29/11/2015 Songs of Praise

It's the first day of Advent,

and on Songs of Praise this week,

I've come to one of Britain's

most majestic stately homes, Chatsworth in Derbyshire.

For months now, the staff here

have been preparing the house for Christmas,

and I'm going to be finding out just how it's all shaping up.

Today, they're preparing the Advent wreath for the private chapel,

so I'll be getting a few tips about how to make one,

and also hearing about the religious significance of the wreath.

Meanwhile, David's in a very familiar part of London.

I'm here on the set of EastEnders

to meet one of the most famous Christians in the UK.

Well, it's the vicar. He thinks I'm past it.

Would Dot watch Songs of Praise?

Yes. She would definitely watch Songs of Praise.

And after more than 50 years of entertaining the world,

the Osmonds reveal how their faith has kept them grounded.

It started in church, and it will always be...

That's where our heart is.

Well, as it's St Andrew's Day tomorrow,

we'll have music from both Edinburgh and Glasgow,

and we've also got a special performance from the Osmonds.

But now, on the first Sunday of Advent,

let's begin with a seasonal favourite from Manchester.

Nesting in the heart of Derbyshire,

Chatsworth House is known to many as "the palace of the Peaks".

It's the seat of the Duke of Devonshire,

and has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549.

With many of the 300 rooms packed with priceless paintings

and sculptures and furniture, it's easy to see why it attracts

more than 700,000 visitors a year.

And in the run-up to Christmas, the staff are preparing for

what's become their busiest time.

Chatsworth has been opening its doors to the public

during the festive season since 2001.

And it's become an annual tradition for its tens of thousands of visitors

to rub shoulders with some unlikely house guests.

Janet Bitton is Chatsworth's head housekeeper,

and along with her team, she's putting the finishing touches

to this year's preparations.

Lovely to meet you, Janet.

When do you actually start planning for Christmas, then?

We start planning it while the current Christmas is in progress,

and we will start buying Christmas decorations

in February of the following year for the Christmas afterwards.

-So it's nonstop, really.

-It is nonstop. It's all year round.

And I think every year you have a theme at Christmas time, don't you?

Yes. We started in 2001 to try and get some revenue back

from the foot-and-mouth disaster that year.

Last year we had Alice in Wonderland,

and this year we've got Toad Comes To Chatsworth - Wind in the Willows.

So there's Toad and Ratty and Badger all over the place.

Yes, they are.

I think there's a special magic here at Christmas time, isn't there?

There is. It's really magical. It's the most beautiful house anyway,

but when you see it dressed for Christmas, the twinkling lights,

it's lovely to see the visitors' faces,

smiling and "Ooh!" - enjoying it all.

Away from the house, in the vinery,

I'm catching up with gardener Mick Brown,

who's making an Advent wreath for Chatsworth's private chapel.

Mick, I hear you're a dab hand at making wreaths.

I've made a few, John. It's a tradition at Chatsworth.

Every year, the Duke and Duchess like us to use natural produce

from the gardens to make wreaths to decorate the house,

-and the estate houses.

-And these are some of them here?

-Yeah.

They are indeed. Those ones are for hanging on the doors,

so we use Chatsworth ribbon for that.

But right now, you're making an Advent wreath, aren't you,

which is very different.

It is very different. This one sits flat, it has five candles in,

to be lit one a week up until Christmas.

And this one's going to be made specially

for the chapel here at Chatsworth.

Tony, you're a local vicar just down the road from Chatsworth, aren't you?

I am, I'm the vicar of All Saints Parish Church in Bakewell,

about four miles away.

So you're the man to tell me about the historic significance

of the Advent wreath.

The early Church wanted to use symbols

to help people reflect on their faith,

and the ring resembles the love of God throughout the world,

er, a love that is ongoing and eternal.

And the candles, er, they can be red or purple.

Purple is the season colour of Advent.

And the white candle lit on Christmas Day

reflects the birth of Christ -

light coming in to darkness.

And over there, we've got another Advent wreath being created by

Rachel and Sue. Rachel, do you do this every year?

Yes, I make an Advent wreath every year

as a reminder of the importance of thinking about Advent

-and the preparation for Christmas.

-And what about you, Sue?

How important is an Advent wreath to you?

Well, to me it continues what we've been thinking about

through the Advent season in church, and I too like to have

a wreath on the table over the Christmas period, with the candles,

which I like to light. It's a very important part of our worship.

This is looking pretty good, now, Mick, isn't it?

Absolutely - well, I hope so, John! It's nearly finished now.

And Tony, sum up to me, what to you is the importance of Advent?

I think it reminds us what Christmas is truly about.

It's such a beautiful season, with the images, with the colour,

the candles, the wreath,

and of course the beautiful hymns and songs.

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

The weasel gang from Wind in the Willows add a certain something

to the magnificent dining table here at Chatsworth this festive season.

And over the many centuries, Chatsworth has entertained

some very distinguished people, including Queen Victoria,

who came here both as princess and as queen.

