants to tell the world about his life and his faith in Jesus. JB finds out why Christmas is especially important to Jonathan. With wonderful music for the second Sunday in Advent and an exclusive performance by Rick Astley.
Claire McCollum is in Belfast for a Big Sing spectacular from the fabulous Assembly Hall. With special guest performances from Dana, Margaret Keys and The Priests. Hymns with Irish origins include Be Thou My Vision and In Christ Alone.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits the New Room in Bristol, which, despite its name, is the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world. It is where John Wesley began the Methodist movement over 250 years ago. Kate speaks to historian Gary Best and learns about Wesley’s radical preaching and passion for social justice. She finds out about how he devised a special ‘covenant’ service that is still used by millions of Christians to mark each new year. Kate also meets 19-year-old Thelma Commey, the current Youth President of the Methodist Church, to hear what the covenant service means to young Methodists today. The determination to help the poor and marginalised was continued by many of John Wesley’s Methodist clergy, and Sean Fletcher goes to London to discover a story that began exactly 150 years ago. Methodist minister Rev Thomas Bowman Stephenson was so moved by the plight of poor children in Victorian London that he set up a home for them. It quickly grew to become the National Children’s Home and is now the charity Action for Children. Sean visits the spot in east London where the first major home stood and meets the current trustee, Daleep Mukarji. He also chats to Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan to hear about the huge and positive impact he believes living in a Christian children’s home had on his childhood. For Epiphany Sunday, we visit a remarkable project on Teesside. Using the imagery of Epiphany – stars and light in the darkness – One More Light is a community initiative that brings people together through music to raise awareness about mental health and suicide. And back in Bristol, Kate meets four teenage Christians who have just been confirmed as members of their local Methodist church. She finds out what that special step meant to them and why they wanted to join. Music O for a Thousand Tongues - Albert Hall, Nottingham The Creed - Christ Church, Downend, Bristol His Eye Is on the Sparrow - Jermain Jackman I Am the Gentle Light - Ang
Claire McCollum visits the city of Carlisle in Cumbria, exploring its castle’s history dating back to AD72, and meets local Christians aiming to transform the lives of others at home and abroad. She discovers the medieval Christian carvings in the walls of Carlisle Castle and joins archaeologist Dr Humphrey Welfare, whose own parish church is built from the stone of Hadrian’s Wall. Claire also visits the restored St Aidan’s Church, which in 2015 was devastated by major floods in Carlisle. Radzi Chinyanganya meets the Rev. Matt Martinson, a former armed robber whose life was transformed by Christianity. He is now a Church of England vicar with a parish in Carlisle and regularly shares his faith on the streets. And married medic couple Thomas and Hannah explain their faith-led decision to work in the hospitals of Thomas’s homeland, Sierra Leone. Hymns and songs, several of which are from St Cuthbert’s Church in Carlisle, are At the Name of Jesus, As the Deer Pants for the Water, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), Give Me Oil in My Lamp, Breathe On Me Breath of God, Build My Life, and Blessed Assurance.
The Rev. Kate Bottley is in Kinross on the banks of Loch Leven, the largest loch in the Scottish Lowlands. At the RSPB reserve at dawn, she sees thousands of pink-footed geese take flight, and she hears from one of the volunteers about why the goose is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Celtic church. She visits the local children’s hospice, Rachel House, to see their inspirational work, and new Songs of Praise presenter Jay Lusted takes to the skies in a specially adapted glider that enables people with disabilities to experience the exhilaration of flying. There are hymns from around Scotland, and Eddie Reader sings Amazing Grace in the stunning Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire.
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Aled Jones meets Dr James Smith, the Christian co- founder of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Nottingham and hears about the outreach work taking place there with schools and survivors. The programme features Jewish Holocaust survivors now living in the UK, including a German lady who was rescued as a child and then educated in England by the Quakers, and a Polish survivor who witnessed the murder of her aunt by the Nazis. Diane Scupholme tells Aled about the role her father, a chaplain, played in the liberation of Belsen and how the reports written by British chaplains became an important historical record of the cruelty and suffering experienced by those imprisoned in the camps. The Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Olivia Marks-Woldman, tells Pam Rhodes about the special projects and events taking place across the UK to mark this landmark anniversary, and we have hymns from around the country, including Abide With Me from Glasgow Cathedral, The Lord’s My Shepherd from Tideswell in Derbyshire and Make Me a Channel of Your Peace from Northampton.
Katherine Jenkins visits Reading to discover its fascinating Christian history. She explores the ruins of Reading Abbey, once one of the finest churches in Europe, which also has an important role in the history of English music. Katherine hears how a 13th-century manuscript from Reading Abbey contains the oldest English song with musical notation to be sung as a round, and how it could be performed as both a popular song in English or as a hymn of praise in Latin. Kate Bottley visits the magnificent snowdrop gardens of Colesbourne Park in Gloucestershire. She discovers that these simple little flowers were brought to England from Europe and the Middle East by monks because they are a powerful symbol of the Christian feast of Candlemas, which is celebrated on 2 February. Members of the Reading Community Gospel Choir – who recently won the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year competition – share what being in the choir means to them. For some, singing gospel together has completely changed their lives and brought them to faith. And finally Katherine explores an unexpected treasure in Reading Museum – a full scale replica of the Bayeux Tapestry. She meets the volunteer 'stitchers' who repair and maintain many artefacts in the museum and keep alive the same embroidery techniques used to make the original nearly 1,000 years ago. They reveal how a group of Victorian ladies from Staffordshire made the replica, and Katherine speaks to Dr Anna Henderson about the significance of the tapestry and what part faith played in the events of 1066. With many hymns and songs from Reading Town Hall, including another chance to see the winning performance from Reading Community Gospel Choir.
Sean Fletcher is in Whalley Abbey in Lancashire to find out how they, and a minister with Asperger's, are helping others with the condition for this autism-friendly episode. We hear from members of the world’s first performing autistic adult choir to find out what it’s like to sing in the groundbreaking group. Plus hymns and songs from across the UK.
Katherine Jenkins explores sacred inspiration at St Mary’s Kempley in Gloucestershire, home of unique 12th-century Bible paintings. Historian Dr Michael Carter explains their origins and expert Rachel Turnbull reveals the remarkable close-up detail. Katherine also hears about the Chapel of Our Lady in the Crag in North Yorkshire, a tiny space carved into a rock, which has become a place of pilgrimage for many Catholic visitors. JB Gill visits Bloomsbury Baptist Church in London, designed with unusually impressive architecture. He reveals its legacy of sacred music-making and progressive Christian faith. Katherine then meets PJ Crook, celebrated artist to the rock and pop world, who now uses prayer to inspire her paintings, including a beautiful altarpiece she has created for her home church in Gloucestershire.
Sean Fletcher visits Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire to find out how the community is preparing for Lent. He assists the Rev. Claire Lording as she burns last year’s palm crosses ready for the Ash Wednesday service. He hears how members of the local churches go on to the streets offering to pray for passers-by at the Ash Wednesday service. It’s part of a Church of England initiative called Pray One for Me, and the Bishop of Worcester explains how he came up with the idea. Ahead of Shrove Tuesday, Sean joins the Brownies in the Abbey’s community centre, where they are holding a pancake party for friends and family. James Lusted is in Oxford to meet Icolyn Smith the 89-year-old lady who has run the Oxford Soup Kitchen for the past 30 years. Twice a week she cooks meals for the homeless and those in need. Much of our music comes from Pershore Abbey, where Katherine Jenkins leads the congregation in one of the UK’s favourite hymns and the choir, Voces8, perform Drop, Drop, Slow Tears.
In this week’s Songs of Praise, spring is finally in the air! Aled Jones explores the magnificent Kew Gardens in London in the company of one of the nation’s favourite gardeners, Alan Titchmarsh. Alan was a student at Kew 50 years ago and shows Aled one of the rarest plants in the world that was under his care. Thankfully it is still thriving! He also shares memories of presenting Songs of Praise in the 1980s and 1990s and reflects on finding God in nature. Aled also discovers the groundbreaking scientific work happening at Kew, which houses specimens of 96% of the world’s plants. Botanist Dr Olwen Grace explains how the research behind the scenes at Kew could help tackle the effects of climate change. Aled also meets Christian chef Suzanne Kirlew, better known as Kirly Sue, who follows a plant-based diet and specialises in vegan recipes. With Aled’s help she makes vegan cup cakes and explains how, for her, Christian faith and food go hand in hand. Sean Fletcher discovers how apps and podcasts are helping Christians to read the whole Bible in one year, we have hymns and songs from across the UK celebrating the creation of God, and for St David’s Day we have a very special performance from one of Wales’s finest voices, Sir Bryn Terfel.
On International Women’s Day, Katherine Jenkins learns how a 100-year-old charity, Save the Children, was founded by Christian sisters Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton. Author Clare Mulley explains how the sisters’ campaigning work for starving children after the First World War led to the formation of the charity and the establishing of what is now the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Katherine meets Christian medics John and Sally Rawlinson, who were inspired by the story of Eglantyne and Dorothy to work overseas with children and families in the aftermath of the 1972 civil war in Yemen. Children’s author Michelle Sloan introduces her book celebrating women of the Bible to a group of schoolchildren, and JB Gill lends a hand to boutique charity shop manager Eugene Cooper in Wandsworth and hears how the Christian faith motivates him and fellow volunteer Bethany Hendrikse in their charity work. All the hymns and songs this week, from across the UK, are by female writers.
Ahead of St Patrick’s Day, Claire McCollum is in County Down in Northern Ireland. St Patrick isn’t Ireland’s only patron saint, as Claire finds out about the life and work of the lesser-known St Brigid, locally famed for turning tree bark into bacon. One of Belfast’s sons, CS Lewis was inspired by the beautiful landscape of County Down to write his Chronicles of Narnia, and we learn more about his sometimes reluctant Christianity at his home church in East Belfast. Claire discovers how the Anglican Church is encouraging its congregations to take part in a countrywide spring clean. She joins a Christian youth group of Protestants and Catholics in Downpatrick to give them a hand litter-picking for Lent. Plus music from across Northern Ireland and a very special performance of In Christ Alone with Daniel O’Donnell.
To celebrate Mothering Sunday, Katherine Jenkins joins members of the Mothers’ Union at Worthing Hospital to hear about their work providing emergency maternity bags for new mums, and she finds out about the history of this Christian organisation with four million members worldwide. Pam Rhodes meets inspirational mother and daughter Diane and Katie Piper to hear how Katie’s faith helped her to recover from life-threatening injuries following an acid attack in 2008. Twelve-year-old Romeo from London explains why he was inspired to write a book about his mum, Juliet, and her battle with cancer, and there are hymns and songs from around the country.
In a special episode, Aled Jones speaks to the archbishop of York designate, the right rev Stephen Cottrell, about the Christian hope that can still be found despite the troubled times we’re currently in. The new archbishop shares how Bible stories, where people placed their hope in Jesus, still give him inspiration and comfort today. Aled also recalls recent episodes when he met those whose faith saw them through especially challenging times – a mother who survived the Grenfell Tower tragedy and Harry Billinge the Second World War veteran who survived the D-Day landings in 1940. Hymns on a theme of hope and reassurance come from around the UK. Archbishop designate Stephen Cottrell concludes the programme with a special prayer.
For Palm Sunday, Sean Fletcher visits Glasgow Cathedral to discuss Holy Week and hears how this historic building plays a prominent role in the Christian life of the city. Sean visits the Lodging House Mission, which has been helping homeless and disadvantaged citizens of Glasgow for over 100 years. He meets the staff and volunteers there, who put their Christian faith to work helping others, and learns about the holistic approach they take to their guests, which includes health care, dentistry and access to the digital world. Christian artist Iain Campbell discusses his latest project, a series of paintings of the gospel according to St Luke, and there are hymns for Palm Sunday from the congregation at Glasgow Cathedral, as well as a special performance by the Songs of Praise choir recorded in the Holy Land. This episode was recorded before the current lockdown.
Katherine Jenkins is in Birmingham to celebrate Easter Sunday, in an episode recorded before the current restrictions came into effect. She hears how a new church, St Luke’s Gas Street in the heart of Birmingham, has grown in just four years. She meets its leader, Tim Hughes, and a member of its young congregation whose life has been transformed by Christianity. Sean Fletcher talks to former Birmingham City footballer, now pastor, Ricky Otto and hears his story from prison to pitch to pulpit. Sean also learns the skills of making stained-glass windows with a father and son who have been doing it all their lives. With Easter songs and hymns from across the country and a special rendition of a hymn from St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem.
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast Strawberry Field Songs of Praise In a programme filmed before the current restrictions, Aled Jones explores the theme of inclusion by visiting Strawberry Field in Liverpool to discover how the Salvation Army is putting faith into action and embracing its link to John Lennon, who played there as a child. When the Beatles released Strawberry Fields Forever in 1967, many assumed the lyric was simply the product of John Lennon’s imagination, but the song harked back to a place that was very special to Lennon’s childhood. Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army children’s home in Woolton, Liverpool, occupying a grand Victorian house with beautiful grounds. John lived with his Aunt Mimi around the corner and often used to jump over the walls to play in the gardens. It was a place of sanctuary for him. The children’s home closed in 2005, and the Salvation Army felt there was an opportunity to do something new and creative with the site, especially as 60,000 Beatles fans a year were turning up just to take photos by the iconic red gates. Last year they opened a new Strawberry Field centre – a training hub for young people with learning difficulties. There is also a visitor exhibition exploring the site’s links to John Lennon and gardens for spiritual reflection. Aled meets Salvation Army major Kathy Versfeld to hear more about the history of Strawberry Field and its famous visitor, and how the centre is now offering a Christian welcome and a place to reflect for the many visitors who come. Aled also meets trainees on the Strawberry Field 'steps to work' programme, which helps adults with learning difficulties to build skills and find work. Aled also meets Rev Alex Clare-Young, a young minister in the United Reformed Church, who believes part of his calling is to share his story as a transgender Christian. Alex talks openly about his journey from an unhappy childhood - he was told to leave his church as a t
Sean Fletcher introduces highlights of journeys Songs of Praise has made to ancient places of pilgrimage. He looks back at his own journey, walking barefoot across the sands, to the breathtaking abbey of Mont St Michel in northern France, where he discovered why it has been one of Europe’s most important sacred sites for well over 1,000 years. Further south in France, there’s another chance to see Kate Bottley joining the six million pilgrims who visit Lourdes each year. She learns more about the visions of the Virgin Mary that first began drawing people to the site in the 19th century and shares a special experience with a pilgrim who has come to bathe in the waters. Claire McCollum learns more about the spiritual significance of pilgrimage as she climbs Crough Patrick in western Ireland, and Pam Rhodes discovers the unique story of Walsingham – a place of deep spirituality for both Anglicans and Catholics. With wonderful hymns and songs recorded before the current restrictions, celebrating the theme of pilgrimage.
The Rev Kate Bottley looks back on some of Song of Praise’s most moving and uplifting stories from across the farming community. Kate has cream team with a bishop at one of the largest agricultural events in the UK, the Great Yorkshire Show. JB Gill finds out about a church set up in the middle of a farm, and Aled Jones has a go at duck herding. With hymns and worship songs to raise spirits and comfort the soul, including a special performance of a traditional blessing by soprano Margaret Keys. All recorded before the current closure of church buildings.
Katherine Jenkins marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, bishop of Dover, tells us about the role churches played in bringing people together to give thanks when peace was declared. We pay tribute to the forces sweetheart Helen Clare in an interview recorded in 2015, three years before she passed away, and there is another chance to find out how the code crackers at Bletchley Park helped to bring the war to an end. We revisit the Royal Hospital Chelsea to see the stunning chapel designed by Sir Christopher Wren and discover what life is like for the Chelsea pensioners who live there. There are performances from Katherine and Britain’s Got Talent winner and Chelsea pensioner Colin Thackery and hymns from around the country. Recorded before church buildings closed.
Aled Jones meets Songs of Praise conductor Ken Burton to discuss why, in times of difficulty and trouble, the singing of Christian hymns can lift our hearts and soothe our souls. We revisit Sean Fletcher’s meeting with Graham Kendrick, who talked about writing his generation-defining song Shine Jesus Shine in the 1980s. Aled also recalls Pam Rhodes’s meeting with Catholic hymnwriter Bernadette Farrell, and American singer-songwriter and Grammy-winner Michael W Smith reflects on his career and friendship with evangelist Billy Graham. Hymns from the recent Songs of Praise archive include Graham Kendrick’s Shine Jesus Shine, Bernadette Farrell’s Christ Be Our Light, and the contemporary classic In Christ Alone. Recorded before current restrictions.
Katherine Jenkins introduces uplifting stories of faith amidst spectacular scenery as she looks back to when Songs of Praise has explored islands around our beautiful coastline. She begins by looking back to her visit to Caldey Island off the coast near Tenby in south Wales. One of the monks there, Brother David, tells her about the rich Christian history of the island that stretches back over 1,400 years. She also discovers that one of the ways the present community of monks remain self-sufficient is by making their own chocolate – and Katherine happily volunteers to help out. There’s also another chance to see Aled Jones setting sail with Christian sailors off the coast of the Isle of Wight to find out why being out on the ocean brings them closer to God. Aled also looks back at his visit to the Isle of Sheppey off the coast of Kent, where he joined in with teenagers from the local high school as they showed Christian love in action at their award-winning dementia cafe. With great hymns and songs recorded before the current restrictions, including a rousing modern classic from the Isle of Wight proms and a spectacular performance from Katherine Jenkins of How Great Thou Art.
The Rev Kate Bottley celebrates Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. The bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, reveals the meaning and relevance of Pentecost, and we revisit stories that explore the themes of this special day, including transformation. JB Gill meets a tree surgeon who revealed how his faith helped him to overcome drug addiction. Kate visits Loch Leven in Kinross and finds out why the wild goose is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Celtic Christianity, and there’s another opportunity to hear American jazz singer Gregory Porter talk about his faith and music. With hymns from around the country. Recorded before church buildings closed.
Sean Fletcher explores how music and faith can help us through the darkest of times, interviewing Bishop Dr Joe Aldred about the Christian response to the death of George Floyd in the USA. There’s another chance to see memorable stories of faith and music coming together from recent years, as Sean meets people from across the globe, all keen to learn more about gospel music. Julian Lloyd Webber discusses organ music with Sean at the Methodist Central Hall in London, and Kate Bottley meets a Welsh hospital chaplain who touches the lives of patients with dementia by singing Elvis hits. With hymns and songs from all over the UK, recorded before the current closure of church buildings.
Aled Jones is in Pains Hill Park in Surrey looking back at stories of people who find spiritual inspiration in the great outdoors, including the Christian couple Claire McCollum met last summer who take people for trips around the Yorkshire Dales on their motortrike to places including the stunning Jervaulx Abbey. There’s another chance to see Rev Kate Bottley raft-building with the group of young people at the YMCA’s National Centre Lakeside in Windermere. JB Gill takes to the water in a kayak with the minister who is spiritually inspired by the River Tay in Perthshire. We also explore the beauty of God’s creation through the lens of a group of photographers at the beautiful Eycott Hill Nature Reserve in Cumbria. Katherine Jenkins performs Make Me a Channel of Your Peace and there are hymns from around the country. Recorded before church buildings closed. Music O When the Saints, Isle of Wight For the Beauty of the Earth - Kendal Parish Church Give Me Joy in My Heart - Tenby Harbour I Found Jesus - Performed by Steph McLeod All Things Bright and Beautiful - St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell Make Me a Channel of Your Peace - Performed by Katherine Jenkins To God Be the Glory, Eastbourne
For Father’s Day, Sean Fletcher looks back on stories of inspirational dads and father figures putting their Christian love into action. He begins with the story of the London dad whose gift of a kidney saved his son’s life, and how their faith not only sustained them but inspired them to raise awareness about organ donation. There’s also another chance to see how a love of making music together cemented the bond of one father and son and took them all the way to a star appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, and JB Gill meets the Christian youth worker who has spent 58 years being a father figure to young people on the Isle of Sheppey. Sean also reflects on meeting a truly inspirational mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence. In one of his most memorable Songs of Praise moments, Sean spoke to Doreen about her long fight for justice for her son Stephen, how it impacted her faith and about the hymn that has brought her comfort. With a mix of traditional and modern hymns from churches around the UK celebrating the love of God. Filmed before the Covid-19 lockdown.
Claire McCollum shares her love of her home of Northern Ireland by looking back on some of Songs of Praise’s best faith stories from across the region. She revisits the time she spent with a Christian geologist at the spectacular Giant’s Causeway, and when she met a former professional footballer who was called to the priesthood. There is also another chance to see when Katherine Jenkins found out about thriving faith in the historic Titanic Quarter in Belfast, and when JB Gill took to two wheels cycling in Antrim with a group of Christian bikers. With hymns, old and new, recorded across Northern Ireland before the current restrictions.
