0:00:03 > 0:00:07Hello and welcome to a special edition of Songs of Praise
0:00:07 > 0:00:10from our home in MediaCity in Salford.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13As we celebrate some of the best musical moments
0:00:13 > 0:00:17and memorable stories from the past year.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21We also have a special performance by West End star Shaun Escoffery.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25We'll discover how one man's faith helped him find forgiveness.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28As soon as I got hold of his hand,
0:00:28 > 0:00:30there was something passed between us.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33I can only say it was the Lord working.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37And after singing Abide With Me in front of 90,000 people
0:00:37 > 0:00:39at the FA Cup Final at Wembley,
0:00:39 > 0:00:43our Fans Choir reunites to relive one of the biggest days of their lives.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46It's good talking to other members that were in the choir
0:00:46 > 0:00:48because I think family and friends back home
0:00:48 > 0:00:50are getting fed up with me going on about it now!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Of course, as well as our highlights,
0:01:00 > 0:01:04we'll have a rich mix of hymns and worship songs from around the UK.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08And as I'm from Wales, I'm pleased to say we're starting in Cardiff.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35We've had the most incredible year of music
0:03:35 > 0:03:38with nearly 100 special guest performances
0:03:38 > 0:03:40alongside hymns and songs from more
0:03:40 > 0:03:46than 80 churches, cathedrals and worship halls across the UK.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47It's been quite a year.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51# Oh, happy day Oh, happy day!
0:03:51 > 0:03:56# When I get to heaven Oh, happy day!
0:03:56 > 0:04:00# I'm going to walk the streets Oh, happy day... #
0:04:00 > 0:04:06# Grant that daily we may prove
0:04:06 > 0:04:12# Those who place their trust in thee... #
0:04:12 > 0:04:14# Songs of praises, songs of praises
0:04:14 > 0:04:16# I will ever give unto thee
0:04:16 > 0:04:18# Songs of praises, songs of praises
0:04:18 > 0:04:20# I will ever give unto thee... #
0:04:20 > 0:04:25# Amazing grace!
0:04:25 > 0:04:31# How sweet the sound
0:04:31 > 0:04:39# That saved a wretch like me... #
0:04:39 > 0:04:43# In heavenly love abiding
0:04:43 > 0:04:48# No change my heart shall fear
0:04:48 > 0:04:53# And safe is such confiding
0:04:53 > 0:04:58# For nothing changes here... #
0:04:58 > 0:05:04# How great thou art
0:05:04 > 0:05:08# How great thou art... #
0:05:08 > 0:05:12THEY SING Gwyl Y Baban
0:05:20 > 0:05:24# O worship the King
0:05:24 > 0:05:27# All-glorious above
0:05:27 > 0:05:31# O gratefully sing
0:05:31 > 0:05:34# His power and his love... #
0:05:34 > 0:05:38# When love was king
0:05:38 > 0:05:43# Oh-oh-oh-oh
0:05:43 > 0:05:52# When love was king... #
0:05:52 > 0:05:55# Don't let me fall
0:05:55 > 0:05:58# And don't let go
0:05:59 > 0:06:02# Walk with me
0:06:02 > 0:06:06# And never leave
0:06:06 > 0:06:12# Ever close, God abide with me... #
0:06:12 > 0:06:15And from one incredible musical montage to a powerful performance
0:06:15 > 0:06:17of a seasonal favourite
0:06:17 > 0:06:20from West End star Shaun Escoffery.
0:06:20 > 0:06:26# A ray of hope flickers in the sky
0:06:28 > 0:06:33# A tiny star lights up way up high
0:06:35 > 0:06:41# All across the land Dawns a brand-new morn
0:06:41 > 0:06:47# This comes to pass When a child is born
0:06:49 > 0:06:54# A silent wish sails the seven seas
0:06:56 > 0:07:01# The wind of change Whispers in the trees
0:07:03 > 0:07:09# All the walls of doubt Crumble tossed and torn
0:07:09 > 0:07:15# This comes to pass When a child is born
0:07:16 > 0:07:22# A rosy hue settles all around
0:07:23 > 0:07:29# You've got the feel You're on solid ground
0:07:31 > 0:07:37# For a spell or two No-one feels forlorn
0:07:37 > 0:07:44# This comes to pass When a child is born
0:07:47 > 0:07:55# It's all a dream, an illusion now
0:07:55 > 0:08:02# It must come true Sometime soon somehow
0:08:02 > 0:08:08# All across the land Dawns a brand-new morn
0:08:08 > 0:08:15# This comes to pass When a child is born
0:08:15 > 0:08:18# This comes to pass
0:08:18 > 0:08:26# When a child is born
0:08:26 > 0:08:33# When a child is born. #
0:08:41 > 0:08:44As well as wonderful singing from all four corners of the UK,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47we've met a whole range of extraordinary people
0:08:47 > 0:08:50with some truly inspirational stories.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57Nick Vujicic is an internet sensation whose antics have gone viral
0:08:57 > 0:09:01as he refuses to let severe disability stand in his way.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05They call it phocomelia which means a baby being born without limbs
0:09:05 > 0:09:07with no medical reason.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11When I was 15 years old, I read John chapter 9 - a man was born blind,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13and no-one knew why he was born that way
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and I'm like, "Oh, I can relate to that!"
