General:
| In the week that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrate their Diamond Wedding, Diane Louise Jordan finds out what it would have been like to get married back in 1947. And, as a newly wed herself, she picks up some tips on what makes a happy marriage as she talks to couples who've experienced the joys and trials of married life. Wedding hymn favourites include Praise my Soul the King of Heaven and Love Divine.
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| Rev Paul and Christine Perkin
The Rev Paul and Christine Perkin talk about the Marriage Preparation Course they run at St Marks Church, Battersea Rise, London. Instead of seeing couples individually, in the traditional way, before getting married - the Perkins run a five week Course every year. Normally about 20 to 30 couples come - those about to get married and those who've just got married. Couples come either because they're getting married at the church or because they've heard about it on the internet or through friends. The Course doesn't assume any faith position from the people who come -- people of all faiths and none come along. The Course aims to give couples some valuable tools to help them cope with the ups and downs of married life and it tackles things like communication, keeping love alive, commitment etc. The format is informal and non-threatening, with lots of time spent getting the couples to talk together as well as advice from up front. The Perkins have a team who work with them - including other couples of different ages. The Course the Perkins use is used in churches up and down the country and was devised by Nicky and Sila Lee who are on the staff of Holy Trinity Brompton. St Marks Church Battersea Rise London SW11 1EJ www.stmarks-battersea.org.uk Tel: 0207 3269415 or 0207 2236188 The next course is starting on Jan 31st 2008 for five consecutive Thursdays. Time: 7 - 9.45pm starting with candlelit supper and drinks in the St Marks Centre just off Battersea Rise. http://www.themarriagecourse.org/ Holy Trinity Brompton www.htb.org.uk/marriageprep Bevan and Russell Davis Bevan and Russell Davis married knowing that Bevan's infertility meant they would never have children. Although they'd both accepted this nothing prepared them for the true reality of childlessness. Soon after their marriage Bevan became depressed and part of that was due to the grief she experienced at the reality of not being able to have children. The depression lasted five or six years and had a profound affect on their marriage. Eventually Bevan became fertile but after a year of trying for a baby Russell was diagnosed as being completely infertile. The couple talk about their anger with God and their pain at having to deal with this second blow. Also how they experienced the love of God through their Christian community. 14 months ago quite, out of the blue, Bevan became pregnant and their son Ewan was born 5 months ago. Medically it was a one in a billion chance and they are thankful to God for this miracle. Kathleen and Reg Coole Like many couples who married in 1947, Reg and Kathleen Coole first met during the Second World War. It was love at first sight when Reg, a soldier stationed in Ashtead, Kent, walked into the Congregational Church and saw Kathleen in the Choir. The couple talk about what it was like to get married back in 1947 and what has been the secret of staying together happily for 60 years. Tony and Anne Hobbs Anne and Tony Hobbs met at church and were good friends before they fell in love. They felt well prepared for marriage but after 7 years realised that the reality didn't live up to their expectations. Tony was a very driven person - driven in his work, his sport and in his Christian responsibilities. Anne began to feel totally devalued and eventually left him and found happiness with someone else. But eventually, after going back to church, she realised the life she was living wasn't right and that she still loved Tony. Even though the divorce papers had arrived Anne decided to get back in touch with him, Tony didn't want to get back together, but decided to do so because of his belief in the importance of Marriage. The next two years were spent resolving the issues that had lead to their break up and they now describe their marriage as so much better the second time around! Anne and Tony talk about their experiences and also about Mission to Marriage - a National Charity which they now run to help people with marriage difficulties. For more information on Christian Marriage Ministries visit: www.christianmarriageministries.co.uk Tel: 01654 702656 Email: drahobbs@aol.com or mrsahobbs@aol.com |
| SONGS OF PRAISE" SIGNATURE TUNE
Composer: Robert Prizeman Performers: Robert Prizeman, Maurice Murphy, Steven Geraghty Sheet music for the Songs of Praise signature tune is published by Chester Music, catalogue number CH55835. You can listen to the theme tune on CD 2 of the Songs of Praise Album. PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN Music: John Goss Words: H.F. Lyte Tune: Praise my soul Performed By: The Saint Michael Singers Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook 1997 Oxford University Press AS THE BRIDEGROOM TO HIS CHOSEN Words: John Tauler Music: John Rutter Performed By: The Saint Michael Singers Copyright: 1989 Oxford University Press THE PRAYER Written, arranged and produced by Copyright: Performed by: Andrea Ross A version of this song is available on CD THE LORDS MY SHEPHERD Music: Melody ascribed to Jessie S Irvine (1836-87) or David Grant (1833-93) Words: Scottish Psalter 1650 based on Psalm 23 Tune: Crimond Performed By: The Saint Michael Singers Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook 1997 Oxford University Press O PERFECT LOVE Words: Dorothy F Gurney (1858-1932) By permission of Oxford University Press Music: Joseph Barnby (1838-96) Performed By: The Saint Michael Singers Out of copyright LOVE DIVINE Tune: Love Divine Music: John Stainer (1840-1901) Words: Charles Wesley Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright Performed By: The Saint Michael Singers Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook ? 1997 Oxford University Press |
| Music items recorded at Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral and Diocesan Offices 1 Hill Top Coventry CV1 5AB Tel: 024 7652 1200 Fax: 024 7652 1220 www.coventrycathedral.org.uk Diane Louise Jordan?s Links were filmed in the Chapel and Quad at Rugby School Rugby School Rugby Warwickshire CV22 5EH Tel: 01788 556216 Fax: 01788 556219 www.rugbyschool.net OTHER LOCATIONS WERE: St. Mark's Church St Marks Church Battersea Rise London SW11 1EJ Tel: 0207 2236188 www.stmarks-battersea.org.uk ? St. Mary's Church St. Mary's Road, Ealing, London. W5 5RH Tel: 0208 5797134 Email: managerstmarys@tiscali.co.uk Machynlleth Golf Club Felingerrig Machynlleth SY20 8UH Tel: 01654 702000 Wynnstay Arms Hotel Heol Maengwyn Machynlleth Powys SY20 8AE The United Reformed Church Calcutt Street Cricklade Nr Swindon |