And it's to another Queen Victoria that we turn now.

The Queen Vic - the pub in EastEnders -

and in particular, to one of its most famous customers.

David has been to meet her.

EASTENDERS THEME MUSIC

I'm so excited to be here at the home of EastEnders.

I feel like I know where I am.

Over there, number 25 - that's Dot's house!

-Damn!

-Language!

Thou shalt not blaspheme.

And the laundrette, her other famous haunt.

God helps those who help theirselves.

I shall just have to soldier on.

And here's the Queen Vic, the famous pub in the heart of Albert Square.

And the actress who plays Dot, June Brown,

has agreed to meet me here in the Square to talk about

her own faith and how it influences her portrayal of the character.

Can you imagine if somebody had never seen EastEnders

and said to you, how would you describe Dot?

If you'd asked me that in the early days,

I'd have said I don't really know, because she's an awful gossip,

-and judgmental.

-Mmm.

-And she's very strict

in what she thinks and what she doesn't.

But over the years, I have to pretend that she's mellowed.

And also, you see, to begin with, she was a woman who was on her own.

I thought, well, she's lonely, so she's a hypochondriac.

My back's really getting worse.

And he had to take me blood pressure cos of me dizzy spells.

You said she was judgmental. How would you describe Dot's faith then,

when you started playing her, compared to how it is now?

She was what I'd call a kindergarten Christian.

You know, she just went by what they said in church, and the service,

and didn't really think about it.

But I have actually changed that, because of my faith.

I twisted her to be more intelligent about it than she was, you see.

Jesus...

I know that you hung upon the Cross

to take our sins upon yourself.

But was it for everybody?

'When somebody comes to you and says, "Here's the script,"'

did you ever look at it and think, "She wouldn't say this"?

Yes. They are very good to me, they are.

They allow me to change it to Dot's language

and I always rewrite the prayers,

because people don't understand what prayer is.

Well, it's the vicar. He thinks I'm past it.

And he's right.

I'm a silly fool.

Christians on screen are generally quite extreme characters

and not really three-dimensional.

-No - they're funny, or stupid.

-Or stupid.

And that's why I keep it as truthful as possible.

Don't you go starting on about my faith!

I'm just worried about you, that's all!

I don't want you having one of your turns!

When speaking on the subject of Heaven,

does Dot think that she's going to Heaven?

Well, I should think that is her hope.

And are you...thinking of Heaven?

Well, there must be layers of it, I think.

That's what St Paul said -

-"I was caught up into the seventh heaven."

-Yes.

And some people who have been kind and generous and loving

and forgiving all their lives

will go to a better level than those who just tried.

I'm one of the ones who just tried.

I don't think that's the case at all!

When people meet you on the street, how do they respond?

Well, they're very friendly.

-It's not so much the autograph now, it's the selfie.

-Yes.

-So you do a lot of selfies?

-I do a lot of selfies, yeah.

Just a question, a personal question on my part.

Would Dot watch Songs of Praise?

Yes, she would definitely watch Songs of Praise.

And she would go to Communion in the morning.

APPLAUSE

MUSIC BOX PLAYS

Later in the programme, we're going to be meeting a pop group family

who've been wowing audiences for more than 50 years - the Osmonds.

Diane-Louise Jordan will be finding out how their faith

has been helping them to keep their feet on the ground.

And while I take a bit of a break now with Badger,

here's some more music, and as it's St Andrew's Day tomorrow,

it's coming from Edinburgh. More tea?

Back in 1972, in the early days of Newsround,

I reported on an American pop group that was taking Britain by storm.

And they're still going strong.

Diane-Louise Jordan has been catching up with the Osmonds.

Ladies and gentlemen, Jimmy and his group.

# I want some red roses... #

Starting young on the Andy Williams Show,

the Osmonds have been in showbusiness for over 50 years,

but throughout it all, their devout Mormon faith

has kept their feet firmly on the ground.

# Don't love me for fun, girl

# Let me be the one... #

They're going back to where it all began

on their latest visit to the UK.

We're here to celebrate Christmas!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, to quote a friend of ours.

And that friend is Andy Williams.

He's the one that started it off for us,

and he empowered us before he passed away to keep his tradition alive,

and it's been such an honour.

People come from all over the world to see this show in America,

and this is the first time

bringing it here to the place we love so much, the UK.

What does Christmas really mean to you guys?

Well, it's about our Saviour to begin with,

and we as brothers and as a family

understand - at least, we believe we understand -

where it all comes from.

What Christmas is truly about, and the meaning.

So even though it's got presents and fun and Santa Claus,

-all kind of things...

-He does this.

..things going on, all of our families

understand what it's all about.

HE SINGS

Our favourite is when we sing like when we started, you know,

like in church, like, # I'll give my... #

Wanna do it?

