BBC Songs Of Praise To Be Filmed At Guildford Cathedral

Published on: 12 Apr, 2022
Updated on: 14 Apr, 2022

The ever-popular BBC One programme, Songs of Praise, is coming to film at Guildford Cathedral on Tuesday, May 3, and the BBC team is looking for local, enthusiastic people to join the congregation for an evening of hymns.

The recording will take place between 6.30pm and 9.30pm. Admission to the recorded service is free.

The cathedral archives show that Songs of Praise has been to the cathedral three times in the last 55 years. And it has given the town some wonderful fond memories.

The first occasion was Easter Sunday in 1967 with Barry Rose, the then cathedral’s director of music. A recording can be seen on YouTube here.

Lois Flude was there on the day and saw herself in the recording for “about two seconds”. She said: “I remember the practice, and then the filming, as a 14-year-old schoolgirl in George Abbot Girls’ School ‘s choir. I always told my children that “Mum was on the TV once” and have finally been able to show them!”

A grainy recording of Songs Of Praise at Guildford Cathedral on Easter Sunday in 1967.

The next showing was about 1981 with Guildford Dragon writer and local historian, David Rose and his friend David Collins appearing briefly playing their guitars accompanying the hymn Feed Us Now Of Son Of God.

David said: “It was indeed a brief moment of TV stardom, but worth it! I’d love to see a recording of it, if one exists. It’s a rare occasion when I was wearing a tie – a maroon coloured one with a Courage Directors bitter insignia.”

The most recent was in 2013 where the introduction was given by the Revd Canon Dr Nicholas Thistlethwaite, acting Dean of Guildford

BBC’s Songs of Praise coming to Guildford Cathedral on May 3 2022

To apply for a place at the recording or you would like more information, send your name and the number of people taking part to SOPcongregations@avantimedia.tv or call 07734 030 888. Please include “Songs of Praise Guildford” in your subject header.

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