
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.\n\nStrictly finalist Alexandra Burke speaks about her Christian faith, and how her late mother inspired her to sing and perform.\n\nAnd 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.\n\nMusic:\nO Happy Day from LSO St Luke's\nAnd Did Those Feet (Jerusalem) from St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell\nHappiness by Ken Dodd and the Love & Joy Gospel Choir\nIt Is Well with My Soul from Hackney Empire\nThe Truth Is by Alexandra Burke \nSouled Out by the Big Sing Gospel Choir\nHow Great Thou Art from Holy Trinity, Platt, Manchester.
Source: BBC 1
Advent Joy
In this third episode marking the traditional themes of Advent, Laura Wright visits Bedford to celebrate joy. She asks what it means to Christians and finds out how we can all s ...
14-12-2025
BBC 1
Advent Peace
On the second Sunday of Advent, Claire McCollom continues a series unpacking the themes of the season. On a visit to Coventry Cathedral, she explores peace – from its rich ...
07-12-2025
BBC 1
Advent Hope
On Advent Sunday, Sean Fletcher begins a series of programmes exploring some of the themes of the Advent season, beginning with stories and hymns celebrating hope. \n\nSean mee ...
30-11-2025
BBC 1
The Big School Assembly Singalong
Aled Jones and Kate Bottley host a joyful singalong of school assembly hymns from Victoria Hall, Bolton.\n\nTens of thousands of votes were cast to find the nation’s favou ...
23-11-2025
BBC 1
Bear Grylls's Faith Journey
Sean Fletcher is in London to meet world-renowned adventurer, TV star and best-selling author Bear Grylls, who reflects upon his faith and favourite hymns. \n\nWhilst Bear is of ...
16-11-2025
BBC 1
Remembrance Sunday
Aled Jones visits Aldershot Garrison, known as the home of the British Army, to mark Remembrance Sunday and to hear stories of faith, courage and thanksgiving. \n\nAt the Cathed ...
09-11-2025
BBC 1
All Souls' Day
All Souls’ Day is traditionally a time in the church calendar dedicated to remembering those who have died, and on this Sunday, the Rev Kate Bottley visits Christians in t ...
02-11-2025
BBC 1
Muyiwa Olarewaju's Faith Journey
Sean Fletcher is in London to join singer, songwriter, broadcaster and Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year judge Muyiwa Olarewaju to learn about his extraordinary and eye-o ...
26-10-2025
BBC 1
1700 Years Of The Nicene Creed
Pam Rhodes celebrates the 1700-year anniversary of the Nicene Creed and explores why this ancient declaration of beliefs is so important in the history of Christianity. \n\nAt t ...
19-10-2025
BBC 1
Young Chorister Of The Year - Final
Aled Jones and the Rev Kate Bottley host the final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester. Three junior choristers aged 11 to 13 and ...
12-10-2025
BBC 1
The Big School Assembly Singalong
Aled Jones and Kate Bottley host a joyful singalong of school assembly hymns from Victoria Hall, Bolton.\n\nTens of thousands of votes were cast to find the nation’s favou ...
23-11-2025
BBC 1
Young Chorister Of The Year - Final
Aled Jones and the Rev Kate Bottley host the final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester. Three junior choristers aged 11 to 13 and ...
12-10-2025
BBC 1
Bear Grylls's Faith Journey
Sean Fletcher is in London to meet world-renowned adventurer, TV star and best-selling author Bear Grylls, who reflects upon his faith and favourite hymns. \n\nWhilst Bear is of ...
16-11-2025
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
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
New Beginnings
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 ...
18-03-2018
BBC 1
Gospel Choir Of The Year 2024 Final
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.\n\nIn the previous progra ...
21-01-2024
BBC 1
Gospel Choir Of The Year Part 1
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 ...
26-11-2017
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
Young Chorister Of The Year - Senior Semi-final
Aled Jones presents the senior semi-final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year from the prestigious Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester. Five of the very best singers aged ...
28-09-2025
BBC 1