Newstead Abbey

Aled Jones visits Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire to explore its 850 years of history. Curator Simon Brown explains how the abbey began as an Augustinian priory and it is thought one of the priests was Friar Tuck, one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men.

Recently, Newstead Abbey has looked into its 19th-century links to black history and the connection to the sugar plantations in Jamaica. Aled talks to two women whose faith has motivated them to bring to light this little-known, difficult chapter from the abbey's past. Aled also meets volunteers who work in the house and gardens to hear how their faith inspires them.

Meanwhile, YolanDa Brown meets Emerald O’Hanrahan, who plays Emma Grundy in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, to hear about her personal prayer space. There is music from Nottingham’s Albert Hall, Margaret Keys performs Ave Maria, and Aled performs one of his favourite hymns, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, in Newstead Abbey’s Japanese garden.