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Aled Jones discovers how many of the nation's favourite hymns have been influenced by Britain's most well-known composers, including Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

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BBC Two  (England, Northern Ireland, Wales only)
16:25 19 Jul 2009

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Factsheets for previous episodes

Factsheets for previous episodes - choose a date: --- 2009 --- 12 July - Courage 05 July - Weddings 28 June - Belfast 21 June - Llanberis 14 June - Dreams 07 June - Trafalgar Square 31 May - Pentecost Birmingham 24 May - Liverpool Working Together 17 May - Entrepreneurs 10 May - Scottish Bible Society 03 May - Bristol 26 April - Windsor Castle 19 April - Handel's Messiah Programme 2 12 April - Handel's Messiah from Birmingham 05 April - Songs of Praise School Choirs Gala Concert 29 Mar - Songs of Praise Senior Choir of 2009 22 Mar - Songs of Praise Junior Choir of 2009 15 Mar - St Patrick's Day 08 Mar - Meet the Musicians 01 Mar - St David's Day from Cardiff 22 Feb - Christians in the Arts 15 Feb - Mission England 08 Feb - St Martin in the Fields 01 Feb - Candlemas 25 Jan - Libera 18 Jan - Northumberland Coastal Journey 11 Jan - Cornwall 04 Jan - Astronomy --- 2008 --- 28 Dec - Gospel Music 21 Dec - Christmas Carols 14 Dec - Christmas Big Sing 07 Dec - Sir Cliff Richard Special 30 Nov - Linlithgow 23 Nov - Third Age Spirituality 16 Nov - Musicals 09 Nov - Remembrance Sunday, St Chad's Shrewsbury 02 Nov - with Cornwall's Male Voice Choirs 26 Oct - Big Sing 2008 19 Oct - Behind the scenes at The Big Sing 12 Oct - Living in Spain 05 Oct - School Choirs Showcase 28 Sep - Ealing 21 Sep - Big Sing Wales 14 Sep - Liverpool: A World in one City 07 Sep - The Psalms 31 Aug - Highlights 2008 6 - Edinburgh 24 Aug - Highlights 2008 5 - Winchester 17 Aug - Highlights 2008 4 - Bangor 10 Aug - Highlights 2008 3 - York 03 Aug - Highlights 2008 2 - Chester 27 Jul - Highlights 2008 1 - Southwell 20 Jul - Ealing 13 Jul - Canterbury Pilgrimage 06 Jul - Alfresco 29 Jun - Truro 22 Jun - Visiting the Costa del Sol 15 Jun - Gorton Monastery: Restored 08 Jun - Vaughan Williams 01 Jun - Fermanagh 25 May - Wesley Classics 18 May - Northumberland 11 May - Pentecost 04 May - A Day Out in Liverpool 27 Apr - Spirituals 20 Apr - Greyfriars, Edinburgh 13 Apr - Rochester Cathedral 06 Apr - Health and Wellbeing, Harrogate 30 Mar - Confession, Leeds 23 Mar - Easter from Hereford Cathedral 16 Mar - School Choir of the Year 2008 (Gala Concert) 09 Mar - School Choirs of the Year 2008 02 Mar - Mothering Sunday 24 Feb - Highnam 17 Feb - Desmond Tutu 10 Feb - Medway Towns 03 Feb - Harrogate 27 Jan - Hexham 20 Jan - The Organ 13 Jan - St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney 06 Jan - Epiphany Priceless Gifts --- 2007 --- 30 Dec - Change One Thing 23 Dec - Hereford Cathedral Christmas Carols 16 Dec - Big Sing 2007 Christmas Party 09 Dec - Advent 2 02 Dec - Advent 1 25 Nov - Greyfriars 18 Nov - Marriage 11 Nov - Remembrance Sunday 2007 04 Nov - Ken Dodd 28 Oct - Big Sing 2007 21 Oct - Charles Wesley 2 14 Oct - Charles Wesley 1 07 Oct - Schools Choirs Showcase 2007 30 Sep - Norfolk 23 Sep - Morwenstow, Harvest 16 Sep - Rugby World Cup 09 Sep - Coventry 02 Sep - Wintershall 26 Aug - Diana