
Mark De-Lisser celebrates how hymns sung in childhood can inspire us throughout our lives, and he launches a very special vote to find the nation’s favourite school assembly song. \n\nIn this special celebration of the power of music in childhood, Mark meets music teacher James B Partridge, who has been catapulted to unlikely fame by playing school assembly hymns. Mark hears James’s remarkable story, from going viral on social media to taking his School Assembly Bangers show on tour and even to Glastonbury Festival. James explains how the joy of singing when we’re young can shape us in later life. \n\nMark then introduces the Rev Kate Bottley to launch a new and exciting Songs of Praise event... the Big School Assembly Singalong, which begins with a nationwide online vote to find the ultimate school assembly hymn. \n\nThe vote opens on Sunday 31 August and closes at 6pm on Saturday 20 September. Visit bbc.co.uk/songsofpraise to find all the terms, privacy notice and the all-important list of 50 school day favourites from which to choose. \n\nAlso in the programme, celebrated composer Adrian Snell shares how he gave up a life touring the world to become a music therapist. For Adrian, music can help students create, communicate and connect with others, and he tells us how it has had a profoundly positive impact on his own life. \n\nMark then meets gospel singer Seth Pinnock, founder of Symphony Co - a faith-based social impact charity empowering young people through music. Seth describes how sacred music has shaped his faith and life, and how he now uses it to inspire the next generation. Drawing on the melody, structure and chords of the beloved hymn Be Thou My Vision, Seth leads a songwriting workshop. \n\nThe programme is filled with music that captures the joy of singing together. \n\n1. God Is Love, His the Care – The Albert Hall, Nottingham \n2. Every time I Feel the Spirit – Perfect Pitch \n3. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind – Hereford Cathedral \n4. Blessed Assurance – Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh \n5. Total Praise – The Kingdom Choir \n6. How Shall I Sing That Majesty? – St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
Source: BBC 1
Mothering Sunday
To mark Mothering Sunday, Claire McCollum is in Liverpool celebrating 150 years of the Mothers' Union. She meets inspirational mums and mother figures spurred on by their faith ...
15-03-2026
BBC 1
International Women’s Day
The Rev Kate Bottley celebrates International Women’s Day with stories of inspiring women of faith, past and present. \n\nIn St Paul’s Cathedral, Kate meets the Most ...
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BBC 1
Land Of Song
On St David’s Day, Aled Jones is in Penarth, just a few miles south of Cardiff, to celebrate Wales’s rich hymn-singing heritage. \n\nAled visits St Augustine’s ...
01-03-2026
BBC 1
Hymns For Lent
For the first Sunday in Lent, Pam Rhodes is at Launde Abbey in Leicestershire to introduce much-loved hymns that reflect the themes of the season, including trial, temptation, s ...
22-02-2026
BBC 1
Guvna B's Faith Journey
Sean Fletcher travels to east London to meet Mobo Award-winning rapper, broadcaster and author Guvna B.\n\nSean and Guvna, real name Isaac Borquaye, take a walk through the stre ...
15-02-2026
BBC 1
Faith And Welcome In Lisburn
Claire McCollum visits Lisburn in her native Northern Ireland to meet Christians creating welcoming communities and to introduce uplifting hymns. The programme features music le ...
08-02-2026
BBC 1
The Parables Of Jesus: The Prodigal Son
Sean unpacks the profound meaning of these short stories with the archdeacon of Bolton and Salford, Rachel Mann, at Bolton Parish Church, before meeting Will Jackson, whose own ...
01-02-2026
BBC 1
The Parables Of Jesus: The Good Samaritan
In the first of two programmes on the parables of Jesus, Sean Fletcher meets Christians inspired by one of the most famous of Jesus’ stories – the Good Samaritan. \n ...
25-01-2026
BBC 1
Faith In The Workplace
Laura Wright is in Cambridge to explore faith outside the pulpit and the pew and meets Christians living out their faith in offices, laboratories and police stations. \n\nAs she ...
18-01-2026
BBC 1
Union Chapel
Claire McCollum is in north London visiting Union Chapel, both a world-renowned music venue and a diverse worshipping community putting faith into action. \n\nClaire meets minis ...
11-01-2026
BBC 1
International Women’s Day
The Rev Kate Bottley celebrates International Women’s Day with stories of inspiring women of faith, past and present. \n\nIn St Paul’s Cathedral, Kate meets the Most ...
08-03-2026
BBC 1
Guvna B's Faith Journey
Sean Fletcher travels to east London to meet Mobo Award-winning rapper, broadcaster and author Guvna B.\n\nSean and Guvna, real name Isaac Borquaye, take a walk through the stre ...
15-02-2026
BBC 1
Faith And Welcome In Lisburn
Claire McCollum visits Lisburn in her native Northern Ireland to meet Christians creating welcoming communities and to introduce uplifting hymns. The programme features music le ...
08-02-2026
BBC 1
St David's
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 ...
04-03-2018
BBC 1
Land Of Song
On St David’s Day, Aled Jones is in Penarth, just a few miles south of Cardiff, to celebrate Wales’s rich hymn-singing heritage. \n\nAled visits St Augustine’s ...
01-03-2026
BBC 1
Celebrating 60 Years
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 ...
24-01-2021
BBC 1
Celebrating Gospel Music Today
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 behi ...
13-10-2024
BBC 1
The Power Of Singing
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 An ...
08-04-2018
BBC 1
Mothering Sunday
To mark Mothering Sunday, Claire McCollum is in Liverpool celebrating 150 years of the Mothers' Union. She meets inspirational mums and mother figures spurred on by their faith ...
15-03-2026
BBC 1
Big Sing: The Uk's Top Ten Hymns
The results of a nationwide vote are sung by five thousand people in the Royal Albert Hall in this Big Sing special, with guests including Russell Watson.
06-07-2014
BBC 1