# I'll give my hand

# To those who cannot see

# The sunrise or the falling rain

# I'll sing my song

# To cheer the weary along

-# For I may never pass this way

-Oooh

-# Again

-Oooh... #

But we grew up singing songs like that in church,

and, you know, working together for so many years,

just jump into a number like that.

To sing of Christ, and share our testimony

of the value of a Christ-centred life.

And that's what it's about for us.

That's what has saved us, um, in a career...

You know, we have every reason in the world

to probably hate each other,

and, you know, fall out, like most boy bands do,

but because we've had a belief and a faith in God

and are involved in something bigger than ourselves...

HE SINGS

..it's kept us and saved us from so many pitfalls

that so many of our peers unfortunately have encountered.

And I think when you have a focus and a direction in life,

you can handle whatever comes your way. It stabilises you.

And I think... That's why I think we're still together

after all these years.

It started in church, and it will always be...

-That's where our heart is, you know?

-That's right.

What are you going to sing for us today on Songs of Praise?

Oh, we have something fun for you.

We're...it's for you.

# We're singing bye-bye, blues

# We're singing bye-bye, blues

# So listen - bells ring, ring Birds sing

# Bye-bye blues, bye-bye! #

-We're not going to do that one.

-We won't do that one.

No, we're going to sing a song, again, keeping Christ in Christmas.

It's a very famous song - Hallelujah.

But we love the Christian lyrics,

that a lot of people have heard,

and we hope that it lifts people,

and it gives them faith that it's all going to be OK.

And it matters how we treat each other,

and God's watching and he loves us all.

# I heard about this baby boy

# Who comes to Earth to bring us joy

# And I just want to sing a song to you

# It goes like this The fourth, the fifth

# The minor fall and the major lift

# With every breath I'm singing Hallelujah

# Hallelujah

# Hallelujah

# Hallelujah

# Hallelu-u-u-jah

# A couple came to Bethlehem

# Expecting child They searched the inn

# To find a place For you were coming soon

# There was no place for them to stay

# So in a manger filled with hay

# God's only son was born Oh, hallelujah

-# Hallelujah

-Hallelujah

-# Hallelujah

-Hallelujah

# Hallelujah

-# Hallelu-u-u-jah

-Hallelu-u-u-jah

# I know you came to rescue me

# This baby boy would grow to be

# A man who'd one day die for me and you

# Our sins will drive the nails in you

# That rugged cross was my cross too

# And every breath you drew was hallelujah

# Hallelujah

-# Hallelujah

-Hallelujah

# Hallelujah

-# Hallelu-u-u-jah

-Hallelu-u-u...

-# Hallelujah

-Hallelujah

-# Hallelujah

-Hallelujah

# Hallelujah

# Hallelu-u-u-jah. #

One of the jewels in Chatsworth's crown

is its 17th-century chapel,

which was inspired by the Royal Chapel at Windsor Castle.

To learn more about its fascinating history

and its religious importance to the Cavendish family,

I'm joining up with Head Guide Shenagh Firth.

Wow, Shenagh. What an impressive place to come and worship.

Wow indeed, yes, it is, isn't it?

This is the chapel, it's the oldest room in the house.

Built in 1688 on the site of the old Elizabethan chapel as-was.

So the rest of the house grew from here?

This is where it all started, yes.

And the most impressive thing here, the one that catches the eye -

apart from your Christmas decorations! -

is this magnificent altarpiece.

Yes, it's pretty impressive!

It's made from Staffordshire alabaster, and it's carved by

one of Chatsworth's greatest master carvers, Samuel Watson.

And what about these wonderful paintings round the walls?

Yes, with all the paintings and ceiling paintings at Chatsworth,

there's always some sort of political or religious message,

and this one's no different.

This is Christ healing the sick on the north wall here,

and it's a direct reference to

the restoration of the nation's religious health

after the removal of King James II from the English throne,

to be replaced by William III.

-I can see that up there, there's a gallery.

-There is.

That gallery would have been for the family originally.

From day one, prayers were said in here every day.

-So who was down here?

-This was the staff.

The household staff would have been in the main body,

men on one side, women on the other,

and the family would have worshipped from the gallery.

They had their own chaplain,

and daily prayers right up to the First World War.

And what do visitors say when they come in and see this chapel?

Er, they do tend to come in and be quite awe-struck by it,

and I quite often walk through here

in the afternoons when it's a bit quieter

and you'll find people sitting on the bench at the back there

and they're just having a minute of peace and quiet.

-Bit of contemplation.

-That's right, yeah.

Well, the chapel looks almost perfect for the start of Advent.

But there's still room for one final touch.

And here comes Mick with the Advent wreath!

That looks great, Mick, doesn't it?

-What do you think, Shenagh?

-Looks fantastic, Mick, good job!

If you'd like to put it on there, Mick.

There we go. And the white one in the middle, for Christmas Day.

And I'll light the first candle for the first week of Advent.

And that's all from Chatsworth on the first Sunday of Advent.

And let's end the programme

with a wonderful hymn from Leicester Cathedral - Tell Out My Soul.

Bye for now.