0:09:16 > 0:09:17And Jesus said it was done
0:09:17 > 0:09:21so that the works of God would be revealed through him.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22And I thought, wow,
0:09:22 > 0:09:26if Jesus had a plan for a blind man then he has a plan for me.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30One man's devout faith was at the heart of another remarkable story.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36In 1979, Michael Ho faced starvation after being stranded
0:09:36 > 0:09:41at sea for 17 days with nearly 80 other Vietnamese boat people
0:09:41 > 0:09:43including a mother and her newborn baby.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47I said, "If you save the baby, Lord,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49"I promise you, I will be a good man."
0:09:51 > 0:09:54And suddenly, I looked out in the ocean.
0:09:54 > 0:10:01A British cargo ship from nowhere suddenly appeared from the ocean.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06Michael later became a priest and 36 years on was finally reunited
0:10:06 > 0:10:10with his British rescuers, Ian and Jenny McBain.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Nice to meet you again. Thank you for saving our lives.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18HE SNIFFS
0:10:21 > 0:10:24One of the most extraordinary stories actually came
0:10:24 > 0:10:26from one of our viewers.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29David Hinkins wrote to Songs of Praise to tell us
0:10:29 > 0:10:30how his father, George,
0:10:30 > 0:10:35sacrificed his life to save crew members of a British aircraft carrier
0:10:35 > 0:10:39when it was attacked by a Japanese kamikaze pilot.
0:10:39 > 0:10:46I was quite amazed to find out that I had a father that was a hero
0:10:46 > 0:10:49but at the same time, I missed him, definitely.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I still do.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54David's attempts to find out more about the pilot drew a blank,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57but a Japanese TV team heard his story
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and, amazingly, managed to trace the pilot's brother
0:11:00 > 0:11:02and brought a video message to play to David.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13After the story was broadcast on Songs of Praise,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17David accepted an offer from an anonymous businessman to travel
0:11:17 > 0:11:22to Japan to meet the brother of the kamikaze pilot, Yoshinari Kurose.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28When we met in the tea garden, as soon as I got hold of his hand,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30there was something passed between us.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33I can only say it was the Lord working.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38And we just had a mutual understanding.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47I wanted to offer forgiveness and reconciliation,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50erm, which he accepted.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56And everything came together. It was the Lord's timing.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01He knew when it was right to do this and we just got on and did it.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Coming up, we'll betaking a look back at some high-profile stories
0:14:56 > 0:14:59of faith which really made an impact.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02First though, another musical highlight, this time
0:15:02 > 0:15:06from Keswick with worship leader, composer and singer Stuart Townend.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10As we're all too familiar,
0:18:10 > 0:18:152015 has been a year dominated by the refugee crisis and acts of terrorism,
0:18:15 > 0:18:20and whether it be in Paris, Tunisia or the Jungle in Calais,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23on Songs of Praise, we've aimed to reflect the mood of the nation
0:18:23 > 0:18:27as some of these events have unfolded and touched all our lives.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33The threat of terrorism was a subject His Royal Highness Prince Charles
0:18:33 > 0:18:38focused on during a special interview with Diane Louise Jordan in February.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42I find it heartbreaking that these sort of things should happen.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46The frightening part is that people can be so radicalised
0:18:46 > 0:18:50either through contact with somebody else or through the internet
0:18:50 > 0:18:56and the extraordinary amount of crazy stuff that is on the internet.
0:18:56 > 0:19:01I think the secret is we have to work harder to build bridges and
0:19:01 > 0:19:06we have to remember that our Lord taught us to love our neighbour.