In the year of Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary and to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the NHS, Katherine Jenkins is in central London to pay tribute to all carers on the frontline. Outside St Thomas’ Hospital, where they celebrate pioneers like Florence Nightingale and her contemporary Mary Seacole, Katherine meets Christian nurses who have been caring for people with Covid-19 throughout the pandemic. She also meets the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who has been volunteering as a chaplain at St Thomas’ during lockdown. He speaks about the role of Christian faith at such a time of loss and uncertainty, and he reflects on the care NHS staff have given to patients, which he has witnessed first-hand. Speaking with Rev Mia Hilborn, head chaplain at St Thomas’, Katherine learns more about the extraordinary legacy of Florence Nightingale, born 200 years ago this year, and how her faith was central to all that she did. And Christian artist Sophie Hacker shows Katherine her design for a new Florence Nightingale window for Romsey Abbey, depicting the moment a young Florence felt God’s call. Rev Kate Bottley meets a young man in Manchester to pay tribute to his late mother, a nurse who died of Covid-19 in the hospital in which she worked. He tells Kate of his mother’s determination to serve others with Christian love and how his own faith is helping to keep him strong. James Lusted meets a Christian firefighter from north Wales who is now recovering from Covid-19 after many weeks in intensive care. He and his wife reflect on the care he received, the support of their church and the strength they took from knowing that people all around the world were praying for them. With hymns and songs from across the UK, including a very special new performance from Katherine Jenkins in tribute to the carers on the frontline. All filming was carried out in accordance with government guidelines and all congregational music was recorded before lock
Rev Kate Bottley visits Eyam in Derbyshire, where 355 years ago residents took the brave decision to lock down their village to prevent the spread of the bubonic plague, saving countless lives across the rest of northern England. Local historians Francine Clifford and Owen Roberts describe how this act of self-sacrifice was inspired by two rival clergymen in an act of unity. The current rector, Rev Mike Gilbert, explains how the church’s current activities have striking parallels with the past and reads the moving letter his 17th-century predecessor William Mompesson wrote after his wife’s death from the plague. In the city of Derby, Sean Fletcher meets Julio Abraham, whose charity, Derby City Mission, is at the forefront of helping the city’s homeless people in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kate hears how recovered addict Sam is using faith and furniture-making to help redeem the lives of others. Hymns and songs, recorded before lockdown, come from St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell in Derbyshire, also known as the Cathedral of the Peak, as well as other UK churches.
Rev Kate Bottley is on Crosby Beach celebrating the 15th anniversary of the iron men sculptures created by artist Antony Gormley. Kate speaks to local Christians who have been inspired by the statues to create their own art works, including paintings, photography and performance. James Lusted meets one of the founding members of Crossbeats, a Liverpool-based band credited with helping to bring Contemporary Christian Music to the UK back in the 1960s. Kate travels just along the coast to Formby, hoping to see the rare red squirrel. She visits the prayer centre there, right in the heart of the National Trust conservation area. With worship music and hymns from across Merseyside and beyond, all recorded before the closure of church buildings.
Aled Jones visits the London Stadium to explore the links between Christianity and sport and looks back at the unforgettable moments of the 2012 Olympic Games that took place in the stadium. Paralympian Stef Reid takes Aled to the spot where she won silver in the 2012 games and gold in the 2017 World Championships. She tells Aled about the moment her life was changed for ever after a boating accident when she was just 15 and how her desperate cries to God in those times led to a deep Christian faith. Aled also meets Graham Daniels, a former professional footballer who is now the director of Christians in Sport. In the stadium, Graham reflects with Aled on the great memories of London 2012 and – in this summer when so many iconic competitions have had to be postponed – he explores why we love sport so much. Graham reveals how he works in the background at many major sporting events, supporting elite athletes as they strive to live out their Christian faith and their vocation as a sportsperson. JB Gill joins a training session at Watford Football Club to meet goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. He tells JB about growing up in poverty in Brazil and how his strong Christian faith is now leading him to swap the Premier League for the pulpit as he trains to become a pastor. And we hear how smaller football clubs are being effected by the current pandemic – we visit Cambridge United to hear about its Christian roots and how the club's unique role in the local community is helping it through this challenging times. With hymns old and new from across the UK, including some that have become favourites at great sporting occasions.
With brand new music performances filmed under government guidelines in July 2020, the Reverend Kate Bottley visits Coughton Court in Warwickshire to hear how the National Trust was founded by Christian social reformers 125 years ago. She also finds out about the site’s rich 600 year history as a family home, which sheltered persecuted Catholics during the 16th century Reformation. As many historic organisations, including the National Trust and the Church of England, examine their past links to slave traders, Gemma Hunt visits Bristol. She joins its Christian mayor Marvin Rees and Dr Madge Dresser of Bristol University to reflect on the city’s relationship with known slave trader Edward Colston. Also, award-winning young preacher Augustine Tanner-Ihm describes his journey from Chicago to the North East of England, and how an experience of rejection led him to preach about his own Christian faith in the context of diversity and inclusion. The programme’s brand new music performances include music from vocal ensemble Voces8, star singer Shaun Escoffery and male vocal quartet Tessera.
Claire McCollum visits Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire, discovering the rich religious history of this beautiful estate. She hears about Trentham’s connection with Saint Werburgh, who ran a convent on the site back in the seventh century. Claire finds out about the Two Saints Way, an ancient pilgrimage route through the Gardens, revived in recent years to help people connect with God through nature. We also speak to the couple running the parish church situated at the top of Trentham’s flower gardens, to find out how worship is still a huge part of life there today. Just south of the estate, Radzi Chinyanganya tries his hand at beekeeping with a vicar who has taken up the hobby as part of his calling to care for creation. And we meet the Christian sisters celebrating the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, when the Japanese surrender ended the Second World War. They talk about their father, who was a prisoner of war in the Far East and reveal how he organised the building of a church at the Chungkai camp, so that prisoners could worship together. The episode includes special performances recorded in Trentham Gardens from AMC Gospel Choir, the Salvation Army’s International Staff Songsters, and soprano singer Olivia Safe.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits the Salvation Army’s Hadleigh Farm in Essex to meet the staff and find out about the work of the farm in the past and the present. One thing Hadleigh has been doing during the current pandemic is food distribution, and we see that in action at a local corps in Basildon, where Lizette and Paul Williams hand out food to those who need it. Kate also meets Daniel Holland, an officer in the Salvation Army homelessness unit who has been working as a nurse on a Covid-19 ward. He ended up catching coronavirus but has now fully recovered. We find out about the challenges and rewards this experience has had on his faith. We talk to two members of the International Staff Songsters (ISS), the current conductor, Dorothy Nancekievill, and Lesley Nicholson, who is also a prison chaplain, about the effect music can have on audiences. Kate also joins Zena Österberg and her dance group to take part in Timbreltastic, a joyous combination of dance, music and praise. Plus music from congregations across the country, with hymns including Strength Will Rise and For the Beauty of the Lord, and the Salvation Army’s International Staff Songsters perform three hymns especially for us.
Aled Jones visits Blenheim Palace, home to the Duke of Marlborough, birthplace of Winston Churchill and an important World Heritage site. The sister of the current duke, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, explains the history of this remarkable building and shows Aled the private chapel that means so much to her. One of the most impressive features of the interior of the palace is the Willis organ, and the resident organist, Andrew Patterson, demonstrates its particular sound. Blenheim’s estate director, Roy Cox, shows Aled some of the famous trees on the estate, including the Cedar of Lebanon, which appears in a Harry Potter film. Laura Wright joins Oxford's Soundabout Inclusive Choir for a virtual hymn singalong and to hear how being part of the choir helps those with learning disabilities. The Blenheim estate provides a stunning backdrop for this week's music, which was recorded especially for the programme. There are performances from Laura Wright, new all-female group Stellina, gospel choir IDMC and Aled Jones, who sings one of his favourite hymns, Be Still for the Presence of the Lord.
Claire McCollum visits the Eden Project in Cornwall, where founder Sir Tim Smit tells her how he created a garden paradise out of a clay pit. Claire speaks to one of the Eden Project’s gardeners to hear how she worships God whilst looking after the two million plants on site. An open-air theatre stages a socially distanced performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, a musical based on the New Testament gospels, and a Christian cast member shares what it means to be involved in a performance that explores the life and death of Jesus. JB Gill goes surfing with a man who came back to faith whilst catching waves, and who is now part of Christian Surfers UK – an organisation celebrating its 30th anniversary. We also visit a church in Newquay that has adapted its Sunday services during the pandemic by becoming England’s first drive-in church. With brand new music recorded at the Eden Project according to government guidelines, and congregational hymns captured before current restrictions.
Aled Jones is in Plymouth where 400 years ago, a group of Christians embarked on an epic journey across the Atlantic that changed American history – the voyage of the Mayflower. He hears stories of the intrepid Christians who braved dangerous seas and the challenges of the New World to fulfil their calling. Aled discovers how this remarkable voyage has left its mark on political and religious life on both sides of the Atlantic. In search of the pilgrim travellers’ roots, Kate Bottley travels to Nottinghamshire to meet a living relative of William Brewster, one of the elders of the group and finds out all about his motivation. There are musical performances from Plymouth, featuring local folk musician Seth Lakeman and tenor Russell Watson, as well as congregational singing from across the UK, recorded before the current restrictions were put in place.
The Rev Kate Bottley marks Harvest by visiting a Christian-run farm in Saddleworth, on the Yorkshire Lancashire border. She meets curate Aaron Moffat-Jackman and his wife Gemma, who quite literally tend to their flock - they have sheep on a field next to their church and use their farm to educate others about looking after God’s creation. In her first appearance on Songs of Praise as a presenter, Katie Piper visits a farm in Carmarthenshire to meet Eileen Davis, an archdeacon in the Church in Wales, who has been inspired by her faith to set up a helpline for other farmers who are finding it difficult to cope. In the urban district of Trafford in Manchester, The Rev John Hughes explains how his church has become a hub for green-fingered enthusiasts who are growing their own food, and as a result are making friends which cross faith boundaries. Hymns and songs from across the country reflect the Harvest theme, including several from The Priory, Little Wymondley in Hertfordshire, recorded before lockdown.
Claire McCollum explores the beautiful Victorian village of Saltaire near Bradford in Yorkshire, now a Unesco World Heritage site. The vision of Christian industrialist Sir Titus Salt, and built to house the workers for his enormous textile mill, Saltaire was famous around the world when it was completed. Although the concept of providing accommodation for workers was not new, the scale and high standard of Saltaire was groundbreaking, with 850 high-quality houses alongside shops, schools, recreational facilities and a beautiful church, all built in the shadow of the mill. In the company of historian John Styles, who was born in Saltaire, Claire explores Salts Mill – one of the largest buildings in the world when completed – and discovers that Titus Salt was strongly motivated by his Christian faith in providing so generously for his workers. She also explores what many call the centrepiece of Saltaire, the Grade-I listed church that Titus Salt built in a beautiful Italianate style. The church was damaged in recent storms, and Claire meets the Christian architect in charge of the restoration and a member of the current congregation who has been kneeling in prayer outside the church each week since it closed for lockdown. In nearby Wakefield, Claire explores the fascinating diary that is challenging perceptions about Christian attitudes in the 19th century. Written in 1810 by a Yorkshire farmer, the journal offers surprising insights into life at that time, and most striking is a passage that offers a sympathetic view of homosexuality from a Christian perspective. Back in Saltaire, Radzi Chinyanganya joins a Bradford break-dancing crew, who are throwing moves in the spectacular open spaces inside Salts Mill. As well as learning a few steps, Radzi discovers how the crew see their dancing as a gift from God that can have a huge impact on all who take part.
The Rev Kate Bottley goes on a very personal journey across Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire to share the story of her Christian faith through the people, places and music that have shaped and inspired her. Kate begins by returning for the first time to the church in Sheffield where she was baptised as a baby. She shares her firm belief that God had his hand on her life from that point on, even though faith was not part of her childhood and it would be years before she set foot in a church again. She then meets the school friend who first invited her to a church youth club, and together they recall the day a teenage Kate became a Christian and decided to share her excitement with the whole school! Back at her old university in Leeds, Kate gets her boots on to meet up with her old rugby teammates and reflects on the friendships forged on the pitch and in the chapel. She then travels to the beautiful Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire. It was here Kate was ordained as a priest 11 years ago, and she reflects on her calling to the priesthood and discovers what she was really like a young curate when she meets up with the priest in charge of her first parish. And we discover how a surprise dance routine at a wedding where Kate was officiating turned into a viral video and changed Kate’s life completely. It was the moment that began the newest chapter in Kate’s faith journey, in the world of television and radio. As we go behind the scenes at BBC Radio 2, Kate reflects on the experiences of the last few years, hearing other people’s faith stories and striving to share the love of God over the airwaves. With favourite hymns and songs all chosen by Kate for the special meaning they hold for her family and her ministry.
Claire McCollum is in the Clink restaurant in Styal near Manchester, where inmates from the nearby prison are being given the chance of a fresh start in life by being trained in a fine dining restaurant. Pam Rhodes meets former politician, now ordained priest, Jonathan Aitken in London to hear about his journey from prison to the pulpit. At Lambeth Palace, Pam finds out about the Church of England’s free Daily Hope phone service, now also available in prisons across the country. As the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin, calls for a change in attitudes towards asylum seekers, we meet the Christian charities helping refugees on the south coast. With congregational singing recorded before the current restrictions, as well as specially recorded hymns from singer Mary Jess and vocal ensemble Tessera.
Aled Jones visits Cheddar Gorge in Somerset to hear the origins of the hymn Rock of Ages, inspired by a rock set into the striking local landscape. He also travels to Devon to explore the Beer Quarry caves, stone from which has been used in cathedral and church buildings across Britain. At Cheddar Baptist Church, Aled reflects on faith in God with lifelong member Barbara Merrick, who has been attending the church for 77 years. With new music specially recorded under current guidelines, we hear songs from worship leaders Martin Smith and Christian group Bright City, both of whom are from Brighton. Gemma Hunt meets them there and finds out how their Christian faith inspires their songwriting.
For Black History Month, guest presenter Mark De-Lisser visits the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool. He meets the director, Dr Richard Benjamin, to find out about Britain’s involvement in the slave trade and the role the church played at the time. Mark meets the museum’s historian-in-residence, Laurence Westgaph, to hear about his ambition to create what could become the country’s first memorial to the enslaved. The rector of Liverpool, Rev Canon Dr Crispin Pailing, shares why he is passionate about offering the grounds of St Nicholas’ Church, which was once the city’s main burial ground, as a home for the memorial. Classical pianist Alexis Ffrench tells YolanDa Brown about his love of music and how he felt as a child being Britain’s youngest black church organist. We also have a special performance of Alexis’s own composition inspired by the faith poem Footprints in the Sand. The daughter of Christian peacemaker Nelson Mandela shares what she feels her father would have thought about the Liverpool garden being built in his honour, and we hear about the vision for the garden from two members of the community, Sonia Bassey and Stephen Nze, who help run the charity behind the project, Mandela8. Music comes from across the UK, including poignant hymns written during the period of the slave trade, including Wade in the Water and Amazing Grace.
Claire McCollum is in Dundee, where the River Tay meets the North Sea. It’s the first time Claire has returned to the city since studying at the university, and she takes in the sights, both old and new, from the top of the hill known as Dundee Law. She discovers why Dundee has historically been famous for textiles, confectionery and publishing – jute, jam and journalism! - and also finds out about its religious history and how Dundee played a crucial role in the Scottish Reformation.
For Remembrance Sunday Aled Jones visits the Brecon Beacons in Wales, where the British military has trained since World War Two. Aled meets Jules Hudson, broadcaster and military historian, to find out about Brecon’s military connections including being the home of The Royal Welsh. We mark the 25th anniversary of The Disability Discrimination Act and the impact it has had on the lives of many members of the armed forces as well as civilians in the UK over the last two and a half decades. James Lusted finds out more from a charity called the Soldiers’ Arts Academy that works with servicemen and women who have been injured whilst serving their country. James speaks to christian Maurillia Simpson who served in Iraq but retired from the army due to injury. She shares her story of finding peace through the medium of singing and her faith. We celebrate 150 years of the British Red Cross by meeting one of its longest serving volunteers who felt called to start helping with the charity during World War Two, when she was just seven years old. And Aled Jones is reunited with D-day veteran Harry Billinge, who featured in the Songs of Praise episode to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in 2019. Harry tells Aled about receiving his MBE from the Queen for services of charitable fundraising and reveals his reflections about Remembrance Sunday. With brand new music performances including from military veterans and hymns to mark Remembrance.
Aled Jones is back on home turf in north Wales as he takes a journey exploring how his faith has shaped his life and his singing. He catches up with some old friends on the journey, including composer Howard Goodall and the Rev Canon Mark Oakley, sings a couple of songs that are special to him and picks his favourite hymns for the programme, including Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah and How Great Thou Art.
From Gorton Monastery in Manchester, Katherine Jenkins launches the very first joint Songs of Praise and Radio 2 competition to find the BBC Young Chorister of the Year. Chosen from hundreds of entries, five talented girl choristers hope to to impress expert judges John Rutter, Laura Wright and Carl Jackson, and go through to the final.
Aled Jones presents the boys' semi-final of the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition from Gorton Monastery in Manchester. Five of the best boy choristers in the UK compete to impress judges John Rutter, Laura Wright and Carl Jackson and win one of three remaining places in the final.
The Rev Kate Bottley presents the final of the very first joint Songs of Praise and Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competition. As it is the second Sunday of Advent, six of the best girl and boy choristers in the UK perform their chosen Christmas carols or songs for judges John Rutter, Laura Wright and Carl Jackson before one is crowned 2020 champion. The programme includes a performance of O Holy Night by Aled Jones, Katherine Jenkins and all the finalists.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits Thursford in Norfolk to experience a Christmas light show - a four-acre lantern extravaganza. She visits the local church to light the Advent wreath and discuss the meaning behind Gaudete Sunday. Following the service in St Paul’s Cathedral earlier this week, remembering those who have lost their lives as a result of Covid-19, Kate meets a family facing a Christmas like no other. Katie Piper visits a church in north London where their Christmas angel hampers are bringing some festive cheer to families in need. Featuring favourite Christmas carols with performances from Collabro, Marisha Wallace and opera star Andrea Bocelli.
From the glorious surroundings of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Aled Jones counts down the top ten carols, as voted for by viewers in a UK wide online poll. With an array of star guests including Sir Cliff Richard, Katherine Jenkins, the Kingdom Choir, The Priests, the Choir of St Paul’s and one of the finest voices in the world, Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli. A panel of carol enthusiasts, including Gareth Malone, Karen Gibson, the Director of Music at St Pauls, Mark De Lisser and Pam Rhodes, reveal their favourites as well as some of the fascinating histories behind some of the UK’s best loved carols.
Renowned choir director and vocal coach Mark De-Lisser joins soul legend Mica Paris as she shares her journey of faith. It’s a story that took Mica from a childhood in church, through fame and fortune, love and loss and ultimately back to gospel music. Mica takes Mark to the Pentecostal church in south London where her grandparents were pastors and where, as a child, she spent time every day of the week. She recalls those happy years when she discovered her gift of singing, quickly becoming a child sensation and touring churches all over the UK. With her sister Alysha, Mica speaks about the strength of their family unit. The sisters speak movingly about the loss of their brother, who was murdered in 2001, and how their faith and the power of prayer helped them through.
Katherine Jenkins explores this hugely iconic cathedral, a masterpiece of design by Christopher Wren. Katherine learns that one of the newest additions to the building is a porch dedicated to those who have lost their lives to Coronavirus. Music includes hymns sung by St Paul’s Cathedral Choir and special performances by Daniel O’ Donnell, Aled Jones and The Priests, and Katherine sings two of her favourites, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Amazing Grace.
Claire McCollum is in the historic city of Stirling in central Scotland. She visits Stirling Castle, once home to Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son, King James VI. Adjacent to the castle lies the Church of the Holy Rude, where James VI was crowned in 1567, making it one of the only churches in the UK to have held a coronation and still be active today. Claire discovers how the James commissioned a translation of the scriptures, known as the King James Bible, which became one of the most widely used bibles in the world. We meet a ceramics artist in Stirling whose clay creations are inspired by both her faith and the city’s unique architecture and landscape. JB Gill talks to worship singer Steph Macleod about his powerful testimony of finding Jesus whilst battling addiction, and Steph performs a special song written about his journey of faith. Plus hymns and worship songs from across Scotland, including brand new recordings from the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling.
Singer Brenda Edwards presents her first Songs of Praise. She is in east London, joining the Bonny Downs Baptists on their Sunday 'walking church' around the Flanders Field memorial garden, finishing with Holy Communion in their community garden. She also joins their walking football team to hear about the benefits of fun, faith and footie. Katie Piper meets the Rev Chris Lee, whose 60-second online sermons have gone viral, attracting over 170,000 followers. Katie also meets two award-winning women whose charity, Wave, brings those with and without learning disabilities together in friendship. There’s music from around the country, including a performance from Brenda Edwards.
Marking the year Songs of Praise turns 60, Aled Jones celebrates at St George’s Chapel in Windsor with Christian stories that exemplify the spirit of the series. Aled and long-serving presenter Pam Rhodes recall past favourite moments, including the Queen’s celebrated appearance on the programme in 2018, and with the help of archive, the moment Pam and Aled first met on screen in 1995. Gospel music pioneer Karen Gibson shares how Songs of Praise came calling in 1996 to feature her choir – this became the Kingdom Choir, who shot to fame in 2018 singing at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. ‘Everyday activist’ Andrew Graystone, who was born within a week of the very first Songs of Praise episode in 1961, describes how a photo of his simple act of Christian kindness in Manchester went viral, and Pam Rhodes meets superfans Trevor and Christine Ransome, whose 60th wedding anniversary coincides with the programme’s own birthday, and who have travelled all around the UK to sing at over 40 Songs of Praise recordings.
