BBC One’s Songs of Praise returns with a special episode, Pentecost Sunday, airing on Sunday, May 19, 2024. In this installment, presenter Claire McCollum visits the seaside town of Bognor Regis and joins the flourishing congregation of St. Wilfrid’s Church to commemorate Pentecost.
Claire McCollum travels to the seaside town of Bognor Regis for this episode, where she joins the expanding congregation of St. Wilfrid’s Church on the seafront to celebrate Pentecost. She meets individuals who are taking a literal plunge by choosing to be baptized in the sea as an expression of their faith. The vicar, Rev. Joel Mennie, dons a wetsuit to lead these unique baptisms and sits down with Claire to reflect on the new life and vitality he has witnessed within the church, attributing it to the power of the Holy Spirit.
The episode also features Christian baker Chinelo Awa in London, who has crafted a unique cake to commemorate Pentecost, often referred to as ‘the birthday of the church.’ Chinelo shares the story of her own personal transformation and how it inspired the creation of this special cake.
As always, the episode includes a selection of hymns and songs befitting the Pentecost festival, including worship music led by Lucy Grimble at St. Wilfrid’s in Bognor Regis. The featured music includes “Thanks and Praise” from St. Wilfrid’s Church, “Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind” from Inverness Cathedral, “Great Are You Lord” from Spring Harvest 2022, and “Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here” from St. Wilfrid’s, among others.
Songs of Praise: Pentecost Sunday airs on BBC One on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 1.15pm.