0:19:08 > 0:19:14To do to others as you'd have them do to you and just
0:19:14 > 0:19:18to go on despite the setbacks and despite the discouragement,
0:19:18 > 0:19:25to try and build bridges and to show justice and kindness to people.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29And faith was very much in focus
0:19:29 > 0:19:32in the midst of one of the year's other headline stories,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35the migrant crisis affecting Europe.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37In August, Sally visited Calais
0:19:37 > 0:19:41and, in particular, the camp known as the Jungle.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49So this is the church. It's surrounded by rubbish.
0:19:49 > 0:19:55It's clearly makeshift and temporary, but it is a church and...
0:19:55 > 0:19:57there's something rather striking about it and it clearly
0:19:57 > 0:20:02brings a lot of comfort to many of the Christians who live here.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Inside, it was clear just how important this church
0:20:06 > 0:20:07was to its worshippers.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12It seems that a lot of effort and care has gone into this.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15All of us just... We love this church.
0:20:15 > 0:20:16More than ourselves, you know?
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Despite the huge controversy surrounding the very existence
0:20:23 > 0:20:26of the camp, UK Christian volunteers were clear
0:20:26 > 0:20:31about the importance of their mission to support the people there.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34A lot of people at home where you come from are unhappy
0:20:34 > 0:20:37about helping migrants, feel they shouldn't be here
0:20:37 > 0:20:39and if they are here, they shouldn't be encouraged.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44That's very sad, really, that people feel that way.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46But that's not how the church feels.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50That's what the church is here for, to reach the lost, the poor,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and the hopeless.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56More recently, in November,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00the people of Paris drew on their faith and solidarity
0:21:00 > 0:21:04as multiple terrorist attacks left the whole country
0:21:04 > 0:21:06and the wider world stunned.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09The leaders of the Anglican and Catholic churches
0:21:09 > 0:21:12spoke exclusively to Songs of Praise.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17My wife and I lived in Paris for five years
0:21:17 > 0:21:20and it was one of the happiest places we've lived
0:21:20 > 0:21:24and to think of a place of such celebration of life...
0:21:26 > 0:21:29..seeing such suffering is utterly heartbreaking.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I just kept thinking of people who had gone out for a drink,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35who had gone out for a meal, gone out to a football match
0:21:35 > 0:21:39and were not coming home. Had just been slaughtered.
0:21:39 > 0:21:40The terrorists, of course,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43believe they're doing all this to glorify their god.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47Just because someone believes something deeply wrong,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51it doesn't mean that they're right in some strange way
0:21:51 > 0:21:52because they put God in it.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57The perversion of faith is one of the most desperate aspects
0:21:57 > 0:22:00of our world today.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05I think their intention is completely distorted
0:22:05 > 0:22:09in terms of any claim over religious motive,
0:22:09 > 0:22:14and, as Pope Francis has said, their actions are a blasphemy against God.
0:22:19 > 0:22:27# Deep peace Of the running wave to you
0:22:28 > 0:22:36# Deep peace Of the flowing air to you
0:22:38 > 0:22:46# Deep peace Of the quiet Earth to you
0:22:47 > 0:22:55# Deep peace Of the shining stars to you
0:22:57 > 0:23:06# Deep peace Of the gentle night to you
0:23:06 > 0:23:14# Moon and stars Pour their healing light on you
0:23:16 > 0:23:24# Deep peace of Christ
0:23:24 > 0:23:33# The light of the world
0:23:33 > 0:23:39# Of the world to you
0:23:41 > 0:23:50# Deep peace of Christ
0:23:50 > 0:24:02# To you. #
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Still to come, we'll be catching up
0:24:07 > 0:24:09with the Songs of Praise FA Cup Fans Choir,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12to relive some of the best moments from their big day out
0:24:12 > 0:24:14at the Cup Final at Wembley.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18But first, another musical treat from London.
0:26:45 > 0:26:50Now, as you know, we love hearing choirs on Songs of Praise.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Perhaps our most memorable musical moment of 2015
0:26:54 > 0:26:58was when our FA Cup Fans Choir sang Abide With Me
0:26:58 > 0:27:03alongside 90,000 fans at the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in May.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08The FA Cup is one of sport's biggest events,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12watched by a global audience of around 500 million people.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14To celebrate this amazing event,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Songs Of Praise decided to put together a choir like no other
0:27:18 > 0:27:21for our biggest ever sing-along.
0:27:21 > 0:27:2564 football fans, each one from a football club that made it
0:27:25 > 0:27:28to the third round, descended on Wembley.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30I'm from Bradford. I'm from Chelsea.