Mark De-Lisser hosts the semi-final of the brand new competition to find the Gospel Singer of the Year 2021. In the first of two programmes celebrating gospel music, five talented amateur singers take to the stage at Gorton Monastery in Manchester. Deciding who goes through to next week’s final are three celebrity judges: pop sensation and West End musical star Alexandra Burke, singer and leading gospel vocal coach David Grant and singing legend Heather Small. Our semi-finalists are Monique McKen from Birmingham, Kieron Bygraves from Huddersfield, Lois Kirby from Bedford, James Morrison from Lincoln and Tara Goddard from Halifax. Closing the show, Heather Small performs her hit song Proud. Which singer will be your favourite?
Mark De-Lisser hosts the final of our Gospel Singer of the Year competition. Three talented finalists sing to win the title at the stunning Gorton Monastery in Manchester. Making the all-important decision are the judges: pop and West End musicals star Alexandra Burke, vocal coach and gospel expert David Grant and singing legend Heather Small. There’s also a guest performance from Shaun Escoffery, singing his single River.
To mark the beginning of Lent, Sean Fletcher visits historic Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire and hears from its dean, the Very Rev John Dobson, on the variety of ways the cathedral building, founded by seventh-century saint Wilfrid, has inspired others through the centuries. Sean also reflects on the themes of love and Lent in the current times with the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley. To mark Valentine’s Day, we hear from a young Christian couple, Ben and Kristen, who proved that love is stronger than lockdown, and whose wedding finally went ahead at the fourth attempt in December 2020. Katie Piper visits Leeds to talk to Joe Walsh, the founder of Faith In Operation, an initiative encouraging organ donations for anonymous recipients. Hymns and songs, old and new, come from across the UK, reflecting the start of the season of Lent.
Katherine Jenkins visits L’Abri fellowship in Hampshire to explore Christian faith and hospitality. She finds out about L’Abri’s history and meets a family from Australia who have settled there. Radzi Chinyanganya meets a former stockbroker who found faith and changed career to help house the homeless. Music comes from congregations across the UK, including O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness and Table of the Lord, and Songs of Praise presenter Laura Wright joins the choir of Royal Holloway to perform Can You Hear Me?
Ahead of St David’s Day, Sean Fletcher explores beautiful Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, which has stood on the bank of the River Wye for almost 900 years. He hears about the daily life of the Cistercian monks who lived there and how they dedicated their lives to God through prayer, study and working the land. Sean discovers how, in the Romantic era, the ruined abbey became an inspiration for painters and poets, including JMW Turner and William Wordsworth. Donning his walking boots to follow a new pilgrimage path that starts and ends at the abbey, Sean meets one of the volunteers behind the venture, who explains how pilgrimages reflect the joys and sorrows of life. To mark the 150th anniversary of the first Rugby Union international, Sean meets three Welsh greats of the game. Emyr Lewis, Garin Jenkins and Byron Hayward accumulated over 100 international caps between them in 1990s, and each of them came to the Christian faith when their playing days were over. Sean speaks to them about how they came to faith, their love of rugby and what the sport means to Wales. James Lusted visits Beaumaris on Anglesey to meet the vicar who volunteers for his local lifeboat crew. He reflects on this new challenge, what the lifeboat means to the community and how heading out to sea has deepened his faith. With music from across Wales – including special performances from West End star John Owen-Jones and BBC Chorister of the Year Alexander with our very own Aled Jones.
On the third Sunday of Lent, Katherine Jenkins explores the theme of prayer with young Christians living at Ashburnham Place in East Sussex, a Christian prayer centre. She hears how resource director Hannah Latty and her team incorporate different forms of prayer into their community life, and how they have experienced answered prayers. Gemma Hunt meets Pete Greig from the 24-7 Prayer movement to find out how prayer changed his life. To mark the upcoming International Women’s Day, Katherine hears the remarkable story of two Christian sisters, Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton, whose pioneering work led to the formation of the charity Save the Children, as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Leeds, community campaigner Marvina Newton reveals how persistent prayer helped to save her from poverty and homelessness. Hymns and songs, old and new, come from across the UK, including When I Needed a Neighbour, Cornerstone, Take My Life and Let It Be, and My Jesus My Saviour.
For Mothering Sunday, Brenda Edwards visits St Elisabeth’s Church in Reddish to find out how they are planning to celebrate this special day. We hear how a busy mum and Christian author has been coping during lockdown, as well as finding out about Victorian nun Elizabeth Prout, who has moved a step closer to becoming a saint. We also visit a new Christian community grocery run by a Manchester-based charity where shoppers pay a small annual fee to fill their shopping baskets twice a week for just £3. Also, Brenda interviews choir leader and Songs of Praise conductor Audrey Mattis about the power of singing together in church The music is a mix of hymns and worship songs including Tell Out My Soul and Sing Unto the Lord from St Elisabeth’s, You Restore My Soul from Gorton Monastery and special performances from both Brenda and Northern Irish soprano Margaret Keys.
Rev Kate Bottley visits Roche Abbey in South Yorkshire, a place where she loves to walk, as she shares her love of the great outdoors and some of her favourite moments on Songs of Praise. Kate looks back on her walk along the Cleveland Way, one of Britain’s national trails. She recalls the time she spoke to inspiring Christian, Charlie Duke, who was the tenth and youngest man to walk on the moon but who believes his ‘walking with Jesus’ has been a lot more important. Kate also talks about one of her greatest passions, open water swimming, and how being in the cold water brings her closer to God. There’s also music from across the UK, including performances from Katherine Jenkins and West End star Marisha Wallace.
On Palm Sunday, Aled Jones visits Oxford to celebrate stories of hope and meets Professor Andy Pollard, one of the leading scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. At St Cross College, Professor Pollard shares how his Christian faith and the prayers of people all over the world have helped and inspired him, and how he finds great hope in the way scientists and volunteers in many nations have worked together to make the vaccine possible. Aled also visits the city’s largest vaccination centre to witness at first hand the hope the jab is bringing to the community. Young mum Louise Blyth shares her story of how miraculous answers to prayer led her to find faith and hope in the darkest days of grief. And YolanDa Brown meets the Christian friends using their gifts in medicine and music to help doctors facing burnout. With hymns and songs to celebrate Holy Week and an exclusive performance of a new blessing for carers.
Katherine Jenkins celebrates Easter Sunday from Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. She finds out about the meaning behind the Paschal candle, lit especially at Eastertime, and performs one of her favourite hymns, the Sanctus, to Elgar’s stirring tune Nimrod. Echoing the theme of the Easter story, James Lusted meets a vicar who has turned his life around from darkness into light. With favourite Easter hymns and songs from Llandaff Cathedral Choir, Vocal Creation, The Voice UK winner Blessing Annatoria and a special performance from one of Wales’ finest - Sir Bryn Terfel.
This special Songs of Praise pays tribute to and remembers His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Aled Jones looks back at the Duke’s long life, the role faith played in it and his sense of duty, dedication and love for Queen and country. With interviews from leading faith figures and those who knew him well, including the former Dean of Westminster and Gyles Brandreth. We explore Prince Philip’s legacy including meeting some of the many millions of young people who have taken part in the award scheme bearing his name.
Katherine Jenkins interviews Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, about his first eight months in office and the role of the Church of England after lockdown. Comedian Frank Skinner talks to Sean Fletcher about his Roman Catholic faith. Sean also discusses the two-year renovation of the grand organ at York Minster with assistant director of music Ben Morris and the Minster’s precentor, the Rev Canon Vicky Johnson. Social worker Carol Lawson, who is based in the York area, reflects on the challenges she and her colleagues have faced while caring for people during the Covid-19 pandemic. The music is a mix of hymns and worship songs, including Praise to the Holiest in the Height, Faithful One, He Who Would Valiant Be and, to mark St George’s Day, Jerusalem.
Rev Kate Bottley visits the brand new RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford. She joins volunteers planting seeds and bulbs in the gardens, due to open to the public in May, and reflects on the signs of hope this represents. Christian author Ruth Valerio tells Kate how gardens are symbolic of the Christian faith throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Gifted Christian mouth artist Ian Parker describes how faith and painting have inspired him since teenage years. And Gemma Hunt visits Nigel and Rachel Stephens in Stockport, whose community project Fit and Fed has brought fun to families through cooking. Hymns and songs come from across the UK: And Can It Be, All Things Bright and Beautiful, He Has Made Me Glad, Jesus Shall Reign, Now the Green Blade Riseth, and Indescribable. Martin Smith performs his song Great Is Your Faithfulness.
Claire McCollum marks the Partition of Ireland and formation of Northern Ireland 100 years ago, meeting Christians from across the denominations to discuss the past and their hopes for the future. She finds out how the Union Theological College in Belfast became the first parliament building, and meets two theology students - one Protestant and one Catholic - to hear their perspectives. We learn how the Belfast Community Gospel Choir was created, and Sean Fletcher meets Danielle Gault, a young Christian whose faith and health have been challenged. With music from Enniskillen, Down Patrick and Dungannon, and a special performance by Daniel O’Donnell filmed on the Causeway Coast.
Brenda Edwards is in Swansea to explore how Christianity has shaped the city’s past and present. She explores how the rise of nonconformist chapels and the famous Welsh Revival of 1904 saw the Christian faith sweep through the nation of Wales and beyond. She visits the modern Liberty Pentecostal Church, which, inspired by that history, is bringing new life to one the city’s historic chapels. Swansea singer-songwriter Mal Pope reflects on his own roots in the chapels of his home city and how that heritage shaped his faith and music. He performs one of his most poignant songs, A Child’s Prayer. Meanwhile, Katie Piper meets author and broadcaster Chine McDonald to hear the story of how the charity Christian Aid is marking 75 years of fighting global poverty.
Aled Jones visits the cathedral town of Exeter in Devon. He explores the underground passages that brought water from Saint Sidwell’s Well to the cathedral. We meet Mark Edwards, a cyclist who makes a 25 mile round trip every Sunday to deliver DVDs to fellow members of his church’s congregation who don’t have access to its online services. It’s also Dementia Action Week and YolanDa Brown meets Jo Earlam, a local woman who has mapped the city to create safe routes to encourage those living with dementia to get out and about. At St David’s Church we hear how they’ve turned lockdown into an opportunity for a different sort of bible study group, and there’s also music from there, led by hymn writer Graham Kendrick. Aled performs Pie Jesu with the current BBC Young Chorister of the Year and launches the search to find the next winner of the competition.
On Pentecost Sunday, Sean Fletcher learns about life in a monastery at the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. He meets older and younger brothers who have committed themselves to a simple life of daily devotion and prayer. Sean discovers more about the story of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered the first Christians to share their faith 2,000 years ago. Also in the programme, Pam Rhodes joins musician Pete James and actor Martha Shrimpton, who have helped to create Cheeky Pandas, a cartoon series teaching children about the Bible. Ultra-marathon runner Rohan Kallicharan explains how a simple but profound encounter brought him a life-giving faith in Jesus, enabling him to overcome major mental health battles. Hymns and songs with a Pentecost theme come from across the country: Breathe on Me Breath of God, Come Down O Love Divine, The Lion and the Lamb, What a Beautiful Name, One More Step, and O Thou Who Camest from Above. Worship leader Philippa Hanna also performs a new song, Trust.
Aled Jones visits Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire to explore its 850 years of history. Curator Simon Brown explains how the abbey began as an Augustinian priory and it is thought one of the priests was Friar Tuck, one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men. Recently, Newstead Abbey has looked into its 19th-century links to black history and the connection to the sugar plantations in Jamaica. Aled talks to two women whose faith has motivated them to bring to light this little-known, difficult chapter from the abbey's past. Aled also meets volunteers who work in the house and gardens to hear how their faith inspires them. Meanwhile, YolanDa Brown meets Emerald O’Hanrahan, who plays Emma Grundy in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, to hear about her personal prayer space. There is music from Nottingham’s Albert Hall, Margaret Keys performs Ave Maria, and Aled performs one of his favourite hymns, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, in Newstead Abbey’s Japanese garden.
Katherine Jenkins visits Salisbury Cathedral to celebrate the power of music in our lives and in our worship. At the cathedral's grand piano, she is joined by renowned composer Howard Goodall to share some favourite hymns and explore why they continue to move and inspire each new generation. Laura Wright meets a new generation of Christian musicians honing their skills at the Nexus Institute of Creative Arts in Coventry. She joins a group of musicians experimenting with harmonies on a classic hymn and speaks to staff and students about the importance of pursuing excellence in the context of their Christian faith. Back at the cathedral, Katherine goes back to her chorister roots to celebrate 30 years since Salisbury became the first English cathedral to introduce a full girls’ choir, separate but equal to the boys. And the director of the Royal School of Church Music talks about celebrating church worship on their Music Sunday.
The Rev. Canon Kate Bottley heads off to the north east of England to join pilgrims on one of six new walking routes to Durham Cathedral and to hear about the many ways the experience can enrich people’s lives. The Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Jarrow explain why this particular pilgrimage route is called the 'Way of Learning’ and is one of the new Northern saints trails that celebrate the lives of local saints such as Cuthbert, Hilda and Bede. The group stop for lunch at the Refuse cafe in Chester-Le-Street, where their Christian ethos means you can pay for a meal not just with money but also by donating your time and skills. Along the route, they also stop at Finchale Priory, where Kate finds out from fellow pilgrim, writer and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey, how pilgrimage helped him to make sense of his life after he and his wife tried unsuccessfully to have a child. The pilgrims are welcomed at their final destination by Durham Cathedral’s Rev Canon Charlie Allen, who presents them with a special token to mark their journey. There’s music from around the country on the theme of pilgrimage, and Aled Jones performs a song he has written called Believe.
To celebrate Father’s Day, Aled Jones meets inspirational fathers who are trying to show their paternal love to their children, whatever it takes. He visits Liberty Fam in Staffordshire to find out about its work with men who have left prison or who are at risk of going there. MOBO award winning Christian rapper Guvna B tells Radzi Chinyanganya how the death of his father affected him emotionally, spiritually and musically, as well as talking about how he tackles being a dad. We meet the pastor from Peckham who is going the extra mile to help his teenage daughter achieve her cycling dreams. There is congregational music old and new from across the country, plus a special performance by singer songwriter Steph Macleod of his composition “O Perfect Father”.
Claire McCollum visits the beautiful and remote Scottish island of Iona and meets HRH the Princess Royal to hear of her interest in the buildings of Iona Abbey. Dr Ian Bradley explains how 1,500 years ago St Columba brought Christianity to Iona, and warden of the Iona community Catriona Robertson tells Claire about her move to live on the island. Prolific hymn writer and broadcaster John Bell describes why Iona will always be special to him, and Glasgow-based singer Unoma Okudo visits Iona for the first time to perform the hymn Here is Love. Hymns and songs are O Worship the King, The King of Love My Shepherd Is, Will You Come and Follow Me, Glory Be to God the Father, We Cannot Measure How You Heal, and a new song by John Bell, Love Is the Touch.
Brenda Edwards visits one of England’s finest stately homes, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. She discovers how some of Chatsworth’s treasures shed light on our royal and religious history, and she finds out what life is like behind the scenes of this centuries-old family home. Sean Fletcher joins walkers to mark the 70th anniversary of the Peak District National Park. He discovers the historic events that led to our national parks being established and meets people who find inspiration for their faith in the varied landscapes of the High Peak. Sean also meets travel expert Simon Calder in the Derbyshire market town of Melbourne to hear the remarkable story of Thomas Cook, who was born there in 1808. Cook’s fervent Baptist faith was the inspiration behind his first offering excursions to the public, which eventually led to him becoming the father of modern travel and tourism. Back at Chatsworth, Brenda speaks to renowned soprano Lesley Garrett, who reflects on her career and her journey of faith before she gives an exclusive performance of a favourite inspirational song. Other special performances in the house and gardens come from the Overtones and Brenda herself, and there are hymns from the Cathedral of the Peak in Tideswell.
Katherine Jenkins is in Arundel in West Sussex, home to the Dukes and Duchesses of Norfolk. She visits the Roman Catholic cathedral built by the fifteenth duke as a statement of his faith, and she explores the stunning castle gardens. Radzi Chinyanganya is invited to the Convent of the Poor Clares in Arundel to hear how they came to top the charts with their classical album, and we find out about Wheels for the World, a Christian project transforming lives by restoring wheelchairs to send to developing countries. Also, stand by fans of gospel music! It’s the launch of the BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Singer of the Year competition. Details of how to enter, terms and conditions and privacy notice can be found on the website bbc.co.uk/songofpraise. The deadline for entries is midnight on 15 August 2021.
The Rev Kate Bottley is on the border of Staffordshire and Shropshire to join three generations of the Robinson family, discovering the Catholic history of Boscobel House, where after being defeated in the English Civil War, King Charles II went into hiding in a priest hole As the Catholic Church marks the new World Day for grandparents and the elderly, Kate hears how grandchildren love and appreciate their grandparents, and singer songwriter Mal Pope performs his song Catch You about becoming a grandfather. Clive and Stella Robinson share with Kate how their faith sustained them following the loss of their son Andrew, and how their family set up a trust in his memory to give holidays to young people. Hymns from across the UK are Before the Throne of God Above, I Will Sing the Wondrous Story, On Eagle’s Wings, Be Thou My Vision, and I the Lord of Sea and Sky.
Aled Jones visits the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George to explore the spiritual, symbolic and practical links between feasting and fasting in Coptic Christianity. There’s also another chance to see stories of faith and food that have featured in the past, including a Nottinghamshire charity providing job opportunities at a smoothie cafe for people with learning disabilities. And we revisit the time when the Rev Kate Bottley went to Coventry to meet two Christians whose small bakery business is providing much needed help to their local community.
Aled Jones visits the newly created Fountains Church in Bradford to see how a former nightclub is bringing spiritual refreshment and regeneration to the community. We meet a Salvation Army member who has set up a School Uniform Bank to help parents struggling to pay for expensive new clothes for their children to wear to school. JB Gill joins former Premier league player Bruce Dyer, to find out why he is as focused on his faith as he is on his football. Music comes from across the UK including “Meekness and Majesty” and “Be Thou My Vision”. And Laura Wright performs “How Great Thou Art”.
Claire McCollum visits Crediton, nestled in the heart of Mid Devon, to find out why church weddings are so important to Christians. There’s another chance to see marriage stories featured on the series in the past, including a couple from West Sussex with a happy and successful marriage despite having wildly different perspectives on faith. And we revisit the time when Aled Jones met a woman whose faith was reawakened in the most moving and unlikely of circumstances, during a traumatic experience in her married life.
Claire McCollum explores stories of fossils, faith and science along the beautiful Jurassic Coast that spans 95 miles of Devon and Dorset and reveals 185 million years of history. In Lyme Regis, Claire hears the story of Mary Anning, the 19th-century Christian fossil hunter who revolutionised palaeontology. Following in Mary’s footsteps, Claire joins a fossil walk along Lyme Regis beach with renowned botanist Sir Ghillean Prance, to hear how science and faith can live in harmony. Gemma Hunt meets a geologist whose childhood holidays on the Jurassic Coast inspired her vital work on climate change. She speaks about the importance of studying the natural world and about feeling the presence of God on expeditions to the wilderness of Antarctica. And the first Songs of Praise congregation in more than 18 months sings favourite hymns by the seaside in Swanage.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits Noah’s Ark Farm Zoo in Bristol to hear how the Christian faith of many of its staff impacts their work. Owner Larry Bush tells Kate how the zoo started as a Christian-run farm, and she helps clear up some of the 150kg of daily elephant dung! The zoo’s curator Chris Wilkinson explains what it is like to live with his family on site, and his daughters describe their favourite animals. Kate also recalls fun moments from the series, including her ride down a helter skelter in Norwich Cathedral and JB Gill’s visit to a Christian surfing community at Fistral Beach in Cornwall. Hymns old and new include O When the Saints, All Creatures of Our God and King, All My Hope on God Is Founded, and When We All Get to Heaven. The worship team from Soul Survivor, led by Tom Smith, perform Never Gonna Stop Singing, duo Our Atlantic Roots sing Build My Life, and gospel choir IDMC perform Lord I Lift Your Name on High.
Aled Jones is in London to investigate why the act of forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian faith. He visits Saint Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in Bishopsgate, which exists to transform conflict and division into new relationships and peaceful communities. He also hears the story of a father whose spiritual awakening occurred during the most tragic of circumstances, when his teenage daughter died from a sesame seed allergy on a holiday flight to France. Ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Pam Rhodes meets a Christian musician whose father was killed in the attack, to hear how his faith helped him through the aftermath.
Sean Fletcher heads to the top of Pendle Hill in East Lancashire to discover the story of George Fox who began the Quaker movement. He’s part of the area’s new Radicals Trail which encourages people to find a series of plaques dedicated to free thinkers and non-conformists. The trail also takes Sean to the only remaining Inghamite Church established by Benjamin Ingham in 1750. James Lusted meets pastor Mick Fleming in nearby Burnley who is carrying on the tradition of radical Christianity in the area. Whilst in the beautiful countryside surrounding Pendle that’s so popular with walkers, Sean hears how one man’s faith motivates him to volunteer for the local Mountain Rescue team. There’s music from around the country, including both traditional and contemporary hymns.
