Songs of Praise

Saltaire (2020x39)

Date de diffusion: Sept 27, 2020

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.