Songs of Praise

Image: Geoffrey Wheeler presenting Songs of Praise in 1969.

Songs of Praise, the longest running religious television programme in the world, was first seen and heard on 1st October 1961. The first edition came from the Tabernacle Baptist Chapel in Cardiff, with guest soloist Heather Harper. The programme showcases the best of congregational hymn singing up and down the land. Although church attendance has declined over the life of the programme Songs of Praise continues to pack out churches and venues with enthusiastic congregations.

In 1992 subtitles were introduced in response to the demands of viewers who wanted to sing along at home, thereby creating a nationwide congregation. Over 200 people have presented Songs of Praise since its beginning, including Geoffrey Wheeler, Cliff Michelmore, Karen Keating, Alan Titchmarsh, Sally Magnusson, and Aled Jones.

The position of Songs of Praise as part of the fabric of national life was acknowledged when it appeared in the plots of The Brittas Empire and The Vicar of Dibley. In 2011 MPs signed an Early Day Motion acclaiming the programme, and looking:

forward to many more years of programmes providing a unique blend of vibrant hymn-singing and uplifting human stories broadcast from beautiful locations around the British Isles.