The Rev Kate Bottley joins Christians in Hackney giving thanks for the fruits of creation, as churches prepare to celebrate their harvest festivals. She meets head gardener Mel Zulu, who tends the land around the church of St John at Hackney, where a new orchard and rooftop beehives provide fresh fruit and honey for the local community. Radzi Chinyanganya meets members of Bible Society, who, with an award-winning creator, are preparing a brand new Christian garden design for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, inspired by Psalm 23 and with the aim of encouraging others to start their own community gardens. Young Christian couple Pip and Will Campbell-Clause, who run a sustainable food venture in Bristol, explain what harvest means to them. And in Hackney, Kate joins Shana Dawn Lewis, a Christian who bakes cakes for others despite the challenges of a complex health condition. There are hymns, old and new, celebrating harvest: We Plough the Fields, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, The Lord’s My Shepherd, Come Ye Thankful People, Indescribable, You Restore My Soul and All Things Bright and Beautiful.
Aled Jones introduces highlights from 60 years of Songs of Praise from Cardiff, where the first programme was made, and meets Rosalyn Bormann, who took part in the oldest surviving complete episode of the series from the 1960s. He also looks back at how Songs of Praise has been a part of our favourite national events, sharing in the joy of some memorable occasions, including when the series filmed a special church service attended by the Queen. The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, reflects on how Songs of Praise has also been there at times of national crisis and loss. There’s plenty of singing too, as Aled is joined by vocal coach and fellow presenter Mark de Lisser to discuss the wide range of congregational singing shown on the programme, and we hear from one of the many families who enjoy singing along at home. There are some favourite stories and moments that viewers have asked to see again, and memorable recordings of familiar hymns including Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer.
Westminster Abbey hosts this 60th birthday edition of Songs of Praise with special guests and favourite hymns. Aled Jones is joined by fellow presenters from the past and present, including Katherine Jenkins, Sally Magnusson and David Grant, and there’s a special performance from Westminster Abbey Choir.
Claire McCollum is in Coventry, the UK City of Culture 2021, to experience Faith, a 24- hour live event featuring music, theatre and art co-produced by Coventry City of Culture Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Claire visits Coventry Cathedral to discover why the city is the ideal setting to explore how Christians and other religions experience faith, both as individuals and as communities. She also meets renowned theatre designer Tom Piper to hear how, using 20km feet of blue ribbon, he has created an evocative visual representation of the ties between the different faith communities in the city. And we reflect on the plight of Afghan refugees as Gemma Hunt hears about one man’s journey from Afghanistan to a new life in Coventry.
To celebrate Black History Month, Brenda Edwards is in Brixton, south London, to hear how people of Caribbean and African descent have shaped the life and faith of the UK. Brenda visits an exhibition of the National Caribbean Heritage Museum with artefacts first brought over by the Windrush Generation that have now become collectors’ items, and she chats to curator Catherine Ross about the importance of faith and worship to those first individuals and families coming from the Caribbean. We hear how one entrepreneur is honouring black history and heritage with commemorative plaques around London, and Brenda explores the 40-year history of the newspaper The Voice, chatting to the writer whose column on the black church community ran for 30 years. Sean Fletcher visits Northampton to discover the remarkable story of footballer Walter Tull. He explores how Walter’s life was shaped by the Christian faith and how his achievements on the football field were matched by his bravery on the battlefield. And there’s a rich mix of music celebrating different traditions, with a special performance by Brenda herself.
Aled Jones comes home to Anglesey in north Wales to visit Church Island, a holy place for over 1,000 years, and talks to members of the congregation who still worship here about the role the historic church plays in the life of the local community. James Lusted meets members of Christians Against Poverty as they celebrate 25 years of helping people struggling with debt, and there are birthday celebrations too in the Min y Don Christian adventure holiday camp, where families come to find faith in an atmosphere of fun and friendship. Aled also meets Brenda Fogg, the 'Angel of Llandudno', who has been helping the homeless for over a decade, and there is specially recorded music as well as some favourite hymns from Bangor Cathedral.
As the nights draw in, Katherine Jenkins is in Blackpool to shine a light on the Christian tradition of All Hallows’ Eve, more commonly known as Halloween. She visits the church of All Hallows in Bispham and speaks to Reverend Jonny Lee to learn about the history of this annual event and how Christians are choosing to celebrate it. Laura Wright meets Sarah Davison from Scripture Union and hears how they are creating 'light parties' for children, which share the Bible’s message of Jesus as the light of the world as an alternative to Halloween parties. And we meet Keith and Jenny Raby, a local Christian couple and professional musicians who use musical ministry and outreach to spread the word of God to those most in need. Katherine also discovers how a group of local churches got together to ensure Jesus and his message are represented in Blackpool’s world-famous Illuminations.
With the United Nations COP26 negotiations taking place in Glasgow, Claire McCollum joins Christians raising awareness of climate change and urging us all to take action to prevent it. In Gateshead and Newcastle, YolanDa Brown joins pilgrims from the Young Christians Climate Network during their five-month walking relay from Cornwall to Glasgow. Environmental campaigner Laura Young shows Claire a zero-waste shop and explains how the way we buy everyday goods can make a big difference. Glasgow-based artist ID Campbell tells Claire how his Christian faith, and COP26, inspired him to paint three new portraits that he has since partially destroyed as a symbol of the destruction brought about by climate change. The Franciscan community of Hilfield Friary in Dorset show how their sustainable practices and carbon-reducing measures have won a gold award from renowned Christian environmental charity A Rocha UK. Hymns and songs from across the UK reflect the call for Christians to look after God’s Planet: Glory Be to God the Father, Beauty for Brokenness, Way Maker, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, O Lord the Clouds Are Gathering, Jesus Christ Is Waiting and Father Lord of All Creation.
Sean Fletcher marks Remembrance Sunday at Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. He meets Christian veterans from different conflicts, including the remarkable 97-year-old Bernard Morgan, who shares his experiences of being one of the youngest RAF sergeants on D-Day. Sean also discovers how the unique design of the museum helps visitors to reflect on conflict and visits a new installation under construction. Called Poppies, it is a permanent sculpture made from ceramic poppies that famously adorned the Tower of London in 2014. Pam Rhodes visits the poppy factory in Kent to mark 100 years of the Royal British Legion and its poppy appeal. She explores the origins of the charity and why its purpose in supporting veterans and leading the nation in Remembrance remains so important. And back at the museum, a youth theatre group prepares for a performance exploring why remembrance is relevant for each new generation. With traditional remembrance hymns from across the UK, including a special performance of In Flanders Fields by The Choristers.
Aled Jones presents the girls' semi-final of the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition from Salisbury Cathedral with judges Lesley Garrett, Howard Goodall and David Grant. Music includes How Beautiful Are the Feet, from Handel’s Messiah, and O, For the Wings of a Dove, by Felix Mendelssohn. Three of the pieces are by modern composers: John Rutter’s Pie Jesu; Prayer to a Guardian Angel, by Patrick Hawes; and the worship song He Will Hold Me Fast, by Matt Merker. Three of the five choristers will be selected to sing in the final on 5 December.
Aled Jones presents the boys' semi-final of the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition from Salisbury Cathedral, with judges Lesley Garrett, Howard Goodall and David Grant. The music featured in the programme includes But Who May Abide from Handel’s Messiah, the Bach/Gounod setting of Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus by Franck. Two of the choristers sing contemporary works: Chilcott’s Be Thou My Vision and Archer’s My Song Is Love Unknown. Three of the five choristers will be selected to sing in the final on 5 December.
It’s the final of the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition, presented Aled Jones. As it’s the second Sunday of Advent, six of the best girl and boy choristers in the UK perform a Christmas carol or song in front of judges Lesley Garrett, Howard Goodall and David Grant before one is crowned the 2021 champion. The programme also includes a performance of John Rutter’s Angels’ Carol by the winning chorister, Aled Jones and all the semi-finalists.
In the third weekend of Advent, the Rev Kate Bottley is in Lincoln to explore its famous Christmas market. She meets Christian stall holders to hear the role that faith plays in their businesses. She also discovers the hidden treasures within the city’s magnificent Gothic cathedral, including its unique Nativity scene. Mark De-Lisser meets Sian Wade from Bridge Church and finds out how Lincoln comes together each year to provide Christmas gifts for local people in need through their Christmas Sack Appeal. And Kate meets Aric Prentice, director of music for the cathedral, to learn about the history of Christmas caroling and to hear some of the cathedral choir members talk about the joy they feel to be back singing carols together at this time of year.
Katherine Jenkins looks forward to Christmas with a host of festive favourite carols from Westminster Abbey, including Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come All Ye Faithful, and there are special performances from the Abbey choir and from Gospel Singer of the Year Monique McKen with Tessera.
Claire McCollum is in Ireland to meet the ever-popular Daniel O’Donnell as he celebrates his 60th birthday to find out how his strong Catholic faith motivates his life and his singing. Daniel takes Claire to Lough Derg, a special place of pilgrimage for him over the years. All the hymns and songs in the programme have been chosen by Daniel, including How Great Thou Art and I Watch the Sunrise, and there are two new performances from Daniel himself of Silent Night and I Will Pray For You.
As we welcome the new year, and as many people make resolutions to be more active and get fit, the Rev Kate Bottley visits the beautiful Temple Newsam Estate in Leeds to explore the connections between faith and fitness. Radzi Chinyanganya meets Paralympic gold medalist Kadeena Cox to hear how her deep faith has endured through tragedy and triumph. Kate gets her trainers on to join a group from Christian Runners UK, a nationwide fellowship of people who love to run and share their faith at the same time. And she tries to keep in step with a Leeds line dancing troupe who believe faith and keeping fit can be fun too. We also meet the remarkable Father Vlad, a priest in his eighties who has set himself an extraordinary walking challenge. With hymns and songs celebrating the new life expressed in the Christian faith, including a very special performance from Andrea Bocelli. Music: Morning Has Broken – The Church of St Cross, Winchester I See Jesus Lifted High – The Church of Christ the
Sean Fletcher is in Liverpool to learn more about the importance of baptism for Christians and to find out how Jesus’s baptism is celebrated by different denominations at this time of year. He speaks to Canon Philip Anderson at Liverpool Cathedral about the history of baptism and the meaning behind the symbols and the ceremony. We hear from a group of Ethiopian Christians about how they mark the anniversary of Jesus’s baptism in the River Jordan with their spectacular Timkat festival, we discover why full-immersion baptisms are also an integral part of the Pentecostal Church, and we witness a family baptism and explain the importance of the role of godparents.
Aled Jones is in Bristol where he visits Brunel’s groundbreaking passenger ship, the mighty SS Great Britain, and finds out which hymns were sung on board in 1852. He takes a look at some of Bristol’s amazing street art, including one of the latest murals on the side of E5 Church. There he meets artist Emma Holloway, who explains the link between butterflies and the Bible, and one of the church members tells Aled why the theme of transformation is so meaningful to her. We join the Christian youth group from Christ Church Downend, who are planting trees that will form part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, and Rosie Walker from the Woodland Trust explains how everyone can get involved in planting a tree for the Queen’s platinum jubilee. Gemma Hunt meets HM Coastguard’s first ever chaplain, the Rev Tom Ebbens, on a very muddy seashore training exercise in Portishead, and there is an uplifting performance of Rise Up from Laura Wright.
In Oxford, where the Bible has been studied for centuries by scholars, the Rev Kate Bottley meets Christians who have experienced the life-changing power of its words. For the centenary of the Bible Reading Fellowship, Kate hears about its history from leader Canon Richard Fisher and from author Amy Boucher Pye. Via Zoom, Amy speaks with someone in New Zealand whose life has been changed by her Bible-reading notes. In London Gemma Hunt discovers how the Bible is at the heart of Messy Church, an organisation whose services are designed for children and young families. Former Songs of Praise presenter Debbie Thrower describes how the Bible-inspired Anna Chaplaincy initiative brings hope and comfort to older people and those with dementia. And Kate meets Victoria, whose perspective on parenting her disabled daughter was transformed by words from Psalm 139. Hymns and songs from across the UK reflect the love and care of God as promised and witnessed in the Bible: God Is Love, His the Car
Mark De-Lisser hosts the first of two special programmes celebrating gospel music. This week, it’s the semi-final of the competition to find the Gospel Singer of the Year 2022! Five talented amateur singers take to the stage at The Monastery in Manchester. Deciding who goes through to the final are the judges; TV presenter and celebrity vocal coach, Carrie Grant, MOBO award winning gospel performer CalledOut Music and soul singing star Mica Paris. Our semi-finalists are Maxine Brooks from Birmingham, Patrice Campbell from London, Kieron Bygraves from Huddersfield, Sandu Bantas from Birmingham, and Morgan Cassius from London.
It’s the final of the Gospel Singer of the Year competition 2022. This celebration of gospel music includes a guest performance from the legendary Jools Holland and Ruby Turner. It comes from The Monastery in Manchester, hosted by Mark De-Lisser. Singing to win the title are three talented finalists, and making the all-important decision are the judges: TV presenter and celebrity vocal coach, Carrie Grant, MOBO award winning gospel performer CalledOut Music and soul singing star Mica Paris.
Just ahead of St Valentine’s Day, Katherine Jenkins meets Christians showing love and kindness to others. Some have been inspired by the story of St Robert of Knaresborough, who cared deeply for his local community, the poor and the destitute. JB Gill visits a couple whose love and kindness to others means opening their home to those in need, including teenage refugees. John Sentamu, the former archbishop of York, remembers with affection his friend archbishop Desmond Tutu. With music reflecting God’s love for us, including Love Divine, How Deep the Fathers Love and Here is Love performed by the Unoma Okudo.
Claire McCollum explores Edinburgh and discovers the rich Christian heritage of Scotland’s capital. On a history tour, Claire hears about individuals through the ages who, inspired by their faith, had an impact on Scotland and the world. She also visits Polwarth Parish Church on the banks of the Union Canal and takes a trip on the church’s brand-new canal boat! Gemma Hunt is in neighbouring Glasgow to meet a Christian using music to break down barriers by setting up a record label to nurture the talent of ex-prisoners. And Claire hears about the faith of one of Scotland’s and Edinburgh’s most celebrated sporting heroes, Eric Liddell. His Olympic triumphs were immortalised in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, but Eric was initially a rugby star and gained his first Scotland cap exactly 100 years ago. On the rugby pitches of the University of Edinburgh, Eric’s niece tells the story of his life as a sportsman and as a missionary. With songs and hymns from across Scotland, includi
Katherine Jenkins visits St David’s College, Lampeter, now part of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where higher education began in Wales 200 years ago. She meets the vice-chancellor, Professor Medwin Hughes, and students from around the world including a group from St Vincent and the Grenadines. They have been offered scholarships to study at the college after their island was devastated by a volcanic eruption. James Lusted digs up leeks on David Shepherd’s farm on the Gower Peninsular and finds out from the Rev Melda Grantham why some Welsh people wear a leek rather than a daffodil to mark St David’s Day. Last year a bronze statue of Betty Campbell, the first black head teacher in Wales, was unveiled in Cardiff city centre following a public vote to recognise a hidden heroine. Her daughter Elaine Clarke and sculptor Eve Shepherd explain how faith shaped this remarkable woman. We have hymns and from around Wales, including Betty Campbell’s favourite song Something Insid
Claire McCollum is in Sunderland, a city whose Christian links to the glassmaking industry stretch back over 1,300 years. She discovers the story of St Benedict Biscop, a 7th-century monk who founded the monastery of St Peter’s and introduced the tradition of stained-glass windows to the UK. We also hear from the chaplain of Sunderland University about why stained-glass windows are such an important part of our Christian heritage, and Claire gets hands on with some glass blowing. To mark International Women’s Day, Pam Rhodes learns about a project that shines a light on inspirational women from Sunderland’s past and present. And we meet a Sunderland University student, originally from Ghana, to hear why the city was the perfect place to continue his studies and how faith guides his work with glass.
The Rev Kate Bottley explores the ancient rhythm of prayer and work practised by the Roman Catholic monks of Mount St Bernard’s Abbey in Leicestershire. She speaks to the brothers about their calling and the purpose of the monastic community and also samples the renowned Trappist beer brewed in the monastery. In nearby Loughborough, YolanDa Brown steps back in time at the oldest working bell foundry in the world and discovers how centuries-old craftsmanship is still producing bells to call people to worship. And we visit Leicester’s Chinese Church as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. With hymns and songs from Leicester and across the UK.
In Birmingham, Katherine Jenkins joins members of the lively and growing young congregation at Gas Street Church. Its lead pastors, Tim and Rachel Hughes, describe their journey of faith and trust in God, leaving London with their family to start the new church in 2015. Laura Wright meets Christian sisters Eman and Sanchia, who were born as conjoined twins. They survived an operation to separate them and are now thriving 20-year-olds. In Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, Norma Jean Murrain explains how her deep faith led her to start a jewellery-making training school for young people. And members of Gas Street Church’s congregation tell Katherine how they have seen God at work in their own journeys of faith. Hymns and songs from Gas Street and the wider Birmingham area reflect the Christian call to deeper faith and trust in God, including: Love Won’t Stop, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, The Lord’s My Shepherd, By the Grace of God, Take My Life and Let It Be, Spirit Break Ou
The Rev Kate Bottley is in Derbyshire, celebrating Mothering Sunday with mums from across the generations. She joins a baby massage class run by Nicky Daubney and hears about the role faith and human touch played in helping one baby recover from sepsis. We visit Woodleigh Christian Care Home in nearby Mansfield and share in a daughter’s joy as she hugs her 92-year-old mum for the first time in months. Laura Wright meets Pip Peacock who, back in 2019, prayed for help when she nearly died after being trampled by a herd of cows whilst out walking in the Peak District, and we meet Katherine and Hannah, a mother and daughter who help to run the youth group at Reach Church in Derby. There’s also new music from Reach including the family favourite My Lighthouse, and the young choir Perfect Pitch perform The Lord Bless You and Keep You at the stunning Derbyshire stately home, Chatsworth House.
The Rev Kate Bottley is in Hereford to discover how faith has been put into practice by local Christians past and present. She visits Hereford Cathedral, a site of worship for over 1,300 years, to find out how the cathedral staff have recently played a leading role in improving the experience for visitors with sensory issues. She also joins some local children on the cathedral’s unique Sensory Trail. JB Gill hears about a project that teaches invaluable first aid skills to young people, and he volunteers to help those who find themselves in need during a night out in Hereford. And we hear from a local cheesemaker about the role her relationship with God plays in her life and work.
Katherine Jenkins visits Winchester to see how they are marking Palm Sunday. She discovers what happened when Jesus entered Jerusalem and learns about the annual Palm Sunday parade that takes place in Winchester, ending at the cathedral. She also visits the local hospice, which is now the permanent home of a former Chelsea Flower Show garden based on Psalm 23. JB Gill spends a night out with the city's street pastors, who offer help and prayers to the vulnerable, and we meet a former inmate from HMP Winchester who is now a spoken word performer, with God at the heart of his work. With hymns from Winchester cathedral including Palm Sunday classics Ride On, Ride On in Majesty and All Glory, Laud and Honour, plus a special performance of The Truth by Alexandra Burke.
Sean Fletcher follows in the footsteps of saints and pilgrims to celebrate Easter on the holy island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland. Sean joins the Northern Cross pilgrims who have been walking to Holy Island every Easter for nearly 50 years. With the tide safely out, the group sets off barefoot for the final three miles across the sands. Once on the island, Sean discovers its extraordinary Christian history, which stretches back 1,400 years, and learns about the Lindisfarne Gospels – an exquisite work of art and dedication to God produced on Holy Island in the 8th century. He also reflects on the meaning of Easter with a group from inner city Birmingham who come to Holy Island as part of their leadership programme. With hymns and songs to celebrate Easter from across the UK. Music featured: 1. We Have a Gospel to Proclaim – St Mary’s, Lindisfarne 2. O Praise the Name – Reach Derby 3. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Katherine Jenkins 4. O Happy Day (The Greatest Day in History
Katherine Jenkins visits Paisley Abbey in Scotland, where she meets their newly appointed female minister, the Rev Elspeth McKay, and the director of music, George McPhee, who demonstrates the magnificent 150-year-old organ. Russell Macmillan, who is registered blind, explains why he helps those in need in East Renfrewshire with small acts of kindness that make a big difference. Local Christian Liz New tells Katherine why she felt compelled to help those in Ukraine, and we find out what other Christian charities are doing to help. YolanDa Brown meets John and Isobel Gibson, whose faith helped them cope when their son Cameron tragically took his own life. With comforting and uplifting music from around Scotland, including the hymns Praise My Soul the King of Heaven and All My Hope on God Is Founded, and a performance of What a Friend We Have in Jesus by the band Celtic Worship.
Aled Jones visits Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, the largest monastic ruins in the UK, to investigate its hidden treasures, including some remarkable new evidence about the community of monks and lay brothers who lived there. Fountains Abbey is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and Aled hears from Justin Scully, the general manager, about how his faith influences his management of such an important historical site and the staff and volunteers who work there. Locally based singer-songwriter Philippa Hanna tells Aled about how having a baby encouraged her to examine questions of her identity and relationship with God. We also meet a local farmer who has turned over her land to llama trekking and hear how her work with these unique animals allows her to put her faith into action by helping others.
