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.

Inspiring hymns and songs, together with stories of faith from around the UK and beyond.