0:27:30 > 0:27:31We played each other a couple of months back.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34And Aled Jones was there to meet them.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Anyone excited about singing in Wembley? Yes! Yes.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Our budding Cup choristers found it daunting at first
0:27:41 > 0:27:45and some struggled to hit the right note.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Now, I can hear I'm going to have to work with a few of you.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50HE SINGS OFF-KEY
0:27:50 > 0:27:53But with help from conductor Steve Thompson,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57and a few slightly unusual warm-up techniques,
0:27:57 > 0:28:01our own FA Cup team soon found that they were not only pitch-ready
0:28:01 > 0:28:04but were forging some unexpected friendships too.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08All the best. All the best to you too next season!
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Together, they faced the Wembley crowd
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and with singing star Alfie Boe leading them on,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17inspired 90,000 spectators
0:28:17 > 0:28:20to deliver an iconic rendition of this classic hymn.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25# Abide with me
0:28:25 > 0:28:33# Fast falls the eventide
0:28:33 > 0:28:40# The darkness deepens... #
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Seven months later, the choir are back
0:28:42 > 0:28:45and it's like time hasn't passed.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Musical director, Steve Thompson, has responded to a Christmas appeal
0:28:48 > 0:28:51from the people of Totton near Southampton.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54They said, "Steve, would you come and switch the lights on?"
0:28:54 > 0:28:55I said, "I'd be honoured to do that."
0:28:55 > 0:28:57But I thought for one moment,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00could I possibly bring the FA Cup choir back together
0:29:00 > 0:29:02to help me put the lights on?
0:29:02 > 0:29:06So I sent out a gentle Facebook message and it was unanimous -
0:29:06 > 0:29:07"Steve, we'll come and do it."
0:29:08 > 0:29:11'Not only switching the lights on...'
0:29:11 > 0:29:14CHEERING
0:29:14 > 0:29:17550 kids have made these lanterns
0:29:17 > 0:29:20and they're going to have a parade through the streets.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22So the choir's going to be a part of the parade,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25then later on in the evening, we're going to do a concert
0:29:25 > 0:29:26where they'll perform five songs.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Here's one that we can all sing along to!
0:29:28 > 0:29:30O Come All Ye Faithful. Together!
0:29:30 > 0:29:35# O come all ye faithful
0:29:35 > 0:29:38# Joyful and triumphant... #
0:29:38 > 0:29:42Whether there's two of us or there's 64, in some ways, it doesn't matter.
0:29:42 > 0:29:47But because there's that great bond, it's wonderful to see everybody.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49And it's good talking to other members that were in the choir
0:29:49 > 0:29:51because I think family and friends back home
0:29:51 > 0:29:54are getting fed up with me going on about it now!
0:29:55 > 0:29:57In July, I'm getting married
0:29:57 > 0:30:01and I've asked Vicky to be one of my bridesmaids
0:30:01 > 0:30:03because we've become really good friends.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Putting God centre stage at the Wembley FA Cup Final was
0:30:08 > 0:30:10so important for me
0:30:10 > 0:30:12because I got ordained a month later.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Well, I've got a tattoo of the FA Cup on my arm.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20I wanted to get a Christian tattoo anyway,
0:30:20 > 0:30:24and I wasn't quite sure what to get, so I just thought, "That's it."
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Some great memories of a choir
0:30:30 > 0:30:33that seems to be taking on a life of its own.
0:30:33 > 0:30:41# ..Abide with me. #
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Stirring stuff from the Wembley faithful
0:30:43 > 0:30:46and our FA Cup Fans Choir there.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Well, I do hope you've enjoyed our best moments,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52musical and otherwise, from over the past year
0:30:52 > 0:30:55and next week, it'll be 2016
0:30:55 > 0:30:59and Aled Jones will be in the north-east to discover how chickens
0:30:59 > 0:31:04are helping pensioners to combat loneliness during the January blues.
0:31:04 > 0:31:05To end today,
0:31:05 > 0:31:09we have a fantastic rousing hymn from just down the road in Manchester.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Thank you for watching and have a very happy New Year.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11# Out there in the dark
0:34:11 > 0:34:13# Out there in the dark
0:34:13 > 0:34:17# There's a beckoning candle, yeah
0:34:17 > 0:34:19# And while I can think
0:34:19 > 0:34:22# While I can talk
0:34:22 > 0:34:24# While I can stand
0:34:24 > 0:34:25# While I can walk