Claire McCollum joins thousands of Christians in Minehead, Somerset, for ‘Spring Harvest’, the annual festival that combines a holiday with worship, music and fun for all ages. For over 40 years ‘Spring Harvest’ has attracted Christians from many different denominations to gather at holiday camps to renew, discuss and celebrate their faith. Claire meets three generations of one family who have been coming to Spring Harvest since the early days and joins them for the energetic all-age worship services. She goes ‘backstage’ with some of the main worship leaders and preachers and discovers more about the purpose and power of bringing so many Christians together. Claire also discovers how worship is being made more accessible in innovative ways at a creative worship session for adults with learning disabilities. She also enjoys a game of ten pin bowling with young leaders to hear how Spring Harvest inspires faith and friendship in teenagers. With inspiring worship music from the Spring
To mark National Children’s Day, Aled Jones visits Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to hear stories of faith and hope. In the Victorian splendour of the hospital’s St Christopher’s chapel, Aled meets the chaplain to find out how her role differs from chaplaincy in other hospitals, given the patients are all children. He also meets Caitlan, a 16-year-old heart transplant recipient whose road to recovery involved spending 262 days at the hospital. JB Gill joins a 22-mile walk from Kent to Great Ormond Street to raise awareness of a child who lost her life to a rare disease, and we find out about Mary Seacole, the Jamaican nurse who ended up on the front line of the Crimean War. Our hymn selection contains children’s classics including Morning Has Broken and We Are Marching.
Celebrating 1,900 years since the building of Hadrian’s Wall, the Rev Kate Bottley visits Northumberland to unearth evidence of early Christianity at the nearby Roman settlement of Vindolanda. Mark De Lisser meets members of the Manchester Survivor’s Choir, five years on from the Manchester Arena Bombing, and Kate gets to experience the peace and reflection that comes from birdwatching on Northumberland’s beautiful east coast. With hymns from St Andrew’s Church in Corbridge.
Sean Fletcher is in the stunning setting of Snowdonia, an area celebrating 70 years since its designation as a National Park, to discover how faith has been put into practice by local Christians past and present. He visits the 5th-century coastal church of St Tanwg to hear about the roots of Christianity in Snowdonia and discovers how the arrival of Celtic missionaries in north Wales in the 5th and 6th centuries led to an era of Christian influence that became known as the Age of Saints. James Lusted visits the Ffestiniog Railway, the oldest independent railway company in the world, to hear about the role the railway has played in the life and slate-mining history of the local community. We also discover the story of an iconic hotel that stands in the shadow of Mount Snowdon and has been pivotal in the history of mountaineering, most significantly in relation to the successful British expedition to be the first in the world to climb Mount Everest in 1953, led by Sir Edmund Hillary. An
Aled Jones and Pam Rhodes celebrate HM the Queen’s platinum jubilee at a street party in Eton, looking across the Thames to Windsor Castle. With local people and special guests, they reflect on the Queen’s remarkable reign and the strong Christian faith that has been the foundation of her life. Historian Kate Williams takes questions about the Queen from local school children before joining Aled in St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. There she explores what has made the Queen’s reign so exceptional and sets out how Christianity is such a key element of her role and her life. Back at the street party, local people recall treasured memories of meeting the Queen in and around Windsor, firefighters and military veterans reflect on Her Majesty’s life of service, and authors Mark Greene and Catherine Butcher share insights from their books about the Queen’s faith. With hymns for the occasion recorded at the magnificent chapel of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, a
To mark its sixtieth anniversary, the Rev Kate Bottley visits Guildford Cathedral to hear stories of faith and hope. She learns how construction was abandoned during the Second World War, but 200,000 people paid half a crown each in a Buy a Brick campaign to get the building finished. Kate also learns that women played key roles in the design of the building and are celebrated in much of the imagery and sculpture. Katie Piper meets Elizabeth and Fernando Jimenez to hear the extraordinary story of how they forgave the man who killed their daughter through dangerous driving, and took him into their home. Back at the cathedral, the dean takes her to the vaults, where great-grandmother Sally Courtney launders all the cathedral surplices as a service to God. We visit the Seed Community at Waverley Abbey, where a new prayer garden designed and built by the community offers reflection and solace, and we have glorious hymns sung in the cathedral including Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us.
Aled Jones celebrates Father’s Day in Watford and hears about MFF or Music, Football, Fatherhood, an organisation helping fathers and fathers-to-be navigate some of the challenges and anxieties around becoming a dad. Aled meets its founder, Elliot Rae, to hear how a traumatic experience during the birth of his daughter encouraged him to set up MFF. Aled and Elliot attend an event where fathers are encouraged to open up about their experiences and learn new skills. Meanwhile, a single father talks about about how his faith influences and helps with his role as a parent to six adopted children with additional and complex needs. And JB Gill visits a Nottingham-based community project using sports training to empower young people to keep away from gangs and antisocial behaviour.
Claire McCollum visits the Baptist Assembly in Bournemouth to find out more about the 400-year-old Christian denomination. She meets Lynn Green, the general secretary of Baptists Together, who explains how the Baptist denomination first came about and what they do today. She also meets Fiona Firestone, who suffered a debilitating stroke, but whose recovery was helped by her Baptist family. Gemma Hunt helps to create some sacred art, and we meet a Ukrainian family who have fled their homeland, swapping the city streets of Apostolove for the valleys of Wales after being offered a new home by a British Christian family. Plus, we have music including Love Divine, The Lion and the Lamb, and Way Maker.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits Leeds Cathedral and joins the ranks of its junior choir. She speaks to the children about the faith, fun and friendship that inspire thousands of children to sing in the cathedral choirs and in choral groups across Yorkshire. In nearby Bradford, Radzi Chinyanganya tries culinary creations from around the world at a Christian café helping refugees, and he visits a Leeds youth club experiencing Bible stories through virtual reality. Back in Leeds Cathedral, Kate meets some of its unique, international congregation, and in the Lady Chapel she reflects with the Dean on the profound place Mary the mother of Jesus holds in the Catholic tradition. With hymns from Leeds Cathedral and across the UK.
Claire McCollum joins Christians aboard a tour boat on Loch Ness to find out about the fifth-century legend of Saint Columba’s encounter with the Loch Ness monster! Also, on the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship, Claire heads to St Andrews for a round of golf with historian Roger McStravick. Claire hears about famous golf-course designer Tom Morris, a committed Christian who designed elements of St Andrews’ Old Course using Biblical references such as Hell’s Bunker and the Valley of Sin. And in Inverness, two priests from Nigeria tell their story of evangelisation in rural communities in Scotland by using the social media video platform TikTok to attract younger people to church.
Aled Jones is in Birmingham, host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to hear Christian stories around this international celebration of sport. He meets Andy Street, metro mayor of the West Midlands, to hear what hosting the games mean for the people of Birmingham, and he also discovers how the city’s church community has been working with local schools on a project to highlight the stories and legacy of the Commonwealth Games. Aled meets former and current stars of UK athletics to hear why the Commonwealth Games are so important and how faith can help with the challenges of elite competition. And renowned conductor, composer and Songs of Praise music director Ken Burton tells us about a collaborative music venture with local a cappella quintet Black Voices and an 800-strong amateur choir to celebrate the arrival of the games in the city.
Rev Kate Bottley visits the Springfields Festival Gardens in Lincolnshire to discover the healing power of faith, flowers and trees and to explore the prominence plants have in the Bible. She meets a florist and author whose life has been changed by flowers and learns more about the long floral tradition of churches in Lincolnshire and around the UK. Kate also looks back at some favourite features from the show, including the time when Aled Jones went to meet his old friend Alan Titchmarsh at Kew Gardens and when JB Gill heard about how becoming a tree surgeon helped one man overcome his struggles with addiction. Featuring music from inspiring gardens and churches across the UK.
Katherine Jenkins meets creative Christians in Torbay and discovers the fascinating history of the ancient Torre Abbey. Abbey manager Lucinda Heron takes us through the building’s rich history, and we meet head gardener Ali Marshall, who has been faithfully maintaining the beautiful grounds for 14 years. Katherine also speaks to Martin Harris, leader of Christian drama company Unleashed, which helps support locals struggling with homelessness and addiction by teaching them to perform. The company’s most recent, award-winning film project tells the story of how one of Torbay’s churches became one of the UK’s first to be open to people who could not afford to pay for pews. Gemma Hunt meets Geoff Ward, aka Sandyman, who believes God helps him create amazing pictures in the sand, including one of the Songs of Praise logo. Tapestry artist Jacqui Parkinson demonstrates how she creates her splendid, silk-woven panels depicting stories from the Bible. Her most recent exhibition, Threads thro
Katherine Jenkins visits Capernwray Bible School and Christian Holiday Centre in the Lancashire village of Carnforth to meet people diving deeper into their faith, including one family of three generations who attend each year. After getting stuck in with some face and hand painting, Katherine meets students and staff from the school to learn about the history of Capernwray Hall, a stunning 175-acre estate purchased by evangelist W Ian Thomas in 1947 to create a place for young people to learn about Jesus. Katherine also recalls stories from previous episodes of the series in which the Bible has proved to be an inspiration, including in 2018 when JB Gill met a young man who decided not to take his own life after finding and reading a free Bible in a hotel room. Our hymns feature church congregations from across the UK, there's outdoor worship from Eastbourne Bandstand and Nettwood Farm in Bristol, and the BBC's Young Chorister of the Year Ruby sings in Guildford Cathedral.
Aled Jones joins a gang of intrepid walkers to celebrate the power of pilgrimage on the Wales Coast Path. Now in its tenth year, coast path officer Tricia Cottnam tells Aled about their collaboration with the National Churches Trust to create nine new walking trails at various sacred heritage sites along the route. Aled joins the walkers along a 14km stretch of the path, beginning at one of these sacred heritage sites, St Dogmaels Abbey. Along the way he speaks to walker and singer Suzi McGregor, who tells him how walking the Camino de Santiago inspired her to write a song. Further north, at St Collen’s Church in Llangollen, James Lusted meets Father Lee Taylor, whose weekly Hymns and Pimms livestreams during lockdown became so popular he continued them even after churches reopened. James joins the self-proclaimed ‘warblers’ at their first in-person Hymns and Pimms gathering since doors closed and talks to those who found it to be a saving grace during such tough times.
The Rev Kate Bottley visits the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show, one of Britain’s oldest, to reveal the Christian stories in this celebration of the countryside. She meets volunteers to hear about the show’s history and what it represents for the faith and farming heritage of local communities. She gets hands-on with some prize-winning livestock and investigates the on-site church tent while enjoying the sights and sounds of an agricultural fair. There’s also another chance to see when JB Gill met the son of the renowned author of the All Creatures Great and Small books, and we revisit the time when Katie Piper met Christians offering hope and friendship to fellow farmers during tough times.
Sean Fletcher joins Christians gathering in Hertfordshire at High Leigh, a 19th Century Manor House, which for 100 years has welcomed churches from all denominations to worship together and celebrate Christian unity. Sean uncovers the history of the estate, a grand and beautiful former family home transformed into a centre for all Christians to come together. After worship and study, Sean gets stuck into a football match with guests at High Leigh learning how Christians can use sport to bring people together in a fun way. Pam Rhodes heads to Westminster to join faith leaders and politicians attending a special 'prayer breakfast' organised by the UK Coptic Orthodox Church to raise awareness for persecuted Christians all around the world. And in Luton, ten trainee hospital chaplains are invited on an interfaith walking tour of the borough, visiting several places of worship with the Christian charity Grassroots to deepen their understanding of different faith traditions.
Aled Jones reflects on the extraordinary life and deep faith of Her Majesty the Queen.
Aled Jones and Pam Rhodes reflect on hymns and songs of significance during the life and reign of HM the Queen, including Praise My Soul, Lord for the Years and Great is Thy Faithfulness. With a special performance of Sing from the Royal Albert Hall, written to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, and Our Father by the Kingdom Choir from the Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich.
To mark the harvest season, Aled Jones is in East Anglia to find out what the annual celebration means to local Christians and to talk about the importance of caring for creation. He finds out all about ‘wool churches’ at Holy Trinity in Long Melford, and learns about the links between Christianity and agriculture. Parishioner Sally McDonald tells Aled about the fundraising drive she pioneered to have the magnificent stained-glass windows in the church restored. Laura Wright talks to Christian farmer John Pawsey, who, after four generations of traditional farming, decided to make his family business organic; and Aled visits Christian-run nature reserve Foxearth Meadows to hear about the transformative power of God’s creation. In this time of celebration of feast and bounty, we also reflect on those who are struggling: Charlotte Webb tells her story of overcoming hardship and finding faith through Christian organisation Lightwave. Having come to Lightwave for help with food, Charlotte
The Rev Kate Bottley explores 900 years of history at Carlisle Cathedral, including its star-spangled ceiling.
Sean Fletcher is in London to investigate how gospel music, with roots in the 19th-century hymnals of people of African-Caribbean descent, helps shape life and faith in the UK. At the royal unveiling of a monument commemorating the Windrush generation at London’s Waterloo Station, we meet a passenger who arrived here in 1948 onboard the famous ship. Sean experiences the sights, sounds and excitement of Soul at St James’s, a monthly gospel singing workshop and choir performance with a mission to spread faith and joy. He also meets an internationally renowned blind steel-pan player to hear about the importance of the instrument to Trinidadian culture and the significance of his Christian faith. With music from Trinity Baptist Church in Croydon and Kensington Temple alongside performances from Marisha Wallace and Mica Paris.
For Christians in Manchester, there’s plenty to celebrate this year as institutions across the city mark milestone moments in their history. Katherine Jenkins is at Manchester Cathedral to find out about a 600-year royal charter and to explore the building’s long past and its place in the city. In MediaCity, the Rev Kate Bottley meets Paul Kerensa, who has written a book about the BBC’s 100 years of public broadcasting and tells the story of the corporation’s first director general John Reith’s spiritual inspiration and mission to produce faith programmes. Kate also joins the bishop of Salford in his back garden to discuss the 60th anniversary of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and witness how their international work is being brought back to the diocese.
Claire McCollum visits the cathedral city of Armagh to find out how it became known as the centre of the Christian faith in Ireland after St Patrick built his first stone church on a hill in the city. The city is now home to two major cathedrals, one for the Church of Ireland and the other for the Roman Catholic Church. Claire visits the foundations of St Patrick’s first stone church, where archaeologists have found evidence of pre-Christian worship on the same site, and meets the Rev Shane Forster to find out how faith has shaped the identity of the city and its people. Also looking over the city is the Armagh Observatory, founded by Archbishop Richard Robinson in 1789 to make Armagh a centre of science as well as faith. Claire meets a PhD student at the observatory to learn about the research centre's Christian ethos and looks through the world's oldest telescope to be still housed in its original dome. Armagh is also known as ‘the orchard county’, so Claire goes apple picking with
Sean Fletcher embarks on a personal journey across London and south Wales, reflecting on the people, places and music that have shaped his Christian faith. He meets up with one of his oldest friends to talk about the time he first heard about Christianity as a teenager, and he traces his path from that early commitment, through times of doubt and rejection, to rediscovering his faith in his twenties. In south Wales, he visits one of the most influential figures for his family and his faith, his mother-in-law Nesta. And in London, with his friend the comedian Sally Philips, he discusses the importance of having the support of fellow Christians on life’s journey. With hymns chosen by Sean for what they have meant to him throughout his faith journey.
Katherine Jenkins is in the Kingdom of Fife, where she visits the 11th-century Dunfermline Abbey and hears the story of its royal founder, Saint Margaret of Scotland. Sean Fletcher meets former prime minister Gordon Brown to hear about the Big Hoose Project, a local social enterprise that has seen millions of pounds' worth of donated household goods distributed to children and families living in poverty across Fife. We meet local resident Karen, diagnosed with early onset dementia, and her husband George to find out how their Christian faith influences living with a dementia diagnosis, and the hope they find in believing that ‘God is in control’. And Katherine meets teachers and children from Dunfermline High School to hear about an art and audio-visual project they’re undertaking in the abbey as part of its 950th anniversary celebrations. With hymns from across Scotland, including Will You Come and Follow Me, Take This Moment, Sign and Space, and Spirit of God.
Remembrance Sunday is a poignant occasion for Christians in the armed forces as they join in prayer on the national day of reflection to remember those who have lost their lives whilst serving their country. The Rev Kate Bottley is at His Majesty’s Naval Base in Portsmouth to meet Christians working in the Royal Navy and to find out why their faith is so important at this time. In Shrivenham, Pam Rhodes attends a service of prayer and remembrance for Christians from all three branches of the military, who are coming together in honour of the fallen. With hymns of remembrance from around the country.
The Rev Kate Bottley celebrates the blessings animals bring to our lives as she takes part in a special pet service in the magnificent Worcester Cathedral. She meets members of the congregation of all shapes and sizes, from goats to cockroaches! She speaks to their accompanying humans about the profound love and support that pets can provide in good times and in bad, and why we should thank God for all of them – even the creepy crawlies and those with negative associations. In a beautiful ancient church in Northamptonshire, Gemma Hunt discovers a growing new congregation – of bats! She joins local children on a bat walk and speaks to conservationists and church members about a new initiative helping to protect precious bats whilst also keeping churches open for worship.
Aled Jones presents the boys' semi-final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Gorton Monastery in Manchester, with judges Katherine Jenkins, Howard Goodall and David Grant. Five of the best young choristers in the country sing a sacred song, and their choices include How Beautiful Are the Feet from Handel’s Messiah, Pie Jesu by Fauré, Lorenc’s Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus by Franck and the popular hymn set to Holst’s stirring music, I Vow To Thee, My Country. Three of the five boys will be selected to sing in the final on 11 December.
Aled Jones hosts the girl’s semi-final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Gorton Monastery in Manchester, with judges Katherine Jenkins, Howard Goodall and David Grant. The music featured includes the Bach/Gounod setting of Ave Maria and the hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy, and three of the girls have chosen music by contemporary composers - Love Divine by Goodall, Be Thou My Vision by Chilcott and Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing. Three of the five girls will be selected to sing in the final on 11 December.
It’s the final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from The Monastery in Manchester, presented by Aled Jones and Rev Kate Bottley. As it’s the third Sunday of Advent, six of the best girl and boy choristers in the UK perform a Christmas carol or song for judges Katherine Jenkins, Howard Goodall and David Grant before one is crowned the 2022 winner. The programme includes a performance of the carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel from the winning chorister, Aled Jones and all ten semi-finalists.
A week before Christmas Day, Claire McCollum visits a very festive Hever Castle in Kent. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ, and Claire shares the joy and excitement of the season with the local community. She hears about the history of Anne Boleyn’s childhood spent at the castle, then joins the local school for their annual Christingle service. Radzi Chinyanganya is at the Black Culture Christmas Market in Brixton to hear about the diverse decorations on display and the importance of inclusion for all.
Aled Jones presents a Christmas Day edition of Songs of Praise from Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. The Cathedral Choir leads the singing and performs In The Bleak Mid-Winter. Songs of Praise Gospel Singer of the Year Patrice Campbell sings Mary, Did You Know. And Aled teams up with Russell Watson to sing Mistletoe and Wine. Plus favourite carols, accompanied by the Songs of Praise Orchestra.
To sing in the New Year with hymns and songs, Sean Fletcher presents a special Songs of Praise from the beautiful Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. There’s a host of wonderful performers including Katherine Jenkins and Brenda Edwards with a song that means a lot to them both, You’ll Never Walk Alone. New opera star Freddie De Tommaso gives his rendition of Nessun Dorma, and the male Welsh voices of Morriston Orpheus Choir perform World In Union. And of course, there are lots of your favourite hymns to sing along with including Tell Out My Soul, Love Divine, God Is Working His Purpose Out, In Christ Alone and Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.
Claire McCollum visits Olney in Buckinghamshire to celebrate 250 years of one of the most popular hymns in the world, Amazing Grace. On 1 January 1773, John Newton’s now famous words were first performed in the parish church where he was curate. 250 years on, Claire visits that same church to discover the remarkable story behind the hymn, the extraordinary life of its composer and the reasons for the composition’s enduring power. In Olney, Claire meets local experts who reflect on the life of John Newton, from his early years of debauchery as a sailor and then as a slave trader to his later life as a dedicated clergy man, hymn writer and abolitionist. Claire hears how a moment of epiphany at sea sparked a deep Christian that faith helped him to realise the full horror of his actions and compelled him to spend the rest of his life serving others and striving to abolish the evil of slavery. Claire also meets 30-year-old Jordan Hattee, who shares his own experience of God’s amazing gra
Rev Kate Bottley is in Leicestershire to explore how faith and the Bible can help people through one of the greatest challenges in life, the loss of a loved one. She meets Abi May, the founder of 'Living with Loss' Christian retreats which help people go through their journey of grief and find a way forward after bereavement. She speaks to some of those who've attended a retreat to learn how it helped them find comfort and solace after their loss. In Liverpool, Kate hears about GraveTalk, a unique CofE initiative where people can come together to share their thoughts and questions about bereavement, dying and funerals in a friendly helpful space. And Mike Palmer, one of the '3 Dads Walking' tells Kate about how his faith helped him in the aftermath of his teenage daughter’s suicide and the inspirational walk he undertook with two other bereaved fathers across the UK to raise awareness.
The Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year is back, hosted by Mark De-Lisser. In the first of two programmes, five of the best amateur choirs from across the UK take to the stage at The Monastery in Manchester. The choirs have to impress three celebrity judges – TV’s favourite choir master Gareth Malone; actress, performer and queen of soul Mica Paris; and MOBO award-winning gospel artist and Christian rapper Guvna B. This week's five choirs each perform their take on a traditional hymn. Belfast Community Gospel Choir sing Amazing Grace, BIMM Birmingham Gospel Choir sing Abide with Me, EAGA Gospel Choir from Leicester sing a medley of In Christ Alone with Tis So Sweet, G Choir from Hull sing Take It to the Lord in Prayer, and Birmingham Community Gospel Choir sing Nothing but the Blood. Five fantastic choirs, but which one will be your favourite?