Anniversary 19 Aug - Highlights 2007 6 - Padstow and Rock 12 Aug - Highlights 2007 5 - Eden Project 05 Aug - Highlights 2007 4 - Cardiff Bay 29 Jul - Highlights 2007 3 - Bath 22 Jul - Highlights 2007 2 - Blackpool 15 Jul - Highlights 2007 1 08 Jul - Top 10 Hymns 01 Jul - Gorton Monastery 1 24 Jun - River Journey 17 Jun - Fathers' Day 2007 10 Jun - Londonderry 03 Jun - Lichfield 3: Saints and Angels 27 May - Pentecost: Coventry 20 May - Dundee, St Paul's Scottish Episcopal Cathedral 13 May - Hope for the world 06 May - Blessed Virgin Mary 29 Apr - Chelmsford time capsule 22 Apr - St George's Day 15 Apr - Contemporary Praise 2 08 Apr - Easter 2007 from Lichfield 01 Apr - Palm Sunday 25 Mar - Abolition of the slave trade 18 Mar - School Choirs Gala Concert 11 Mar - School Choirs of the Year 2007 04 Mar - Lent 25 Feb - St Asaph Cathedral - St David's Day 18 Feb - English Churches 3: Wreay 11 Feb - English Churches 2: Thaxted 04 Feb - English Churches 1: St Sephulchre 28 Jan - Northern Ireland (with Gloria Hunniford) 21 Jan - Scottish Big Sing 2 - Burns Night 14 Jan - Women Hymn Writers 07 Jan - Epiphany School Choirs Showcase --- 2006 --- 31 Dec - Christmas Big Sing 2007 31 Dec - Christmas Big Sing 2007 24 Dec - Advent 4 - Christmas Eve from Thursford 17 Dec - Advent 3 - Candlelit carols from Lichfield 10 Dec - Advent 2 - Waiting 03 Dec - Advent 1 - St Asaph 26 Nov - Scottish Big Sing 19 Nov - From St Bartholomew the Great 12 Nov - Remembrance 2006 05 Nov - Newcastle 29 Oct - Big Sing 22 Oct - Big Sing Behind the Scenes 15 Oct - M is for Manchester 08 Oct - Praise Bands Classics 01 Oct - Katherine Jenkins 24 Sep - Chelmsford Harvest 17 Sep - New churches 10 Sep - Chester 03 Sep - Stratford-upon-Avon 27 Aug - Lincoln 20 Aug - Highlights 2006 6 13 Aug - Highlights 2006 5 06 Aug - Highlights 2006 4 30 Jul - Highlights 2006 3 23 Jul - Highlights 2006 2 16 Jul - Highlights 2006 1 09 Jul - Christian Heroes: Brother Roger, Taizé 02 Jul - Christian Heroes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer 25 Jun - Christian Heroes: Edith Cavell 18 Jun - Manchester - a city reborn 11 Jun - Isle of Skye 04 Jun - Pentecost 2006: Minehead 28 May - Climate Chaos 21 May - English Hymnal 14 May - Cardiff Arts 07 May - Friends 30 Apr - Great Hymns 16 Apr - Easter 2006 09 Apr - School Choirs 2006, 2 02 Apr - School Choirs 2006, 1 26 Mar - Mothering Sunday 19 Mar - Transformation 12 Mar - St Patrick's Day 05 Mar - Bereavement 26 Feb - Patagonia 19 Feb - Unsung Heroes 2006, 3 12 Feb - Unsung Heroes 2006, 2 05 Feb - Unsung Heroes 2006, 1 29 Jan - God's Grace 22 Jan - Christ Church 15 Jan - Newsmakers 08 Jan - Wren Churches 01 Jan - Chris De Burgh --- 2005 --- 25 Dec - Christmas Big Sing 2005 18 Dec - Lincoln 11 Dec - Luton 04 Dec - Narnia 27 Nov - Rosslyn 20 Nov - Gateshead 2 13 Nov - Remembrance Sunday 06 Nov - Life changes 30 Oct - Favourite hymns 2005 - top 10 23 Oct - Favourite hymns 2005 - top 20 16 Oct - Sound of Music, Austria 09 Oct - Bryn Terfel Faenol Festival 02 Oct - Bury St Edmunds 2 25 Sep - Harvest 18 Sep - The Stories of Jesus 2 11 Sep - Caithness 04 Sep - Blackpool 28 Aug - Highlights 2005 6 - Performances 21 Aug - Highlights 2005 5 - Children 14 Aug - Highlights 2005 4 - Interviews 08 Aug - Highlights 2005 3 - SOP Abroad 31 Jul - Highlights 2005 2 - Whistlestop UK Tour 24 Jul - Highlights 2005 1 17 