A list of religious broadcasting compiled by the Catholic
Communications Network. The Catholic Communications Network is the
media relations, news and publications office of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of England and Wales with a team who are highly experienced
in the worlds of PR, journalism and publications.
Saturday 23 December
The Way We Worshiped Christmas Special Lynda Bellingham, Kazia Pelka
and Jimmy Savile are among the famous faces reminiscing about the
traditions that were once the foundations of the festive season 9.25am
ITV1
Christmas in the Cathedral At Salisbury Cathedral they are preparing for Christmas 3.30pm R4
Opera on 3: Live from the Met: Don Carlo Verdi’s drama of personal, political and religious passion 6.00pm R3
God Gave Rock and Roll to You Taking a look at the relationship between
religion and music, from hymns to music be platinum-selling hip hop
artist Kanye West 6.30pm Channel 4
The Lost Gospel of Judas The Gospel of Judas, which may or may not have
been surfaced in the desert relatively recently has been traded on the
black market for the last 25 years. A team of experts set out to
restore the manuscript and determine whether it is real or fake 8.30pm
Channel 4
Pre-Hear New Carols Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, conductor Stephen Cleobury 10.45pm R3
Film: Nuns on the Run Comedy. Brian and Charlie have become
disillusioned with the violence of modern-day crime 11.40pm Channel 4
Sunday 24 December
Something Understood Who Do You Say That I Am? Mark Tully discusses the
question of what Jesus means in the 21st century with the Catholic
theologian James Alison 6.05am R4
Aled Jones says Good Morning Sunday Guests include cellist Julian Lloyd
Webber, the London Adventist Chorale, Sarah Brightman and, on the
phone, Katherine Jenkins 7.00am R2
Sunday Religious news, with Roger Bolton, this week coming from Coventry Cathedral 7.10am R4
Sunday Worship (4/4) This week’s theme is Heaven, From Greyfriars
Toolbooth and Highland Kirk, Edinburgh with the minister the Rev
Richard Frazer, and the former Moderator of the General Assembly of the
Church of Scotland Alison Elliott. 8.10am R4
What the World Needs Now (4/4) The true meaning and origins of Advent 9.15am BBC1
Cathedral (2/8) The Archbishop of Canterbury joins in the Christmas Eve celebrations 9.25am ITV1
Film: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – animation 11.25am ITV1
Beyond Narnia Documentary – drama charting the work of C S Lewis 11:50 am BBC2
Film: Solomon and Sheba Ornate biblical epic 12.45pm BBC2
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Live from the Chapel of King’s
College, Cambridge, the traditional service that for many people all
over the world marks the beginning of Christmas 3.00pm R4
Film: The Nun’s Story After entering a convent, a young Belgian girl
finds the principle of unquestioning obedience hard to observe 3.15pm
BBC2
Film: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Spirited filmed
version of the long-running stage musical, featuring an all-star cast
3.15pm Channel 5
Gift of a Goat Ethical gifts of goats to help poor African families
have become a hit Christmas Present. Hermione Cockburn travels to
Uganda to see if the goats really do help rural communities find a way
out of poverty 4.30pm R4
Carols from King’s Live. Annual service from King’s College, Cambridge,
telling the Christmas story through music and prose 5.45pm BBC2
The Private Life of a Christmas Masterpiece New Series (1/3) The
Annunciation. The first moment in the Christmas story is the arrival of
the Archangel Gabriel to tell Mary that she has been chosen to give
birth to the Son of God 7.00pm BBC2
Sunday Half Hour Featuring the story of Christmas with the choir of Exeter Cathedral 8.00pm R2
Off the Page (6/6) Is it ever acceptable to lie to children, even in teaching the myth of Father Christmas? 10.30pm R4
Carols by Candlelight Stephen Williams directs the Chapter House Choir of York Minster. Presented by Aled Jones 11.00pm R2
Midnight Mass Worshippers gather for a live service from Liverpool
Metropolitan Cathedral, led by the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most
Rev Patrick Kelly 11.25pm BBC1
Midnight Mass Live from Clifton Cathedral, Bristol, Led by the Bishop
of Clifton, the Rt Rev Declan Lang with a feast of carols 11.30pm R4
Christmas Eve Service From All Saints in Daresbury, Cheshire. The Rt
Rev Jack Nicholls, The Bishop of Sheffield, and the Rev Canon David
Felix are joined by singers, celebrities and choirs, including
Katherine Jenkins, Andy Abraham, Alfie Boe and the St Cecilia Singers.
