Songs of Praise

Celebrating Florence Nightingale and the NHS (2020x27)

Uitzenddatum: Jul 05, 2020

In the year of Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary and to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the NHS, Katherine Jenkins is in central London to pay tribute to all carers on the frontline. Outside St Thomas’ Hospital, where they celebrate pioneers like Florence Nightingale and her contemporary Mary Seacole, Katherine meets Christian nurses who have been caring for people with Covid-19 throughout the pandemic. She also meets the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who has been volunteering as a chaplain at St Thomas’ during lockdown. He speaks about the role of Christian faith at such a time of loss and uncertainty, and he reflects on the care NHS staff have given to patients, which he has witnessed first-hand. Speaking with Rev Mia Hilborn, head chaplain at St Thomas’, Katherine learns more about the extraordinary legacy of Florence Nightingale, born 200 years ago this year, and how her faith was central to all that she did. And Christian artist Sophie Hacker shows Katherine her design for a new Florence Nightingale window for Romsey Abbey, depicting the moment a young Florence felt God’s call. Rev Kate Bottley meets a young man in Manchester to pay tribute to his late mother, a nurse who died of Covid-19 in the hospital in which she worked. He tells Kate of his mother’s determination to serve others with Christian love and how his own faith is helping to keep him strong. James Lusted meets a Christian firefighter from north Wales who is now recovering from Covid-19 after many weeks in intensive care. He and his wife reflect on the care he received, the support of their church and the strength they took from knowing that people all around the world were praying for them. With hymns and songs from across the UK, including a very special new performance from Katherine Jenkins in tribute to the carers on the frontline. All filming was carried out in accordance with government guidelines and all congregational music was recorded before lock