0:00:02 > 0:00:07Hello and happy Easter from St Mary's in Portsmouth.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10You know, long before the custom of giving eggs came about,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14early Christians lit fires at Easter to symbolise the Resurrection.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16This church, along with many others,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19holds an Easter vigil with a bonfire
0:00:19 > 0:00:22as a reminder of Christ's light overcoming the darkness
0:00:22 > 0:00:24with the promise of eternal life.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Well, our Easter celebration is about to get under way,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30we are going to be joined by congregations and choirs
0:00:30 > 0:00:34from across the Portsmouth area and some very special guests.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39On this Easter Day, glorious hymns and Easter readings,
0:00:39 > 0:00:43plus performances by West End star Ramin Karimloo,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Manfred Mann front man and local lad Paul Jones
0:00:47 > 0:00:49and classical chart-topper Laura Wright.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Mary Magdalene went to the tomb
0:01:05 > 0:01:09and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance
0:01:09 > 0:01:12so she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15the one Jesus loved, and said,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb
0:01:18 > 0:01:20"and we don't know where they have put him."
0:01:20 > 0:01:25So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter
0:01:28 > 0:01:30and reached the tomb first.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there
0:01:34 > 0:01:35but did not go in.
0:01:35 > 0:01:40Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43He saw the strips of linen lying there
0:01:43 > 0:01:47as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first,
0:01:57 > 0:01:58also went inside.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02He saw and believed.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36A big thank you to all our 700 singers here at St Mary's
0:04:36 > 0:04:39for that wonderful alleluya and to Laura Wright,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41who we'll be hearing more from a little bit later.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Now it's time for another seasonal favourite.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48I hope you'll be singing along with us for The Day of Resurrection.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Next we hear from the most popular choral work of all time,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Handel's Messiah.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And to sing a beautiful aria from the Easter section,
0:07:18 > 0:07:19I Know That My Redeemer Liveth,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21we welcome back soprano Laura Wright.
0:07:32 > 0:07:39# I know that my Redeemer liveth
0:07:45 > 0:07:50# And that he shall stand
0:07:50 > 0:08:01# At the latter day upon the earth
0:08:08 > 0:08:17# I know that my Redeemer liveth
0:08:17 > 0:08:22# And though worms destroy this body
0:08:22 > 0:08:30# Yet in my flesh shall I see God
0:08:31 > 0:08:39# Yet in my flesh shall I see God
0:08:39 > 0:08:43# Shall I see God
0:08:43 > 0:08:50# I know that my Redeemer liveth
0:08:57 > 0:09:05# For now is Christ risen From the dead
0:09:07 > 0:09:17# The first fruits of them that sleep
0:09:17 > 0:09:21# Of them that sleep
0:09:21 > 0:09:32# The first fruits of them that sleep
0:09:38 > 0:09:46# For now is Christ risen For now is Christ risen
0:09:46 > 0:09:50# From the dead
0:09:53 > 0:10:00# The first fruits
0:10:02 > 0:10:09# Of them that sleep. #
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Well, wasn't that wonderful?
0:10:34 > 0:10:36There'll be more from Laura a little bit later.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Well, you might have seen our next guest as the Phantom of the Opera
0:10:39 > 0:10:44or more recently in the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables
0:10:44 > 0:10:46but now he's moving in a new direction.
0:10:46 > 0:10:53# God on high... #
0:10:53 > 0:10:56'I've been very blessed with being part of the two biggest shows'
0:10:56 > 0:10:59at two important times of their timelines.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01You know, the 25th anniversary of Les Mis and Phantom
0:11:01 > 0:11:04have been very successful for the show as well as for me.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08How do you feel when you're playing a character like Jean Valjean?
0:11:08 > 0:11:09Oh, blessed, you know?
0:11:09 > 0:11:13With that role I was something I didn't think I'd ever want to play
0:11:13 > 0:11:14or ever would play.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Sir Cameron Mackintosh had great faith in me -
0:11:17 > 0:11:18more so than I had in myself.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21So, I said to him, "OK, I'll give it a shot."
0:11:21 > 0:11:24What I thought would be a nightmare turned out to be a dream role.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Is it a spiritual experience when you're up on that stage?- Absolutely.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28Playing a character like Jean Valjean?
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Especially that character. But, for me, singing is spiritual
0:11:31 > 0:11:34cos it's, you're sharing something of yourself.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Especially if you write your own music or...
0:11:36 > 0:11:39you know, if you're a recording artist
0:11:39 > 0:11:42but even with a role you tap into something that's spiritual
0:11:42 > 0:11:44and for me it's why I love to sing.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50And it's through music that Ramin has discovered his faith.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53A CD of Christian music inspired him to find out more.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57I was listening to it on the way home and I thought,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59"I wonder if there's something going on here?"
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Then when I got home there was a pamphlet to come to my local church,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04discussing debt of all things.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07And I was not great with money so I thought,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09"Well, I'll go and check it out."