The readings and prayers are led by the Duchess of Kent, MPs Hazel
Blears, David Blunkett and Ann Widdecombe 11.40pm ITV1
Monday 25 December
A Yorkshire Christmas Martin Wainwright explores why so many Christian traditions started in “God’s county” 6.05am R4
Aled Jones says Good Morning Christmas Archbishop Desmond Tutu offers
his Christmas message, with music from singer/songwriter Eleanor
McEvoy. Plus guest, the writer and chef Simon Hopkinson 7.00am R2
Christmas Service From St Mary the Virgin in Bowden, Cheshire, led by
Clair Jaquiss, Preacher Canon Trevor Dennis. Exploring the contrasting
ways in which the gospels tell the story of Christ’s birth 9.00am R4
Cathedral (3/8) At Canterbury Cathedral, Archbishop Rowan Williams reflects on the meaning of Christmas 9.25am ITV1
Christmas Family Worship Morning Communion from St Mary's Ealing 10.20am BBC1
Divine Art (1/5) Art historian Brian Sewell examines the relationship
between the Anglican Church and contemporary artists. Today he visits
Philip Jackson, the royal sculptor to the Queen, at Chichester
Cathedral 2.45pm R4
The Queen Her Majesty addresses the nation and the Commonwealth 3.00pm R2, R4 & R 5, BBC1 & ITV1
Alternative Christmas Message The annual tradition continues, and this
year the yuletide address is given by Khadija, a British Muslim woman
who has been wearing the niqab veil for a decade 3.00pm Channel 4
The Private Life of a Christmas Masterpiece (2/3) A closer look at the
image that inspired a thousand Christmas cards: Brueghel’s Census at
Bethlehem 6.15pm BBC2
The Queen Repeat 7.05pm BBC2
The Invention of Childhood (2/6) Michael Morpurgo looks at the effects
on childhood of changes in religion, and of education and poor relief
in the 16th and 17th centuries 9.00pm R4
The Secret Family of Jesus Documentary on the Da Vinci Code 8.00pm Channel 4
The Vicar of Dibley (1/2) Comedy, Alice thinks she is the last living
descendent of Christ after working out the clues of the Da Vinci Code
9.30pm BBC1
The Way We Worshipped Christmas Special Repeat 11.45pm ITV1
Christmas Meditation Archbishop Desmond Tutu reflects on the God who
reveals Himself in the birth of a baby 12.15am R4 (FM only )
The Magic of Jesus Magicians Barry and Stuart from Dirty Tricks use biblical stories as their inspiration 12.40am Channel 4
Tuesday 26 December
Daily service Led by Mgr Tony Rogers 9.45am R4
Divine Art (2/5) Brian Sewell examines sculptor Stephen Cox’s work at Canterbury Cathedral 3.45pm R4
The Private Life of a Christmas Masterpiece (3/3) The series concludes
with a look at Paul Gauguin’s interpretation of the Nativity scene
6.10pm BBC2
The Invention of Childhood (3/6) Discussing the battle between
Evangelicals and the Romantics over the nature and purpose of
childhood, and the growth of a new phenomenon – pester power 9.00pm R4
Wednesday 27 December
Daily Service Led by Canon Chris Chivers 9.45am R4
Afternoon Performance – Kids and Carols: BBC Singers, BBC National Orchestra of Wales Presented by John Shea 2.00pm R3
Angelic Hosts (1/3) A shepherd boy had an unexpected encounter with the angel Gabriel. By Michael Morpurgo. 3.30pm R4
Choral Evensong From the Priory Church, Edington, Wiltshire, during the 2006 Festival of Music within the Liturgy 4.00pm R3
Divine Art (3/5) Anthony Whishaw joins Brian Sewell at Christ Church,
Kensington, to examine the links between the Anglican Church and its
artisans 3.45pm R4
Thursday 28 December
Daily Service Led by Becky Harris 9.45am R4
Angelic Hosts (2/3) When a cleaning lady finds a valuable painting of
an angel in her employer’s attic, good things start to happen. By Clare
Boylan. 3.30pm R4
Divine Art Brian Sewell discusses sculptor Nicholas Moreton’s work at Gloucester Cathedral 3.45pm R4
Analysis (8/8) Telling Muslim Stories Has reporting of the Iraq war
abroad and the terrorist threat at home damaged the trust of ordinary
Muslims in the mainstream media? 8.30pm R4
The Perfect Parents A well meaning couple tell a lie about their