It’s the final of Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year 2023, hosted by Mark De-Lisser. Last week, five of the best amateur choirs from across the UK took to the stage at The Monastery in Manchester. This week, they have a second opportunity to impress the three celebrity judges - TV’s favourite choir master Gareth Malone; actress, performer and queen of soul Mica Paris; and MOBO award-winning gospel artist and Christian rapper Guvna B. Each choir performs its own choice of gospel song: Belfast Community Gospel Choir sing Holy, Holy, Holy; BIMM Birmingham Gospel Choir have chosen Never Alone; EAGA Gospel Choir from Leicester perform an African Medley; G Choir from Hull sing Blessing of Abraham; and Birmingham Community Gospel Choir perform I Almost Let Go. The judges have a tough decision to make, but only one choir can become Gospel Choir of the Year.
Aled Jones uncovers hidden gem churches in London with historian and tour guide Joanna Bogle. Starting in Holborn, Aled, along with a small group, is guided down the narrow pathways of the City of London to Fleet Street to hear the fascinating link between the church and journalism. We discover how one church became known as 'the Jerusalem of London', and another, a memorial for the RAF, resonates with tour guide Joanna as she shares the story of her uncle, a pilot who lost his life in the Second World War. Laura Wright visits a recording studio inside the walls of a beautiful church in Mayfair, where daily meditations are recorded and broadcast to over 100,000 people worldwide. Laura also learns how an app has been designed for busy commuters to help fit in time for prayer and reflection on the Gospels. One Grade II listed chapel hidden in the heart of a new property complex in Chelsea is home to an exhibition space for the Prince's Foundation, which offers students the opportunity
Claire McCollum visits Gretna Green in Scotland as she explores different expressions of God’s gift of love. Looking forward to St Valentine’s Day, Claire discovers the extraordinary 275-year history of love and marriage at Gretna Green, from young lovers eloping in the 18th century through to the 3,000 couples who still get married in the tiny border village each year. She meets one of the team of local ministers who conduct hundreds of weddings each year and tries her hand at sugar craft with a Christian wedding cake designer. Claire also meets the parents who made history as the first same-sex couple in Scotland to be approved for adoption. Together they reflect on how becoming a family of five has deepened their understanding of love and faith. With hymns and songs from across the UK, all celebrating God’s gift of love.
Sean Fletcher is in Lincolnshire to hear how people are preparing for Lent. He joins a group of children from a local Catholic primary school on a visit to Lincoln Cathedral to learn more about the Stations of the Cross, which mark Jesus’s last journey to his crucifixion. Sean helps them get creative with their idea to spread the message of Jesus’s love by painting 'positivity pebbles'. At St Giles Methodist Church in Lincoln, he meets volunteer Cay Sherlock and hears how vital the warm spaces initiative is, and the free bacon rolls! The Rev Kate Bottley meets Deirdre Speed from Gainsborough, who not only took in a Ukrainian couple fleeing the war but also welcomed their pet pooch too.
With St David’s Day around the corner, Katherine Jenkins visits Pembrokeshire to meet pilgrims following the ancient trail to St Davids Cathedral. Katherine meets Janet Ingram, who has been leading pilgrimages along the coastline of Wales for over a decade, and finds out how the diocese is celebrating 900 years since the route was officially recognised by Pope Callixtus II in 1123. The group stops at places of significance to Wales’s patron saint, including the well where David was baptised as a baby. Along the way, Katherine meets Daniel Jervis, an Olympic swimmer and Christian, who talks about how faith has helped him overcome challenges in sport and his personal life. Also, James Lusted visits one church further north on the pilgrim path, which is undergoing an impressive restoration part-funded by the National Churches Trust. With hymns new and old from St Davids Cathedral and across Wales - and a special performance from Welsh actor and Hollywood star Luke Evans.
To mark International Women's Day, Claire McCollum visits Glasgow to uncover stories of women of faith throughout the ages, including Glasgow's very own St Enoch. Claire traces the roots of the saint, visiting the St Enoch shopping centre in the heart of the city and meeting theologian Helen Bond to find out how Enoch, a Scottish princess in the 6th century, survived attempted murder and rape before giving birth to Glasgow's founder, Saint Mungo. Claire and Helen visit an impressive mural of St Enoch in the city and discuss why more is not known about women of faith in Christian history. Helen talks about fascinating stories of female biblical figures who played a fundamental role in the church's foundation but of whom little or nothing is known. Laura Wright meets Glaswegian women who are putting their faith into action, including Baylie Adeoti, the creator of a social enterprise that helps women overcome the boundaries to success in business. Also, on Glasgow's south side, Laura me
The Rev Kate Bottley is in Gloucester Cathedral’s Workshop of St Peter to explore the work of its stonemasons throughout its long history, even learning some of their traditional skills herself. The cathedral’s stained-glass windows add to the magnificence of the building, and leading artist Thomas Denny reflects on his installation in one of the chapels. Elsewhere in the city, Gemma Hunt meets a woman whose recovery from addiction led her to find faith, which she now relies on to support those in need in the community. With hymns and songs from across the UK that speak of the foundations of faith.
To celebrate Mothering Sunday, Claire McCollum is in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, to meet remarkable women inspiring the next generation through their faith and devotion. At the Sunday School of St Columb’s Cathedral, Claire finds out about the remarkable 'adopt a granny' project, where children are building relationships with elderly parishioners. She joins the children as they prepare special Mothering Sunday goodie bags and hears from the ‘grannies’ who so look forward to the children’s visits. Claire meets the family of Sister Clare Crockett, whose extraordinary story is inspiring millions around the world. Sister Clare was an ordinary Derry girl who became a nun and was tragically killed in an earthquake in 2016 whilst teaching children in Ecuador. Her sisters reflect on her life of devotion and her legacy. And Claire meets two mothers whose firm friendship is inspiring peace and reconciliation across religious and political divides.
The Rev Kate Bottley is at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, described as 'the most perfect English house to survive from the Middle Ages’, to explore its hidden treasures, including a 12th-century chapel, medieval kitchen and Elizabethan long gallery. Kate meets some of Haddon’s Christian tour guides to hear about the history of the hall and how their faith influences their work. In the wider Derbyshire area, JB Gill visits a farm run by a Christian charity that helps children, young people and families in need. He speaks to the founder about her inspiration for setting up the charity, and also to some of the dedicated staff and students working at the farm. JB also meets a West African chef to hear how faith in God has helped guide her to set up a restaurant in her Peak District farmhouse.
Sean Fletcher celebrates Palm Sunday at Kensington Temple in London and hears how a spirit of welcome is at the heart of their Christian ethos. He joins members of the temple’s welcome team on the streets of Notting Hill, where they share news of the church’s plans and activities during Holy Week. Sean also discovers the 150-year history of Kensington Temple and the story of the foundation of the Elim Pentecostal movement in the early 20th century. Laura Wright meets a star of stage and screen, Adjoa Andoh, to hear how faith has influenced her life and work, particularly in her role as a lay reader at her church in Herne Hill in London. And Sean joins members of Kensington Temple’s Filipino community for a special lunch of their traditional food and hears how important the church has been to their lives and the faith of people from over 100 nations who make up its congregation.
To celebrate the holiest day of the Christian year, Katherine Jenkins is at Chester Cathedral for Easter Sunday to meet the dean of Chester, who explains how they mark this special time of Jesus’s resurrection. At the Cathedral’s Song School, Laura Wright hears about Handel’s famous visit to the city, where today the choristers are rehearsing the composer’s Easter anthem Hallelujah! We meet some of the team working on the Chester Mystery Plays and share one woman’s story of rediscovering her faith through her involvement. And back at the cathedral, Katherine meets deaf Christians to learn about their experiences of accessing worship and creating positive change in their community. With new music that celebrates the season of hope from an enthusiastic congregation in Chester Cathedral.
Aled Jones travels to the garden suburb of Bournville to explore the faith and philanthropy of the Cadbury family, whose Quaker beliefs inspired the design of their revolutionary factory village. Aled meets heritage manager Daniel Callicott and takes a tour of the original workers' houses and their long and productive gardens, designed to encourage healthy living and to contrast with the squalid inner-city Victorian workhouses of the time. Along the way, Aled meets Caroline Cadbury, the great-granddaughter of the co-founder of Bournville, George Cadbury, and finds out why she believes Quakerism created a spirit of peace and tranquillity
To celebrate St George's Day, Laura Wright heads to the capital to join families uncovering the legendary story of England's patron saint on a dragon-finding walking tour. Later, Laura enjoys a quintessentially English afternoon tea with Chris Brown, a traditional town crier. Plus another chance to catch Aled Jones's interview with D-Day veteran Harry Billinge, who sadly passed away in April 2022. With hymns throughout the programme honouring England's patron saint and a special performance from St Paul's Cathedral Choir.
Ahead of the coronation, Aled Jones visits Highgrove House, the country residence of King Charles and Queen Camilla, to explore the magnificent gardens, a testament to Charles’ lifelong desire to champion causes close to his heart, especially the importance of protecting the natural environment. Royal biographer, broadcaster and friend of the royals Gyles Brandreth tells Aled about some of the key events that have shaped the life and faith of the new King. Aled hears about the pioneering work of The Prince’s Trust, a charity founded by the King when he left the navy. He also meets a Christian florist to hear how the trust helped her change her life around after serving time in prison. Aled hears from the Dean of Westminster about the spiritual and sacred symbols which will be used in the coronation ceremony.
Katherine Jenkins celebrates the coronation of King Charles III at the magnificent Hampton Court Palace and explores how his faith and spirituality will shape his reign. Inside the Great Hall, Katherine talks to royal historian Dr Tracy Borman to discover how echoes of the past still resonate in our monarchy and nations today. Pam Rhodes visits broadcaster and friend of the King, Jonathan Dimbleby, to find out more about His Majesty’s deep Christian faith and how this, along with his interest in- and respect for other faiths, will influence his role as monarch. Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church also shares personal insights into the King’s care and support for different Christian traditions and persecuted communities.
On Songs of Praise, ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, Sean Fletcher explores Christian wellbeing. He meets a couple whose own mental health challenges led them to set up an organisation inspired by kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of highlighting and celebrating imperfections rather than hiding them. The organisation offers training to churches to become mental-health friendly spaces and to run wellbeing groups in their communities. We also revisit the time Kate Bottley put on her trainers to join a group of Christian runners interested in physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing, and we look at the legacy of the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show Garden inspired by Psalm 23. The programme includes a performance from last year’s BBC Young Chorister of the Year as well as music from around the UK that reminds us, whatever challenges we may face, that God is always with us.
Claire McCollum follows in the footsteps of Saint Patrick and joins two nuns who lead a pilgrimage dedicated to the patron saint, which even involves kayaking, in and around County Down in Northern Ireland. The pilgrimage takes in some of the area’s most sacred sites, including Saul Church, known as the Cradle of Christianity for Ireland, built on the site of Saint Patrick's earliest known act of Christian worship. Claire also visits one of Ireland’s most impressive examples of early gothic architecture, the 12th-century Cistercian priory, Grey Abbey, and hears the story of its fascinating founder, Princess Affreca, noted for the strength of her religious patronage in the very male-dominated environment of the time. She also experiences one of the jewels of the abbey, the reconstruction of its original physic garden, which offers an insight into medieval medicine and the folklore surrounding many of the herbs that have grown there for centuries. And on the banks of Strangford Lough,
Sean Fletcher visits St Margaret’s Church in Westminster, popularly known as a place of worship for MPs and members of the House of Lords. Sean finds out what role the church plays in the day-to-day life of politicians and during significant moments in parliamentary history, including VE Day in 1945, when Winston Churchill led MPs from the House of Commons to St Margaret’s for a unique thanksgiving service to mark the end of the war. Sean also gets an exclusive insight into the workings of Parliament, meeting the chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons and finds out about the daily tradition of opening prayers inside the chamber. Pam Rhodes meets members of Christians in Politics, an organisation that actively seeks to bring together Christians from different political parties for prayer and fellowship. Pam also talks to Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse who, helped by the strength of their faith, campaigned for a change in legislation after the tragic death of their daughter. W
The Rev Canon Kate Bottley is at the Angel of the North for its 25th anniversary to discover the inspirational power of this spectacular sculpture. We meet the artist who designed the piece, Sir Antony Gormley, to hear about his process and intent for the project. The former Bishop of Jarrow tells Kate how the Angel offered a place of prayer and worship and shares his belief in the hope that angelic figures can offer. Before joining a local family on an angel adventure, Kate finds out about the original Angel of the North, Sister Winifred Laver, who dedicated her life to helping others.
Katherine Jenkins visits Syon House in west London to discover its rich Christian history and to look back on some of her favourite moments on Songs of Praise. In the grounds of Syon House by the Thames, Katherine hears about the enormous medieval abbey that once stood on the site and the radical community of priests and nuns that lived there. Katherine recalls her trip to Caldey Island off the coast of south Wales, one of Britain’s most ancient holy sites where one of the monks, Brother David, tells her about the spiritual heritage of the island which stretches back over 1400 years. There is another chance to see Katherine’s visit to the chapels within the iconic Tower of London when she met the first female Beefeater. Then, from the ancient to the modern, Katherine recalls her time in the thriving Gas Street Church in Birmingham, home to a congregation of over 1000 people.
To celebrate Father's Day, Sean Fletcher heads to Stockport to visit Heaton's Men in Sheds, an initiative that targets social isolation in men by bringing together people with different skills and hobbies to connect and forge friendships under one roof. The group was launched with the help of the Manchester diocese, which offered the basement of a Grade I listed church in Heaton Moor to become the home of the project. Sean arrives to the sound of drilling and power tools to meet Terry Hewitt, a former university professor who became involved after retirement. Sean learn just how crucial social interaction can be for men who become isolated in later life and how physical work can help them open up and talk. Sean also visits a mother and her children who have spent 12 months in England following the outbreak of war in Ukraine. The family prepare a special Father’s Day celebration, connecting over video call with their dad back in Ukraine, praying together and discussing how their faith
Aled Jones is on the Isle of Man to discover how the roots of Christianity stretch back over 1,500 years. He visits Cathedral Isle of Man and learns about the story of Saint German of Man. Aled also discovers how the rich Christian history of the island is portrayed in the cathedral’s unique, interactive gardens. Further afield, Aled meets a Christian shepherdess and her flock to hear about a rewilding initiative in a local church’s grounds. Then at Café Lingo, he learns about an English language teaching enterprise led by a methodist church to help new arrivals to the island, with an ethos inspired by the Bible’s stories of welcome. Back at the cathedral, Aled meets some of the volunteers who tend to the gardens and hears how faith influences their work and what made them to want to help.
Ahead of Alcohol Awareness Week, the Rev Canon Kate Bottley travels to Preston to learn about the temperance movement, which began life in the north west of England in the Victorian era. We join the successors to an original children’s temperance society, who are continuing to bring opportunities to young people through alcohol-and-drugs education courses. In Burnley, YolanDa Brown meets a local pastor, whose journey to sobriety brought her into a deeper connection with her faith. And Kate has a chance to try some alcohol-free cocktails, catching up with the regulars at the country’s oldest surviving temperance bar.
Katherine Jenkins joins celebrations at the Roman Catholic cathedral in Arundel, West Sussex, marking the Feast of Corpus Christi. The festivities include a spectacular carpet of flowers and a procession from the cathedral to the castle. Katherine meets the Duke of Norfolk, who explains the legacy of his relative, the 15th Duke, who introduced the beautiful floral custom to Arundel over 140 years ago. And we hear from the flower carpet designer about the symbols in this year’s display. Bishop Richard Moth explains the spiritual importance of Corpus Christi, which for Catholics is a celebration of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and Katherine meets some of those participating in the procession, including a child who has recently taken her first Holy Communion. At Arundel Castle, we revisit the time Katherine met a gardener whose faith has been instrumental in her life and work. With music that celebrates the Eucharist and an a cappella performance from vocal harmony group St
Pam Rhodes embarks on a personal journey, from the south coast of England to the south Midlands, to reflect on the people, places and pieces of music that have shaped her Christian faith. Beginning in the naval town of Gosport, where she lived as a teenager, Pam reflects on her childhood, the foundations of her faith and the life-long love of hymns inherited from her mother. She is reunited with the sisters whom she mentored whilst teaching dance classes in a Christian Youth Club in the 1970s and returns to St Albans Cathedral, where she recorded her very first Songs of Praise programme in 1987. Pam meets up with her friend, worship leader Dave Bilbrough, to discuss the importance of pilgrimage in her life and how it helped her at a time of heartbreak and difficulty. At home with her family, Pam shares her thoughts on the blessings of grandchildren and the inspiration of those who have demonstrated faith in action throughout her life. With hymns from across the UK that are all close
Claire McCollum visits the Corrymeela Community, Northern Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation organisation. She tours the site and discovers the story of its founder, Ray Davey, and his mission for a more peaceful Northern Ireland. She also meets students from California visiting Corrymeela for the first time, hearing what they’ve learned from their experience, and what they’ll take back to their own communities. A renowned local artist explains how he created Hands of History, a piece of art capturing the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Claire speaks to the former archbishop of Armagh, Lord Robin Eames, and Methodist Minister Harold Good, both of whom had their hands cast in bronze for their roles in the Good Friday Agreement. Finally, Claire joins a group session at Corrymeela from the Shankill Women’s Centre in Belfast, where she experiences some of the methods used to inspire and promote dialogue between Catholic and Protestant communities.
Sean Fletcher discovers the amazing 900-year history of St Bartholomew’s church and hospital, which began as a monastery. Together, they make up the oldest parish in London and the oldest hospital in the UK. Charlotte Gauthier, historian at the original priory church of St Bartholomew the Great, explains how it all started when one man received a vision from God to build a hospital to care for London's poor and sick. Sean meets some of the staff and patients to find out how the hospital is still a place surrounded by faith and prayer. Also, we revisit the time Laura Wright met two sisters in Birmingham who were the first conjoined twins in the UK to undergo a life-saving procedure. She discovers how they give thanks to God for their lives through their love of singing. Finally, Sean discovers how one of London’s great artistic treasures is used today by doctors as a teaching tool for medical students.
Claire McCollum visits the historical and religious sites of Colchester, widely considered to be Britain’s oldest town since its foundation during the Roman occupation over 2000 years ago. Gaining city status in 2022, Claire takes a tour of Colchester with former mayor Sir Bob Russell and discovers one of the first Augustinian priories in England, its Norman castle, Roman ruins and even the story of a Christian hymn writer, who has gone down in history as the composer of one of the most popular children’s nursery rhymes. Claire also visits the Colchester Garrison, a British army base since the Napoleonic Wars and hears about the role army chaplains play in the spiritual and pastoral wellbeing of soldiers. Further afield, Laura Wright visits the Fellowship Afloat Christian Trust (Fact) and finds out how, using outdoor activities, they provide a space to reach young people who might not come into contact with traditional church life. And we meet a Christian blogger to hear why he swa
Aled Jones travels through the south Wales valleys, meeting locals and uncovering stories of Christian faith in the hills. Aled joins BBC Radio Wales’s Roy Noble on three wheels to explore the landscape by trike. Roy unpacks the links between the people and the landscape, which was an epicentre of mining in the 19th century and the birthplace of the Welsh revival, a dramatic Christian movement that swept across the country and beyond. James Lusted meets a group of South Korean missionaries as they 'pray for Wales', a country they trace their own Christian faith back to through one Welshman, Robert Germain Thomas, who brought the gospel to the shores of Pyongyang in 1866. James follows the missionaries as they visit the town of Pontypridd, praying on the hillside overlooking the valley and going to a school to speak to students. Welsh singer and worship leader Cath Woolridge has been praying with her husband for over a decade to conceive a child. Aled finds out how her faith motivates
The Rev Kate Bottley is in London to mark three hundred years since the death of one of Britain’s most talented and prolific architects, Sir Christopher Wren, who was charged with re-building 52 city churches after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Kate visits some of his early church designs, while Gemma Hunt joins a group of children who are spending the day at one of his churches. And we meet a prayer group, who continue to find a place of worship and meditation at one of Wren’s churches in the middle of the busy capital city. With music from some of Wren’s most iconic landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
Aled Jones explores some of the extraordinary Christian heritage of Canterbury Cathedral, one of the most historic and magnificent buildings in the world, meeting inspirational members of the cathedral community. He discovers more about Archbishop Thomas Becket, whose murder in the cathedral in 1170 made Canterbury one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage sites. YolanDa Brown gets up close to some of Canterbury’s 800-year-old stained glass in the cathedral’s own conservation workshop, and sees the lives and faith of medieval pilgrims come to life. In the cathedral crypt, Aled discovers a chapel given to refugees in the 16th century and meets the Rev Kirrilee Reid, who has dedicated many years to working with refugees and asylum seekers in Greece, Calais and nearby Dover. Aled also hears the testimony of Torin Brown, one of the cathedral ‘shepherds’ who maintain the ministry of welcome that began 1,400 years ago.
