Songs of Praise

Tintern Abbey (2021x9)

Data emisji: Lut 28, 2021

Ahead of St David’s Day, Sean Fletcher explores beautiful Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, which has stood on the bank of the River Wye for almost 900 years. He hears about the daily life of the Cistercian monks who lived there and how they dedicated their lives to God through prayer, study and working the land. Sean discovers how, in the Romantic era, the ruined abbey became an inspiration for painters and poets, including JMW Turner and William Wordsworth. Donning his walking boots to follow a new pilgrimage path that starts and ends at the abbey, Sean meets one of the volunteers behind the venture, who explains how pilgrimages reflect the joys and sorrows of life. To mark the 150th anniversary of the first Rugby Union international, Sean meets three Welsh greats of the game. Emyr Lewis, Garin Jenkins and Byron Hayward accumulated over 100 international caps between them in 1990s, and each of them came to the Christian faith when their playing days were over. Sean speaks to them about how they came to faith, their love of rugby and what the sport means to Wales. James Lusted visits Beaumaris on Anglesey to meet the vicar who volunteers for his local lifeboat crew. He reflects on this new challenge, what the lifeboat means to the community and how heading out to sea has deepened his faith. With music from across Wales – including special performances from West End star John Owen-Jones and BBC Chorister of the Year Alexander with our very own Aled Jones.