religious beliefs in order to have their daughter accepted by a
highly-regarded Catholic school. 9:00pm ITV1
Friday 29 December
Act of Worship Led by Leslie Griffiths 9.45am R4
Angelic Hosts (3/3) An abstract image of an angel triggers off a
forgotten memory. With hindsight, could apparently random events be a
sign of divine intervention? 3.30pm R4
Divine Art (5/5) Brian Sewell discusses the controversial new
commission for the east window at London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields
3.45pm R4
Sunday 31 December
Aled Jones says Good Morning Sunday With highlights of the year’s show 7.00am R2
Sunday Worship Two years after the Asian tsunami, the Rev Dr John
Polkinghorne and Rev Angela Tilby consider the problem with evil from
the perspectives of science and faith 8.10am R4
Heaven & Earth with Gloria Hunniford A visit to London’s West End
theatre-land to talk to people about some of the surprising forms that
faith can take. 10.00am BBC1
Cathedral (4/8) Peter Williams explores Canterbury Cathedral 12.25pm ITV1
The Early Music Show Lucy Skeaping looks back at the medieval celebrations between Christmas and Epiphany 1.00pm R3
Songs of Praise A Big Sing party for the new year from London’s Royal Albert Hall 6.30pm BBC1
Sunday Half Hour Roger Royle reflects on the power of hymns, and talks to hymn writer Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith 7.00pm R2
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year Message The Most Rev Dr Rowan
Williams looks back at the events of the past 12 months 8.00pm BBC2
Monday 1 January
Gift of a Goat repeat from Christmas Eve 6.30am R4
Act of Worship Led by Dr Bert Tosh 9.45am R4
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year Message The Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams looks back at the past 12 months 12.45pm BBC1
Vicar of Dibley (2/2) Comedy, the chocoholic vicar swaps her dog collar for a wedding dress in the last-ever episode 9.30pm BBC1
Tuesday 2 January
Daily Service Led by Rev Tony Burnham 9.45am
Wednesday 3 January
Daily Service Led by Clair Jaquiss 9.45am
A Service for Epiphany Live from the chapel of Eton College with the Rodolfus Choir 4.00pm R3
Thursday 4 January
Daily Service Led by Rev Peter Whittaker 9.45am R4
Friday 5 January
Act of Worship Led by Andrew Graystone 9.45am R4
23-29 December
Prayer for the Day Led by Rt Rev Richard Chartres (not Sunday)
Pause for Though R2 Speakers for the Week:
Saturday: Rev Robert Atkins in Wales 6.15am and Rev Robert Atkins in Wales 2.30am
Sunday: Rev Robert Atkins in Wales 6.15am, Sharon Grenham Toze 4.30 and 5.30am
Monday: Rt Revd Nick Baines 6.15am, Sharon Grenham Toze 1.30 and 3.30am
Tuesday: Rt Revd Nick Baines 6.15am, Rabbi YY Rubinstein 9.15am and Sharon Grenham Toze 1.30 & 3.30am.
Wednesday: Rev Rob Marshall 6.15am. Nagaraja 9.15am and Sharon Grenham Toze 1.30 & 3.30am.Rev
Thursday: Rev Rob Marshall 6.15am, Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin 9.15am and Sharon Grenham Toze 1.30 & 3.30am.
Friday: 6.15am, Major Charles King 9.15am and Rev Simon Woodman in Wales 3.30am.
Thought for the Day 7.48am R4
Speakers for the week:
Saturday Rhidian Brook
Tuesday Rt Rev Tom Butler (7.45am)
Wednesday Rev Dr Giles Fraser
Thursday Anne Atkins
30 December – 5 January
Prayer for the Day Led by Rt Rev George Stack (not Sunday)
Pause for Thought R2 Speakers for the Week:
Saturday: Rev Simon Woodman 2.30am
Sunday: Rev Simon Woodman 6.15am,
Monday: 6.15am, Father Brian D’Arcy 9.15am
Tuesday: 6.15am, Rabbi YY Rubinstein 9.15am, Laitavera 1.30am & 3.30am
Wednesday: Jess Wild 6.15am, Nagaraja 9.15am, Laitavera 1.30am & 3.30am
Thursday: 6.15am, Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin 9.15am, Laitavera 1.30am & 3.30am
Friday: 6.15am, 9.15am, 3.30am Speakers not known at present
Thought for the Day R4
Speakers for the week:
Monday Rev Dr Colin Morris
Tuesday Rt Rev Tom Butler
Wednesday Dom Anthony Sutch OSB
Thursday Anne Atkins
Friday Rev Dr Giles Fraser