Sean Fletcher explores some of the ways that young people across the UK are finding Christianity today and discovers what attracts them to the faith. He visits an Urban Saints summer camp in north Wales to hear how the music, discussion and memory-making activities in the great outdoors bring young people, including those who may not be involved in church communities, to the Christian fold. Further afield, Sean meets an up-and-coming rugby international to find out how his faith has guided his journey from childhood in Africa to international stardom with the Welsh Rugby team. And we hear from an award-winning young garden designer in Sheffield about why his love of the Bible and the natural world inspired him to create a garden based on Psalm 27.
Katherine Jenkins visits Pembroke College Chapel in Cambridge to explore the sacred sound of the church organ and to meet organist virtuoso and star of the Proms, Anna Lapwood. Anna demonstrates the chapel’s 17th-century organ and the rich variety of sound at the fingertips of the player, creating the perfect sound for worship. Katherine discovers the history behind the instrument, when it first entered churches and cathedrals across Europe, and how it influenced and defined church music. A choir directed by Anna at Pembroke College performs for Katherine, and we hear what they love about singing with the organ and how it brings them closer to God.
Claire McCollum celebrates harvest at Hazelnut Community Farm in Bristol and hears how they’ve brought their church into the great outdoors with gardening as an act of worship. She speaks to founder Reverend John White about why he was inspired to set up Hazelnut, the ethos of sharing their harvest with the local community and how teaching sustainable growing techniques is at the heart of their Christian message. She also discovers how over 50% of the Hazelnut community is made up of members originally from Hong Kong and finds out why they wanted to get involved. Further afield, JB Gill is in Cambridgeshire, meeting a farmer from Zimbabwe whose faith has helped him take on a 350-acre farm and to grow white maize, a tropical crop normally never commercially grown in the UK. And back in Bristol, Claire joins in with an innovative project that uses Christianity to inspire children to tend to the land. She speaks to project lead Gigi about why it’s so important to teach sustainable growin
To mark National Adoption Week, Aled Jones is in central London to hear inspiring stories of faith and family. He visits the UK’s oldest and longest-running children’s charity, Coram, to learn about adoption today and to discover the charity’s remarkable Christian origins. Theologian Krish Kandiah explains how the language of being adopted into the family of God is at the heart of the Bible’s message, and Aled visits a young vicar in Kent to explore how the love of his adoptive parents overcame differences of heritage and culture. Gemma Hunt meets former world champion javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread to hear her remarkable story of how being adopted as a teenager changed her life. With hymns and songs celebrating the love of God and the family of faith.
Sean Fletcher joins the congregation at one of Britain’s biggest Baptist churches and finds out how they are celebrating their roots and heritage this Black History Month.
Claire McCollum finds out what makes Edinburgh’s religious buildings and history so special with a tour of some of the city’s churches to see why and how they inspire our faith to this day. She visits St Cuthbert’s Church, believed to be the oldest Christian site in the city before taking a walk up to the world-famous castle and Edinburgh’s oldest surviving building, St Margaret’s Chapel. There she hears from members of a guild who maintain the chapel with fresh flowers and have a very unique membership criterion. On the edge of the city, Claire uncovers the story of the capital’s own ‘secret garden’ in the grounds of an ancient church and how it creates a sense of peace and spirituality. And back in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Claire discovers some of the chapels and churches linked to one of the most influential people in Scotland’s Christian history, John Knox, who changed the face of Christianity in the country with the Scottish Reformation.
Aled Jones visits the coast of Kent to meet Mina Smallman, a mother and former archdeacon in the Church of England, who turned to her Christian faith after the brutal murder of her two daughters in 2020. Mina speaks to Aled about how she feels the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit around her, and of her hope of being reunited with her daughters, Bibaa and Nicole, in heaven. Aled also meets Jude Kelly, a charity director who encouraged Mina to share her story with the world to help others going through similar experiences of suffering. On the 150th anniversary of It Is Well with My Soul, Pam Rhodes meets Lady Djemila Cope, the great-granddaughter of the hymn’s composer, Horatio Spafford, who lost all four of his daughters in a devastating disaster at sea.
Katherine Jenkins marks Remembrance Sunday at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, the oldest air academy in the world. She meets cadets and the head padre to discover how remembrance plays an important part in daily life and training at Cranwell. At the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, Katherine speaks to retired squadron leader Bob Ankerson, who reflects on those commemorated in the memorial gardens and shares how his faith sustained him as a prisoner of war in Iraq. Sean Fletcher joins RAF personnel at the Commonwealth Air Force Memorial in Surrey. Marking its 70th anniversary, the memorial honours the 20,000 air service men and women from across the commonwealth who gave their lives in World War II but have no named grave. Sean meets Peter Clare, for whom the monument is one of the only connections he has to his father who was killed in action in 1942.
Aled Jones presents the junior semi-final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from the Monastery in Manchester, with judges Laura Wright, Ken Burton and Wynne Evans. Five fantastic singers aged ten to 13 perform a favourite sacred song. Their choices include O For the Wings of a Dove by Mendelssohn, Pie Jesu by Webber, a new setting of Panis Angelicus by Elizabeth Stratford and two works by John Rutter, A Gaelic Blessing and The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Three of the five choristers will go forward to the final.
Aled Jones hosts the senior semi-final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from the Manchester Monastery, with judges Laura Wright, Ken Burton and Wynne Evans. The music featured includes Be Thou My Vision by Chilcott, A Clare Benediction and All Things Bright and Beautiful, both by Rutter, and traditional hymns How Shall I Sing That Majesty and Amazing Grace. Three of the senior competitors will be chosen to go through to the final.
It’s the final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from The Monastery in Manchester, presented by Aled Jones and Rev Kate Bottley. Six of the best choristers in the UK perform a Christmas carol or song in the hope of impressing judges Laura Wright, Ken Burton and Wynne Evans, who will have the difficult decision of choosing one junior and one senior winner. The programme includes a special performance of ‘Do You Hear What I Hear’ with Aled Jones, the winning chorister and all the finalists and semi-finalists.
Pam Rhodes visits St Mary the Virgin church in Turville, Oxfordshire – perhaps better known as the Vicar of Dibley’s parish church – to discover some of the stories behind our favourite Christmas carols. Hymn and carol expert Andrew Gant takes Pam from the church to the village pub to explain how carols historically began as folk songs before becoming a regular part of Christmas church services. We also find out which carol our Songs of Praise presenters have chosen as their favourite.
Rev Kate Bottley visits County Durham to find out why one primary school has joined forces with the residents of a local care home to spread the joy of Christmas through the annual church nativity play. Kate meets headteacher Alison, to explore the reasons behind this novel collaboration, and finds out how it contributes to the town’s status as dementia friendly. As well as meeting the cast, Kate speaks to relatives of the residents from Springfield Lodge care home, who are thrilled to see their loved ones taking part. Laura Wright is in York meeting Jenny Herrera from Acts 435, a Christian charity who’ve created an online fundraising platform for members of church communities to help individuals with specific needs. Jenny explains to Laura how their process of fundraising is based on the biblical principles of the disciples. We also hear the remarkable story of a church, whose prayers were answered through a ‘Christmas miracle’ of a sack of money that turned a dwindling congregation
Aled Jones hosts a festive celebration for Christmas Eve from Sheffield City Hall, featuring favourite carols, including: The First Nowell, The Holly and the Ivy, The Sussex Carol and O Come All Ye Faithful. Aled is also joined by some very special guests: Katherine Jenkins performs Home for Christmas, Strictly Come Dancing’s Tommy Blaize sings Mary’s Boy Child, there’s a beautiful version of Silent Night from the newly crowned BBC Young Choristers of the Year and the UK’s favourite carol O Holy Night is performed by Michael Ball.
Katherine Jenkins hosts a musical celebration for New Year’s Eve from Sheffield City Hall. She’ll be joined by some very special guests, including Aled Jones, who performs a song he co-wrote called Brand New Day, the Gospel Choir of the Year, EAGA Gospel Choir, sing Joyful, Joyful, and classical soprano Carly Paoli performs a song she’s written with a very personal message, Pray. There’ll be favourite hymns to sing along to, including To God Be the Glory, Amazing Grace, Cornerstone and Lord for the Years.
To motivate us in our new year resolutions, Sean Fletcher meets some incredible Christians who have been inspired by their faith to make big life changes. In Liverpool, he meets a former London barrister who left life at the bar for a career in gospel music ministry and who now teaches young gospel singers. The Rev Kate Bottley heads to York to meet a Christian entrepreneur who, after the death of two colleagues from drug addiction, was inspired to establish a not-for-profit cafe to give back to her local community. And in St Helens, Sean hears from a former soldier and triple amputee about how his faith has helped drive him to complete inspirational challenges to raise money for charity. In 2024, he’s aiming for base camp on Mount Everest!
The Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year is back! In the first of two programmes hosted by Mark De-Lisser, five of the best amateur choirs from across the UK take to the stage at The Monastery in Manchester. Listening to every note are three celebrity judges – the godmother of UK gospel and director of The Kingdom Choir, Karen Gibson, singer and broadcaster Muyiwa Olarewaju and TV’s favourite choir master, Gareth Malone. The five choirs have their first opportunity to impress the judges with their choice of song: From London, we have Faithworks Gospel Choir, who sing The Storm Is Passing Over; Nottingham’s Sing It Bold Community Gospel Choir perform Holy; Oxford Gospel Choir sing Praise The Lord; Soul of the City Gospel Choir from Exeter perform In The Sanctuary; and from London, Kudos Gospel Choir sing Count Your Blessings. Five fantastic choirs, but which one will be your favourite?
Music to lift the spirit and stir the soul… it’s the final of the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year 2024, hosted by Mark De-Lisser. In the previous programme, five of the best amateur choirs from across the UK took to the stage at the Monastery in Manchester. Now they have a second opportunity to impress the three celebrity judges: TV’s favourite choir master Gareth Malone, director of Kingdom Choir and godmother of UK gospel Karen Gibson, and singer and broadcaster Muyiwa Olarewaju. Each choir perform their own choice of gospel song: Faithworks Gospel Choir from London sing Trust Me, Nottingham’s Sing It Bold Community Gospel Choir sing Lean on Me, Oxford Gospel Choir perform Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Soul of the City from Exeter sing Jesus Is the Man 2 (Bless The Lord), and Kudos Gospel Choir from London sing Perfect Praise.
Pam Rhodes marks International Holocaust Memorial Day and explores stories of when hope and refuge were offered by Christians to Jews fleeing the Nazis in one of the darkest chapters of human history. At the Wiener Holocaust Library in London, one of the world’s leading archives on the subject, Pam hears about the Dutch Christians who saved many Jewish families by building a hiding place in their home. Yvonne Bernstein, a former volunteer at the library, remembers the courage and comfort she found while being sheltered in a French convent as a young Jewish girl. And in Porth, South Wales, Pam meets 90-year-old Renate Collins, who escaped Prague on the last Kindertransport and found a place of safety in the home of a Baptist minister.
Rev Kate Bottley hears why faith and compassion are key to supporting prisoners and ex-offenders in on their journey through rehabilitation. In Newcastle upon Tyne, Kate visits Junction 42, a Christian charity dedicated to bringing faith into prisons and supporting offenders on their spiritual journey upon release. She joins a team of volunteers packing ‘Stories of Hope’ bags; resources offered to prisoners throughout the UK to help them engage creatively with faith. In London, Rev Paul Cowley tells the story of his journey from prisoner to priest and explains how the Bible inspires him in his latest role, helping to find employment for those leaving prison. And Sean Fletcher visits HMP Winchester, where children’s charity Spurgeons is continuing the legacy of its Baptist founder, Charles H Spurgeon, in providing support for children with fathers in prison. He discovers how their family days, baby-bonding sessions and homework clubs help inmates to maintain relationships with their
As we mark World Day of the Sick, Pam Rhodes hears stories of faith and hope from Christians who are unwell and those who care for them. At St Christopher’s Hospice in south east London, she discovers the story of the inspirational Christian founder of the modern hospice movement, Dame Cicely Saunders, and speaks to staff about why God’s love is so important in hospice care. Gemma Hunt meets an Exeter mother whose faith has helped her to live with the effects of chronic pain. And there are hymns and songs from across the country in praise of God’s love, including a special performance from internationally renowned musician Laura Mvula.
Claire McCollum meets Christians putting faith into action to care for the environment in different ways. In Northamptonshire, she discovers the remarkable technology at the heart of the Salvation Army’s processing centre for recycling clothes. The facility is one the largest of its kind in the UK and is helping to drastically reduce landfill waste. To witness it in action, Claire brings a bag of her own preloved items and watches them fly through a Fibersort machine, a clever automated system that uses infrared cameras and jets of compressed air to separate textiles. Claire speaks with Major Heather Poxon about the vision behind the new facility and how it stems from the Christian ethos of the organisation. Also, we hear from Dr Annabelle South, a scientist who developed an ecoscheme for Christians after witnessing first-hand the effects of climate change during field work in Africa. We meet Jon and Fiona, early adopters of the scheme, to find out how they’ve adjusted their lifestyle
Aled Jones shares his most cherished hymns and sacred music as he and Pam Rhodes embark on a journey across London to visit the iconic places that have been so important for his career and his faith. At St Paul’s Cathedral, Aled reminisces about his early days as a boy chorister in Bangor and his enduring love of the treble-singing voice. He and Pam also enjoy memories of time spent at the Royal Albert Hall and discuss his final recording before his voice broke. And at St George’s, Hanover Square, Aled tells Pam about his 40-year association with the church, the anthem that means the most to him and his all-time favourite hymn. With music curated by the man himself, from congregational worship to inspiring performances, these are the songs of praise that are most special to Aled.
To mark the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Rev Canon Kate Bottley joins the lifeboat crew in Scarborough to reflect on the Christian values at the heart of saving lives at sea. Kate takes to the high seas on board the Scarborough lifeboat for a training exercise and hears from the chaplain about the role faith plays in supporting the crew there. On the Northumberland coast, Kate explores the importance of faith to Grace Darling, a young Christian whose involvement in a courageous sea rescue in 1838 launched her to national fame and made her an icon of the RNLI.
On Mothering Sunday, Rev Kate Bottley is in Stockport, Greater Manchester, to meet mums and staff at Christian-inspired Charnwood Nursery where children with and without additional needs learn and play together. Kate discovers how the nursery’s inclusive ethos, founded on the principle that all children are equal in the eyes of God, is helping to support mums as they leave their little ones in someone else’s care for the first time. Plus the remarkable story of Dr Io Smith, a Jamaican Christian who became a leading figure in Britain’s growing Pentecostal Church scene during the 1970s and 80s. She died on Mother’s Day in 2008 but her daughter, Rev Sheila Belgrave, was determined to turn her sadness into celebration as she remembers the remarkable legacy of faith that her mother left behind. And Kate meets Lucy West, a Christian who always dreamed of having a big family but was left at an emotional rock bottom after struggling to conceive. She talks openly to Kate about the feelings of
To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Claire McCollum is in Northern Ireland meeting Christians inspired by the saint’s extraordinary story and following in his footsteps. At Slemish Mountain in County Antrim, Claire meets local hillwalker Noel Hughes, whose faith has been inspired by the life of St Patrick since childhood. She discovers the story that Patrick was first brought to Slemish to work as a slave, only to return later as a missionary called by God. Did you know St Patrick is patron saint not only of Ireland but of Nigeria too? We hear from a Nigerian priest now ministering in Northern Ireland who feels a deep connection between Patrick’s story and his own. And Claire visits St Patrick’s Church in Belfast, where she gets up close to what is believed to be a relic of the very saint himself, and discovers what it means to local Christians.
On Palm Sunday, Sean Fletcher explores different ways Christians continue to retell and interpret the life of Jesus, through powerful performances to expressive works of art. Sean meets the theatrical troupe preparing for the annual Trafalgar Square Passion Play, watched by over 20,000 people every Easter, which is being rehearsed at the Wintershall estate in Surrey. He hears the remarkable story of the family behind the play and what inspires them to tell the story of Jesus on such a big scale. In London, Sean speaks to cast members from The Chosen, a groundbreaking TV series about the life of Christ which is drawing millions of viewers around the world. He hears how the faith of the actors has been deepened by the experience of bringing Jesus’ life to the screen. And back at Wintershall, Sean reflects on the journey to the Crucifixion through fourteen Stations of the Cross, sculptures placed in different parts of the estate depicting the suffering of Jesus on Good Friday. Sean mee
To celebrate Easter Sunday, Aled Jones is in Canterbury to explore what this sacred time means to Christians, and to reflect on how the powerful message of Jesus’s resurrection still changes lives today. Aled joins a dawn Easter service at St Martin’s in Canterbury, the oldest church in the English-speaking world and possibly the first place Easter was publicly celebrated in England. He meets their newly ordained priest the Rev Dr Charlotte Sleigh, who relates her faith to the experience of the women who first witnessed the resurrection of Jesus. Laura Wright’s Easter spirits soar when a Bermudan Christian introduces her to a unique Easter tradition from her homeland – flying kites to celebrate the joy of Jesus rising from the dead. Back in Canterbury, Aled hears what Easter means to the cathedral’s new dean, the Very Rev Dr David Monteith. He reveals why he believes this time in the Christian calendar reflects the triumph of good over evil and how an act of grace following the trag
To mark World Health Day, Sean Fletcher joins Christians at a spiritual retreat centre in north Wales to explore how faith can improve health and wellbeing for mind, body and soul. Sean spends the day in the beautiful surroundings of St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Tremeirchion, Denbighshire, which draws people from all over the world to come on a spiritual retreat. He meets people leading and experiencing the retreats, which include spending time in silence and completing spiritual exercises based on the teachings of St Ignatius. Heading out on a silent prayer walk, Sean discovers how ‘finding God in all things’ can help people to pray and feel closer to God. And he meets Christians who have found St Beuno’s to be a place of great healing and sanctuary. In the hustle and bustle of Lambeth, south London, we also meet a busy Christian GP whose faith has called her to help people beyond the surgery walls. Dr Chi-Chi Ekhator provides pop-up health clinics at surprising locatio
Laura Wright has become one of the nation’s favourite sopranos over her 20-year career, from winning BBC Chorister of the Year as a teenager to singing in stadiums around the world. This week, in her home county of Suffolk, she reflects with Pam Rhodes on the hymns, worship songs and choral classics that have shaped her life and faith. Pam joins Laura and her family on the beautiful Aldeburgh Beach to look back at the difficult times of Laura’s childhood illness and the music that brought the family closer to God. And at her church and her old school in Framlingham, Laura reflects on the hymns that mean the most to her.
With St George’s day just around the corner, Rev. Kate Bottley is in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne meeting Christians whose acts of service and selflessness continue to make a positive and lasting impact on their communities. At St. George’s Church in Jesmond, Kate discovers the remarkable legacy of famous author Catherine Cookson and meets a Ukrainian family whose lives have been improved by her charitable Trust and the church. In London, we hear about a special set of awards given out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which recognise extraordinary contributions to the Church and wider society, including for community service. We meet a recipient of one of these awards, Rev. Mark Nam, who was recognised for his work in supporting Chinese heritage clergy through a group he established called The Teahouse.
Sean Fletcher is at Way Church in Wigan, one of the fastest-growing congregations in the UK, to join hundreds in worship and to explore how it’s serving the community through its purpose-built centre. Sean learns that behind Way Church’s large ultra-modern building, is a hundred-year history of serving the people of Wigan, and young leader Ben Tarbuck explains the church’s mission of helping all people find their way to God. In one of the community spaces, Sean joins a creative clay class and meets people from different backgrounds who have found faith and friendship there. And in the church’s auditorium, Sean joins internationally acclaimed singer and worship leader Jake Isaac to get to know the man behind the music and how his faith journey brought him from London to Wigan.
Pam Rhodes celebrates the 75th anniversary of one of the most cherished and popular hymns in the world, How Great Thou Art, and explores the extraordinary story behind its composition. Many might think the hymn is centuries old, but although it has its origins in older works from across Europe, the version we know and love today was first published in 1949 by English missionary Stuart Hine. In the tiny south London church where it was first sung, Pam learns the very complicated history of the hymn from Jonathan Clark, a family friend of Stuart's. At the Salvation Army’s Regent Hall, Pam meets Phil Loose from the Stuart Hine Trust to explore why this combination of words and music continue to have such impact around the world. Phil introduces an updated version of How Great Thou Art, including a new verse, recorded to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its composition by some of the world’s top Christian artists, including the acclaimed Matt Redman.
For Dementia Action Week, Rev Canon Kate Bottley explores what part faith can play for people facing the profound challenges presented by dementia. Kate is in the congregation for an accessible service of worship in Lichfield Cathedral, joining Christians living with dementia and those who care for them. Kate meets Tony, who has lived with a diagnosis for ten years, and his wife Viv, ahead of a reading they have been invited to give at the service. Also at the service is legendary singer Tony Christie, who was diagnosed in 2021 and is now an ambassador for one of the dementia charities supporting the service. At his home in Lichfield, Tony tells Kate about his journey with dementia and the power of music and faith to help those living with the condition. And in Sheffield, we celebrate the success of a dementia support group designed for people with African and Caribbean heritages.
Claire McCollum is in Bognor Regis to celebrate Pentecost with the growing congregation of St Wilfrid’s Church on the seafront. Claire meets Christians taking the plunge and celebrating their faith by being baptised in the sea. The vicar, Rev Joel Mennie, dons his wetsuit to lead the baptisms and reflects with Claire on the new life he’s seen in the church and the power of the Holy Spirit. And in London, to celebrate Pentecost being 'the birthday of the church', Christian baker Chinelo Awa bakes a cake with a twist for the occasion and shares how it represents her very personal journey of transformation.