Jul - The Lord's Prayer 10 Jul - 60th National Commemoration Day 03 Jul - South Africa 26 Jun - Garden of England 19 Jun - Christian Heroes - Rev Dick Sheppard 12 Jun - Christian Heroes - Dr Barnardo 05 Jun - Christian Heroes - Elizabeth Fry 29 May - Christian Craftsmanship (Ely) 22 May - Monks 15 May - Gospel (Pentecost) 08 May - VE Day Camberwell 01 May - Gateshead 1 24 Apr - Christ Church Spitalfields 17 Apr - Gleneagles 10 Apr - Favourite Hymns 27 Mar - Easter 2005, Bury St. Edmunds 20 Mar - School Choirs 2005 2 13 Mar - School Choirs 2005 1 06 Mar - Mothering Sunday 27 Feb - Swansea 20 Feb - Unsung Heroes 2005, 3 13 Feb - Unsung Heroes 2005, 2 06 Feb - Unsung Heroes 2005, 1 30 Jan - Oban 23 Jan - Holocaust 16 Jan - Cirencester 09 Jan - Tsunami Vigil 02 Jan - Nation's Favourite Hymn --- 2004 --- 26 Dec - Beamish 19 Dec - Advent 2004 4: Christmas from Ely 12 Dec - Advent 2004 3: Royal Albert Hall 05 Dec - Advent 2004 2: School Nativity 28 Nov - Advent 2004 1: Hillsong Church 21 Nov - Belfast Place 14 Nov - Remembrance 07 Nov - Welsh Revival 31 Oct - Bible Society 24 Oct - Big Sing 2004 17 Oct - Peacemakers 10 Oct - Caledonian Canal 03 Oct - Praise band classics 26 Sep - Harvest, Cirencester 19 Sep - Guernsey 12 Sep - Blenheim Palace 05 Sep - Dartmouth 29 Aug - Highlights 2004, 6 22 Aug - Highlights 2004, 5 15 Aug - Highlights 2004, 4 08 Aug - Olympics 01 Aug - Highlights 2004, 3 25 Jul - Highlights 2004, 2 18 Jul - Highlights 2004, 1 11 Jul - William Booth 04 Jul - C.S. Lewis 27 Jun - William Wilberforce 20 Jun - Carers 13 Jun - Eden Valley 06 Jun - D-Day 30 May - Pentecost 23 May - Beaulieu 16 May - Billy Graham Special 09 May - St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow 02 May - Performance Praise 25 Apr - Portsmouth 18 Apr - L'Arche 11 Apr - South Africa 04 Apr - Gloucester 28 Mar - Memories 21 Mar - Mothering Sunday 14 Mar - Celebrate! Schoolchoirs 2004 07 Mar - Celtic Christianity 29 Feb - Brecon 22 Feb - Prayer 15 Feb - Haddington 08 Feb - Love 01 Feb - Hope 25 Jan - Faith 18 Jan - Great Hymns 11 Jan - Royal Albert Hall 04 Jan - Epiphany --- 2003 --- 28 Dec - Christmas Highlights 21 Dec - Gloucester Cathedral 14 Dec - Light 07 Dec - Manchester's Bridgewater Hall 30 Nov - From Godmanchester 23 Nov - From Nashville 16 Nov - From Armagh 09 Nov - Remembrance Sunday 02 Nov - From Halifax Parish Church 26 Oct - with Bryn Terfel 19 Oct - Pope's Silver Jubilee 12 Oct - The Big Sing 05 Oct - The Stories of Jesus 1 28 Sep - Harvest Sunday, Devon 21 Sep - From the Letchworth 14 Sep - From the Edinburgh Festival 07 Sep - From Salisbury 31 Sep - Highlights 2003, 6 24 Aug - Highlights 2003, 5 17 Aug - From Eastbourne 10 Aug - Highlights 2003, 4 03 Aug - Highlights 2003, 3 27 Jul - Highlights 2003, 2 20 Jul - Highlights 2003, 1 13 Jul - Hymnwriters: Modern Classics 06 Jul - The Golden Age of Hymn Writing 29 Jun - Hymns and Psalms 22 Jun - From Wells 15 Jun - Wesley celebration 08 Jun - From Exeter Cathedral 01 Jun - Poor Clare Colettine, Ty Mam Duwn 25 May - From Chelsea Flower Show 18 May - From Sunderland 11 May - Justice 04 May - From Wakefield 27 Apr - Forgiveness 20 Apr - Spring Harvest Big Top, Butlins 13 Apr - From Dublin 06 Apr - From Canongate, Edinburgh 30 Mar - Mothering Sunday 09 Mar - Celebrate from Birmingham 02 Mar - From North Wales 23 Feb - From Chicago 16 Feb - From