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
Father's Day
Sean Fletcher is in Margate, in Kent, celebrating the importance of earthly fathers as well as the Lord God, our Heavenly Father.\n\nHe meets Harry Baker, an award-winning poet ...
15-06-2025
BBC 1
Hymns For Pentecost
In a programme packed with music, Pam Rhodes celebrates Pentecost. In the beautiful surroundings of Launde Abbey in Leicestershire, she explores the meaning of the Holy Spirit a ...
08-06-2025
BBC 1
Sally Magnusson's Faith Journey
Sean Fletcher travels to Scotland to meet journalist, writer and former Songs of Praise presenter Sally Magnusson. Sally and Sean take a walk in rural Dunbartonshire as she refl ...
01-06-2025
BBC 1
Urban Hope
The Rev Kate Bottley visits a growing Christian community centred around The Message Trust in Wythenshawe, Manchester, to explore how prayer, faith and community are transformin ...
25-05-2025
BBC 1
Faith And Friendship
Laura Wright celebrates God’s gift of friendship and explores its heartwarming power by meeting Christians whose faith has been enriched by the love of their friends.\n\nS ...
18-05-2025
BBC 1
Sing Gospel!
Mark De-Lisser hosts a special celebration of inspiring gospel worship from the iconic Union Chapel in north London.\n\nUnion Chapel is a renowned live music venue that regularl ...
11-05-2025
BBC 1
The 80th Anniversary Of Ve Day
Pam Rhodes marks a magnificent milestone, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, by speaking to those who remember the elation of that glorious day.\n\nAt the iconic St ...
04-05-2025
BBC 1
The Positive Power Of Community
Claire McCollum is in Yorkshire to celebrate the positive power of faith and community, and how it benefits the body, mind and soul.\n\nClaire visits Mercy UK, a Christian menta ...
27-04-2025
BBC 1
Easter Sunday
To celebrate Easter Sunday, Aled Jones presents a special Songs of Praise from St George's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Southwark, south London. The cathedral is home to a thrivi ...
20-04-2025
BBC 1
Women Of The Easter Story
To celebrate the start of Holy Week, the Rev Kate Bottley travels to Southwell Minster to learn how three modern-day Christians have been inspired by the remarkable women of the ...
13-04-2025
BBC 1
Gospel Choir Of The Year
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 Not ...
25-11-2018
BBC 1
Northern Ireland’s 100th
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 ho ...
02-05-2021
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
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
Faith And Friendship
Laura Wright celebrates God’s gift of friendship and explores its heartwarming power by meeting Christians whose faith has been enriched by the love of their friends.\n\nS ...
18-05-2025
BBC 1
All Saints
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 rousin ...
02-11-2014
BBC 1
The Sacred Sound Of The Organ
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. ...
24-09-2023
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
The 80th Anniversary Of Ve Day
Pam Rhodes marks a magnificent milestone, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, by speaking to those who remember the elation of that glorious day.\n\nAt the iconic St ...
04-05-2025
BBC 1
Faith And Service
With St George’s Day just around the corner, Reverend Kate Bottley is in Newcastle upon Tyne, meeting Christians whose acts of service and selflessness continue to make a ...
21-04-2024
BBC 1