To celebrate its 200th anniversary, Aled Jones visits the National Gallery on London’s Trafalgar Square. Aled meets director Dr Gabriele Finaldi for an exclusive tour behind the scenes of the gallery, which boasts one of the largest collections of religious art in the world. He discovers the fascinating stories behind masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio, just some of the paintings that attract three million visitors each year. Looking back over its 200-year history, Aled finds out about moments that have shaped the gallery’s place in British culture, including the war years when it became a home of free classical music concerts to inspire people at a time of suffering. Also, Aled meets Fr Patrick van der Vorst, the founder of a website that seeks to bring people closer to God through a deeper understanding of art. Patrick takes Aled to The Supper at Emmaus, a painting that depicts the moment Christ’s disciples recognise Jesus in his risen form.
To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Aled Jones travels to Portsmouth, where on 6 June 1944, the Allies' forces launched the largest seaborne invasion the world had ever seen. On board an original landing craft at the D-Day Story Museum, Aled meets 99-year-old Stanley Ford, a veteran of the Normandy campaign, who tells Aled why it’s more important than ever to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Stanley, who had just turned 18 in the week leading up to D-Day, tells his story of narrowly avoiding death when his ship was hit by a torpedo and why he believes God was protecting him. We also hear from Ken Hay, a veteran who was taken captive by the Germans during the Normandy campaign. In recent years, Ken has devoted his life to educating young people on the dangers of war, drawing on his own experiences of World War II. We follow Ken as he speaks to schoolchildren and shares why he believes love is the only answer to stopping war.
Ahead of Carers Week, the Rev Kate Bottley is in Norfolk, exploring the important role faith plays for those caring for loved ones. Kate meets Liz Grint, who cares for her husband and son, and finds out how prayer sustains her during the joys and challenges of life. She also visits 13-year-old Malachi and his family to find out how they have all drawn on their faith to care for him throughout his treatment for leukaemia. In Sheffield, we join a walking group run by a local charity to find out how important it is for carers to look after their own physical and mental health and to meet others with similar experiences. For two of the walkers, it’s also an opportunity for them to share in their Christian faith.
On Father’s Day, Aled Jones meets inspiring dads leaning on their faith through the joys and challenges of fatherhood. In east London, Aled joins a Father’s Day party to meet a dad and his daughter for whom the day is extra special. 999 call handler Estelle tells Aled how she turned to her training and help from above to save her dad’s life when he had a cardiac arrest. In Bournemouth, we meet Mark Arnold, whose son James has additional needs and requires round-the-clock care. Mark reflects on his special bond with his son and how faith is integral to helping them through the joys and challenges of family life. Mark also shares how he felt called to support other fathers in similar situations by writing a regular blog and building a support network.
To celebrate the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary, the Rev Kate Bottley visits an animal hospital in Birmingham. In the cat ward, Kate meets the charity’s CEO Chris Sherwood (and some feline friends) and hears the remarkable story of how the RSPCA was founded by prominent people of faith, including William Wilberforce. Chris shares how the same principles inspire their work to this day – striving to make a better world for animals. In his church in Steventon near Oxford, we meet the Rev Phil Sutton who often brings an unusual guest with him to worship. For over 20 years, Phil has trained hearing dogs for deaf people, and coming to services is part of their training. We also meet 16-year-old Zach, who firmly believes his hearing dog Echo is a gift from heaven that has changed his life. Back at the RSPCA, Kate meets education manager Rob, who has adopted a dog that came to the hospital. We hear how his faith helps guide him at work and why he loves his job so much. In the hospital, Kate disc
Katherine Jenkins is at RHS Chelsea Flower Show to explore a garden exhibited by St James’s Piccadilly, the first church to contribute a garden to this prestigious event. The Rev. Lucy Winkett, Vicar of St James’s, tells Katherine about the message behind their design, to 'imagine the world to be different', and shares how elements of the garden will provide permanent green places in central London. At the Sue Ryder display, Katherine explores a garden designed to help people through grief, described as a 'green hug' for all visitors. Designer Katherine Holland explains how her own bereavement inspired her to change careers and take up horticulture.
The Rev Kate Bottley celebrates the centenary of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral and meets Christians whose faith has been shaped by this remarkable building. Consecrated in 1924, Liverpool Cathedral stands today as the largest cathedral in the UK and a beacon of hope overlooking Merseyside. Veteran tour guide Alan shows Kate around. He was a schoolchild during the cathedral’s construction and has been volunteering there for over 30 years. He takes Kate to some of his favourite parts of the building, including the bishop’s throne, which incorporates three seats as a sign of unity and welcome to other denominations. Kate also meets Albert, a Ghanaian Christian invited to live in the cathedral community as part of the ‘Triangle of Hope' project. This initiative aims to promote peace and reconciliation in light of Liverpool’s historic role in the transatlantic slave trade. Across the Mersey, we discover the Christian history of Birkenhead Priory, the most ancient building still standing
Broadcaster and writer Fern Britton shares her journey of faith as she takes Sean Fletcher on one of her favourite walks along the Cornish coast. For Fern, walking is a time she feels closer to God, and along the journey, she shares some of her most spiritually significant moments. Amidst the stunning landscape, Fern reflects on times from her childhood and throughout her career on screen when she has felt God’s presence. She recalls some difficult moments where her faith has sustained her and the hymns that helped her through: 1. Eternal Father Strong to Save - St Mary’s Church, Scarborough 2. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Holy Land (2019) 3. He Who Would Valiant Be - Hereford Cathedral 4. Breathe on Me Breath of God - All Saint's Church, Northampton 5. What a Beautiful Name - Laura Wright 6. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Salisbury Cathedral
As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin, Laura Wright is in Edinburgh to celebrate the faith of Olympians and Paralympians past and present. And she speaks to HRH the Princess Royal to reflect on the legacy of Scottish sporting hero and Christian missionary Eric Liddell. At St Giles’ Cathedral, Laura joins a special service commemorating Eric, 100 years after he dramatically won gold at the Paris 1924 Olympics. The story of Eric’s 400m triumph was later made famous in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, and Eric’s eldest daughter tells Laura about her father’s great faith and shares the story of him choosing not to run in his favoured 100m as the heats fell on a Sunday. And the Princess Royal, Patron of the Eric Liddell 100 initiative, reflects on Eric’s achievements and values, and what they can teach young people today.
Pam Rhodes marks 150 years of The Salvation Army in Wales by discovering the remarkable story of how it started its work there, and she looks back at stories that highlight how the 'Army' is still serving communities across the UK today. Pam travels to Merthyr Tydfil and the oldest Salvation Army church still in use in Wales, where she learns how two young girls were sent to this tough industrial town in 1848 to preach the gospel and – with God’s help – succeeded in bringing many people to faith. Aled Jones visits Liverpool and the Salvation Army’s community space ‘Strawberry Field’ to see how the place that inspired a classic Beatles song is now encouraging young people to find employment.
Reverend Kate Bottley is in Didsbury, Manchester, to explore what it means to be an inclusive church, and she finds out how a tragedy caused one parish to embark on a journey of great change. Kate meets Kevin and Hilary, the parents of a young girl who tragically took her own life in 2014 after wrestling with her faith and sexuality. Kate also speaks to Reverend Nick Bundock, the parish rector, to hear how this insurmountable loss caused the church to completely change their approach, embracing inclusion in all its forms. Plus, marking 400 years since the birth of George Fox, a look into how the faith group he founded, the Quakers, has championed equality and inclusion since it was founded in the 1650s.
Claire McCollum visits The Auckland Project in County Durham to explore the important role faith has played in the regeneration of Bishop Auckland’s historic palace and grounds, a residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham since the 12th century. And she meets the founder of the project, Jonathan Ruffer, who shares how a moment of quiet prayer led him to begin the dramatic transformation work. Claire also visits a brand new attraction to the site, The Faith Museum, which is the first of its kind in the UK. Senior curator Amina Wright reveals some remarkable treasures spanning 6,000 years of religious history, including a ring discovered at a nearby Roman fort which points to some of the earliest Christian worship in Britain. Additionally, we join a group of pilgrims as they enjoy a new route, which goes through Bishop Auckland. Keith Taylor, who leads the group, explains how the route is connected to one of the most famous Christian pilgrimages in the world, the Camino de Santiago in
Sean Fletcher visits the Chapel in the Fields, a Methodist retreat in Cheshire, where craft and carpentry help to build faith and friendship. Sean means the project’s leader, the Rev Kevin Johnson, who runs carpentry workshops for those struggling with loneliness and depression. While helping to craft some wooden keepsakes for a local primary school, Sean meets one of the volunteers, who has found comfort and strength at the chapel during a period of bereavement. Sean also revisits some of the inspiring and uplifting stories of Christian creativity we’ve encountered in recent years. There’s another chance to see a conversation with renowned stained-glass artist Thomas Denny, and Sean looks back to when he joined a kintsugi class, where the participants use the Japanese art form to learn the value of finding beauty in things that are broken.
To mark 100 years since the BBC first broadcast a service of worship, Pam Rhodes joins a packed congregation at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square and hears inspiring stories from some of today’s Christian broadcasters. That groundbreaking first service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1924, and Pam joins the current vicar, the Rev Dr Sam Wells to reflect on how it was received – for some it was a thing of wonder, others were outraged! TV writer and regular contributor to Radio 2’s Pause For Thought, Paul Kerensa, takes Pam to a lesser-known landmark from the early days of religious radio. And Radio DJ and presenter of the BBC’s Daily Service, Swarzy Macaly, shares how she became a Christian and why she’s passionate about sharing stories of faith on air.
Claire McCollum visits Crathie Kirk in the Cairngorms National Park to discover why this church and its beautiful Highland location, which is close to Balmoral Castle, is so beloved by locals, visitors and the royal family. Claire meets Crathie’s minister Rev Ken Mackenzie to soak up the scenery, and to explore the history of the church and his close relationship with the royal family through his role as their domestic chaplain. Claire meets a local ghillie on the River Dee to see how faith and fly-fishing can go hand in hand, before taking a walk through the Cairngorms with an award-winning Christian writer to compose a poem reflective of her time there.
Celebrated actor and star of Bridgerton, Adjoa Andoh shares her journey of faith as she takes Sean Fletcher on a walk through the Cotswolds village of Wickwar where she grew up. They visit the village’s Congregational chapel, where Adjoa’s walk with God began as a young child, and continue into the surrounding countryside - where Adjoa says she feels closest to God, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Along their walk, Adjoa shares memories from her life and reflects on the gift of acting she says was given by God, and how she is giving this gift back to the church through her role as a lay reader. Sean finds out the hymns Adjoa most loves, as they enjoy the fields and woodland of the West Country.
Claire McCollum visits the Cornish coast to explore the remarkable history of ‘the church of storms’ - a place of prayer occupying a curious and beautiful position in the sand dunes, just a few steps from the roaring waves of the sea. Officially St Winwaloe Church in Gunwalloe, it is a sanctuary where Christians have worshipped for over 1,000 years. Local expert in Celtic history, Priscilla Oates, takes Claire to the place some believe to be St Winwaloe’s first hermitage, in the cliffs just off the beach. And the Rev Pat Robson tells Claire about Celtic Quiet Places, a project dedicated to keeping churches open so that visitors can find peace. Later, Melanie Chadwick, a local Christian artist, invites Claire to join a sketching group whose challenge is to capture their subject in just 15 minutes. Claire finds out about a time of challenge in Melanie’s life and how this inspired her to take up her paintbrush and share her creative calling with others.
Ahead of National Poetry Day, Aled Jones explores the art of putting faith into words through the poetry of the Bible, favourite hymns and the work of Christian spoken word artist Storm Cecile. In St Giles in the Fields, popularly known as the 'Poets' Church', in London, Aled discusses with Christian poet John Greening how faith and poetry have gone hand in hand for centuries. Aled finds out about the poets that have inspired John and hears some of his work. John also introduces a hymn composed by one of his favourite writers, William Cowper. Aled meets with Dr Daniel Johnson, an expert on the life and work of Sir Isaac Watts, one of the most prolific British hymn writers, whose 350th birthday is being celebrated this year. Daniel takes Aled through the poetry of one of his most enduring hymns, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, to explore how Watts wrote his hymns in a way that would excite the passions of the singer. And Christian performance artist Storm Cecile shares her story of
Claire McCollum introduces favourite harvest hymns from Jubilee Farm in County Antrim, Northern Ireland’s first Christian, community-owned farm. With wellies on, Claire joins staff and volunteers to lend a hand during the busy harvest season. Nestled on 13.5 acres, the farm is home to pigs, sheep, goats, fruit trees and vibrant wildflowers, all nurtured by a dedicated team. Claire talks to Dr Matt Williams, the farm's conservation manager, to learn how scripture shapes their approach to working the land. Jubilee Farm also supports vulnerable individuals through hands-on opportunities, and Claire meets Sunny, an asylum seeker from Nigeria, who shares how volunteering at the farm has renewed his sense of hope and belonging. Whilst on the farm, Claire also learns the centuries-old craft of making a St Brigid’s cross out of rushes, a symbol of one of Ireland’s patron saints.
Renowned choir director Mark De-Lisser celebrates gospel, his favourite genre of music, by meeting Christians at the heart of the gospel community and exploring the message behind the music. Mark meets acclaimed gospel artists and church pastors Volney and Angel Morgan to explore how gospel music enables them to express their faith with such joy. He then sings with renowned choir and viral internet sensations The Spirituals, discovering how they are re-imagining traditional hymns in a modern gospel style. We also learn how a former barrister is teaching gospel music to the new generation in the schools of Liverpool.
Laura Wright celebrates the faith of young people and explores what church means to the new generation today. Laura visits Trinity Church in Nottingham, where the youth group has grown so much that it now meets in its own church building for monthly nights of worship and games led by the young people themselves. She then meets Stephen Fischbacher, the Christian behind the charity Fischy Music, which helps the mental health and well-being of thousands of children every year by writing and singing uplifting songs with them. We also join the launch of Cheeky Pandas and the Jesus Storybook Bible, a series of free online videos for children bringing the Bible to life through cartoons and stories read by famous Christians like Mary Berry, Bear Grylls and the archbishop of Canterbury.
Aled Jones meets award-winning saxophonist and broadcaster YolanDa Brown, who shares the story of her faith through the cherished hymns and worship songs that have guided her through life. Most at home when she is performing, Aled meets YolanDa at a recording studio in east London – and even has a go at playing the sax under YolanDa’s expert tuition! Aled then discovers some of YolanDa’s earliest musical memories and how faith helped her navigate through some significant life decisions. YolanDa tells Aled about some of her biggest influences and how the faith of her beloved grandmother was a particular inspiration. She takes Aled to visit Greenleaf Baptist Church in Walthamstow, where her grandmother worshipped for 30 years.
Sean Fletcher is in London to find out about three remarkable journeys to faith, including how acclaimed 1980s BBC series Sea of Faith inspired broadcaster and vicar Giles Fraser to become a Christian. Sean meets 90s TV star Warren Furman, otherwise known as Ace, from the original hit series Gladiators to hear how he went on a deep spiritual searching after fame and fortune left him feeling empty. Sean meets Warren and his wife Dionne at their local gym and finds out how they journeyed together on a path which has led them all the way to training for the priesthood. And we hear an amazing real-life road to Damascus story. Author and disability advocate Jazz Shaban shares her story about a dramatic encounter with God in Damascus, Syria. Jazz, who was separated from her mother in her childhood, describes how the words of Psalm 139 transformed her faith.
Sean Fletcher visits Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon to meet service personnel past and present, and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Sean finds out about college life from Captain Andy Bray, who oversees the hundreds of cadets who train to become Royal Navy officers at the college. He then visits the college chapel, where he discovers a story of Remembrance, which still resonates with recruits today, about a former student who lost his life in the First World War, aged just 15. Down on the banks of the River Dart, Sean meets Jack Machell, a trainee whose faith inspired his decision to pursue a life of service in the Royal Navy. And Falklands veteran the Rev Brian Williams explains the lasting importance of Remembrance. He recalls his traumatic experience on HMS Sheffield and how his faith helped sustain him during the conflict and has done so ever since.
Aled Jones presents the junior heat of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, with judges Bob Chilcott, YolanDa Brown and Katherine Jenkins. The Rev Kate Bottley is backstage getting to know each chorister and finding out about their passion for singing. The five talented young singers aged 11-13 will be singing The Lord Bless You and Keep You by Rutter, the worship song On Eagle’s Wings, the well-known hymn I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, Howard Goodall’s The Lord Is My Shepherd and Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber. They will all perform the hymn The Lord of the Dance and three of the five choristers will win a place in the final.
Aled Jones presents the senior heat of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, with judges Katherine Jenkins, Bob Chilcott and YolanDa Brown. The choristers are all aged 14 to 16, and two have chosen songs by living composers: John Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing and Philip Stopford’s Irish Blessing. The other pieces performed are Ave Maria by Bach and Gounod, Mendelssohn's O for the Wings of a Dove, and the hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. All five choristers come together to sing the hymn Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. The judges will select three choristers to sing in the final.
t’s Advent Sunday and the final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, presented by Aled Jones and the Rev Kate Bottley. Six of the finest choristers in the UK perform a Christmas carol or sacred song to impress judges Katherine Jenkins, Bob Chilcott and YolanDa Brown. The judging panel have the difficult decision of choosing one junior and one senior winner. The festive musical choices include Sussex Carol, What Child Is This and Max Reger’s Lullaby, Mary’s Cradle Song. Also featured are Bob Chilcott’s The Time of Snow and two pieces by Michael Head: Star Candles and The Little Road to Bethlehem. As a finale all the choristers from the junior and senior heats join Aled Jones to sing the Advent hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
To mark the second Sunday of Advent, the Rev Kate Bottley visits Fairford in the Cotswolds to discover more about some of the central figures of the Christmas story – the angels. In St Mary’s in Fairford, a church filled with angelic artwork, Kate meets Hope Price, an author who has collected hundreds of accounts of modern-day angel encounters. Hope shares with Kate a few of the most impactful stories from her book and discusses her belief in angels as God’s messengers and protectors. Kate then meets the Rev Ravi Holy, who shares his personal story of turning to faith and recovering from addiction. He tells Kate about the times he believes he has met angels and how their presence helped him and greatly impacted his life. And in Harpenden, we visit a group busily knitting angel figures at High Street Methodist Church. Deacon Sarah Wickett explains how these little knitted gifts are handed out in the community, especially to local businesses and care home residents, as a symbol of the
Aled Jones is joined by special guests for a specular celebration of carols from the historic Huddersfield Town Hall. West End and Broadway star Marisha Wallace performs a unique and soulful arrangement of Do You Hear What I Hear?, and electrifying gospel choir The Spirituals sing what is often voted as the nation’s favourite carol, O Holy Night. Aled performs the beautiful Christmas lullaby, Still, Still, Still, and the world-renowned Huddersfield Choral Society bring their stirring arrangement of I Saw Three Ships. The famous choir also lead the whole congregation in raising the roof with a feast of favourite carols, including The First Nowell and O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Aled Jones hosts an intimate candlelit celebration of favourite carols from the village church of Croston in Lancashire. He is joined by special guests Katherine Jenkins, who performs Silent Night, and the BBC Young Choristers of the Year, who will sing a beautiful version of In the Bleak Midwinter. There are Christmas readings from Sean Fletcher and festive carols to sing along to, including While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
Pam Rhodes visits Launde Abbey in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside, taking a break from the festivities to look back and give thanks for 2024. Pam and her fellow Songs of Praise presenters Aled Jones, Sean Fletcher, Laura Wright and Claire McCollum choose the hymns and worship songs that have lifted and sustained us through the year, and they reflect on inspiring people and places they have visited. The Rev Kate Bottley offers a prayer for the New Year ahead, and there’s a very special festive performance from Katherine Jenkins, adding to uplifting music from across the UK.
At the start of the new year, the Rev Kate Bottley visits a stunning earth installation in Bristol Cathedral and meets Christians inspired by faith to care for the environment. The cathedral is hosting the Gaia artwork, a stunning representation of planet earth as seen from space, created by Luke Gerram to spread awareness of climate change. Canon Jonnie Parkin tells Kate what the cathedral is doing to help protect the planet and why faith inspires us to celebrate God’s green earth. To the south of city, the Bristol Steppin Sistas group head out to walk, sing and pray in the great outdoors. Founder Sophia Brown talks about why she was inspired to help women of colour to get out into nature.
Claire McCollum is in Edinburgh to meet Christians putting their faith into action in communities around the city. At the Bethany Christian Centre, Claire meets Dave Biddulph, whose own journey to faith and recovery from addiction led him to work at the very place that helped him 13 years ago. At the Edinburgh City Mission, Claire joins a group of newly settled asylum seekers for an art and craft class designed to create a sense of welcome for all and to help practise language skills. And Christian artist and retired teacher Peter Gray explains how his faith means more than just reading the Bible, as he works with a local charity to help make a house a home for people who’ve recently transitioned from living homeless.
Nikki Amuka-Bird reads the Easter Story.
Music and worship. Tamsin Greig and Bill Paterson read from the King James Bible, and Aled Jones introduces Easter hymns from Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford.