Nashville 09 Feb - From Liverpool Cathedral 02 Feb - Sacrifice 26 Jan - Holocaust Programme, Edinburgh 19 Jan - Rites 3 - Death/Heaven 12 Jan - Rites 2 - Marriage 05 Jan - Rites 1 - Baptism --- 2002 --- 29 Dec - Christmas Cracker 22 Dec - Advent 4: From Salisbury 15 Dec - Advent 3: From Coventry 08 Dec - Advent 2: Journey into Christmas 01 Dec - Advent 1: Blackburn & South Africa 24 Nov - From Aberdeen 17 Nov - From Belfast 10 Nov - From Falkland Islands 03 Nov - From Selby Abbey 27 Oct - From Liverpool Cathedral 20 Oct - From the Peak District 13 Oct - 'Aled and friends' from Cardiff 06 Oct - Harvest Festival from Norfolk 29 Sep - Canal Praise - Huddersfield 22 Sep - Burghley House, Praise in the Park 15 Sep - From Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham 08 Sep - From St. Giles' Cripplegate, London 01 Sep - From Glasgow 25 Aug - From Richmond 19 Aug - Highlights Programme 4 11 Aug - Highlights Programme 3 04 Aug - Highlights Programme 2 28 Jul - Commonwealth Games, Bolton 21 Jul - Highlights Programme 1 14 Jul - Hymnwriters 3: Cecil Frances Alexander 07 Jul - Hymnwriters 2: Charles Wesley 30 Jun - Hymnwriters 1: Isaac Watts 16 Jun - St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen 09 Jun - Quaker Special 02 Jun - Queen's Golden Jubilee 26 May - York Minster 19 May - Sheffield 12 May - Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne 05 May - Castle Howard, North Yorkshire 28 Apr - Manchester 21 Apr - St Albans 14 Apr - Torquay and Llandudno 07 Apr - Norwich 31 Mar - Glamis, Scotland 24 Mar - Preston 17 Mar - Belfast 10 Mar - Southwell Minster 03 Mar - featuring Irish singer and MEP Dana 24 Feb - Chester Cathedral 17 Feb - Theme: Relationships 03 Feb - RAF Kinloss on the Moray Firth 27 Jan - Alloway (Robert Burns) 20 Jan - Rugby, Warwickshire 13 Jan - P&O 'Oriana' in the Caribbean 06 Jan - Favourite Hymns, Royal Albert Hall --- 2001 --- 30 Dec - Manchester Evening News Arena 23 Dec - Southwell 16 Dec - New York 09 Dec - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 02 Dec - St. Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks 25 Nov - The Tower of London 18 Nov - St, Cecilia 04 Nov - Ripon 28 Oct - An evening with Sir David Frost 21 Oct - St. Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton 14 Oct - Worcester Cathedral 07 Oct - 40th Anniversary 23 Sep - Eden Project 16 Sep - Vigil for America 09 Sep - Sacred Gardens 02 Sep - Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes 26 Aug - 'Roses' from Belfast 19 Aug - Padstow Harbour, Cornwall 12 Aug - The Spa Complex, Scarborough 05 Aug - The Newsmakers 29 July - Across The World 22 July - Across the Kingdom 15 July - Beautiful Churches, Post-Reformation 08 July - Beautiful Churches, Gothic 01 July - Beautiful Churches, Saxon and Norman 24 Jun - St Paul's Anglican Fellowship 17 Jun - Fathers' Day 10 Jun - English Reformed Church, Amsterdam 03 Jun - Worcester Cathedral 20 May - Wendy Craig 13 May - The Scottish Borders 06 May - Maidenhead 29 Apr - Isle of Wight 22 Apr - Tribute to Sir Harry Secombe 15 Apr - Easter Sunday, Ripon Cathedral 08 Apr - Palm Sunday, Reading 01 Apr - Clowns 25 Mar - Wells 18 Mar - Science 11 Mar - Cambridge 04 Mar - East End of London 25 Feb - St Davids, Wales 18 Feb - Oswestry, Shropshire 11 Feb - Bristol 04 Feb - Bradford

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