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Since then I've become really close with the pastor,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14we try and meet once a week and, you know, I don't,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16for me it's a spiritual thing.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18I don't see it as religion, I don't see it as rules,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20I think God is all-forgiving.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22At least my God, the way I see it, you know?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Ramin's now enjoying expressing his Christian faith in his music
0:12:27 > 0:12:29as a solo recording artist.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32# Constant angel... #
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- Tell me about Constant Angel. - That's a gift.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38You know, it's got some of the most beautiful lyrics I ever heard
0:12:38 > 0:12:40but there's a lyric in there that sold it right away.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45It says - and it kind of explains my, sort of, ongoing journey
0:12:45 > 0:12:47and struggle with my faith -
0:12:47 > 0:12:50"There will be times you won't believe in much of anything,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53"that's when you'll find the grace of God in just surrendering."
0:12:53 > 0:12:56And I remembered, the one thing I keep trying to tell myself,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00"Stop controlling your destiny, stop controlling how to fix things.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03"Just, sometimes you've just got to take that leap of faith
0:13:03 > 0:13:05"and let it be. Surrender."
0:13:07 > 0:13:11# I have watched you fall
0:13:12 > 0:13:16# Through those tender years
0:13:17 > 0:13:23# And every time I thought there must be more that I could do
0:13:23 > 0:13:24# You found a light
0:13:24 > 0:13:28# A different way out there in front of you
0:13:32 > 0:13:36# I am in your eyes
0:13:37 > 0:13:41# Just that close to you
0:13:43 > 0:13:49# And now I see your innocence against a troubled sky
0:13:49 > 0:13:54# Everything you once believed is now a question why
0:13:54 > 0:13:56# It's OK
0:13:56 > 0:13:59# Don't lose your faith
0:13:59 > 0:14:01# Don't turn away
0:14:01 > 0:14:06# Everything that makes you who you are will not lead you astray
0:14:06 > 0:14:09# When it gets cold
0:14:09 > 0:14:12# Too dark to see
0:14:12 > 0:14:17# Reach in your soul and find me there, I'll always be
0:14:17 > 0:14:20# Your constant angel
0:14:22 > 0:14:26# Your constant angel
0:14:28 > 0:14:32# Who could ask the years
0:14:34 > 0:14:38# To keep its truth from you?
0:14:39 > 0:14:45# There will be times you won't believe in much of anything
0:14:45 > 0:14:50# That's when you'll find the grace of God in just surrendering
0:14:50 > 0:14:52# It's OK
0:14:52 > 0:14:55# Don't lose your faith
0:14:55 > 0:14:58# Don't turn away
0:14:58 > 0:15:04# Everything that makes you who you are will not lead you astray
0:15:04 > 0:15:06# When it gets cold
0:15:06 > 0:15:08# Too dark to see
0:15:08 > 0:15:14# Reach in your soul and find me there, I'll always be
0:15:14 > 0:15:17# Your constant angel
0:15:19 > 0:15:30# In every prayer I am constantly there with you
0:15:31 > 0:15:33# Don't lose your faith
0:15:34 > 0:15:36# Don't turn away
0:15:37 > 0:15:42# Everything that makes you who you are will not lead you astray
0:15:42 > 0:15:45# When it gets cold
0:15:45 > 0:15:47# Too dark to see
0:15:47 > 0:15:52# Reach in your soul and find me there, I'll always be
0:15:52 > 0:15:55# Your constant angel
0:15:58 > 0:16:01# Your constant angel
0:16:03 > 0:16:10# Your constant angel. #
0:16:17 > 0:16:21The Easter story continues to inspire modern hymn writers,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23among them Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25They wrote our next piece of music.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27It's a contemporary Resurrection hymn
0:16:27 > 0:16:29that's become popular in many churches.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32With our eyes we see The beauty of Easter
0:19:32 > 0:19:35As the earth awakens once more
0:19:35 > 0:19:39With our ears we hear The birds sing sweetly
0:19:39 > 0:19:41To tell us Spring again is here
0:19:41 > 0:19:44With our hands we pick The golden daffodils
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And the fragrant hyacinths
0:19:47 > 0:19:51But only with our hearts Can we feel the miracle of God's love
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Which redeems all men
0:19:53 > 0:19:58And only with our soul Can we make our pilgrimage to God
0:19:58 > 0:20:01And inherit his Easter gift of eternal life.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38# Love is come again
0:22:38 > 0:22:48# Like wheat that springs up green. #
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Our next guest is no stranger to singing in church.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Like me, he was a chorister,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57he sang just down the road at Portsmouth Cathedral.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59But he moved away from choral music
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and found fame and fortune as a '60s rock star.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06# There she was just-a walking down the street
0:23:06 > 0:23:10# Singing doo-wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo... #
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Paul Jones topped the charts as the lead singer of Manfred Mann.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18What's it like, you know, being that rock 'n' roll idol, if you like?
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Which you were in the '60s.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Well, it was exciting. Some things about it were VERY exciting
0:23:23 > 0:23:25and a lot of things about it were exceedingly boring.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29And that mixture of excitement and boredom
0:23:29 > 0:23:32is what sends people off the rails a lot of the time.
0:23:32 > 0:23:40# And tonight you would hear the saddest song of the year... #
0:23:40 > 0:23:43'I didn't go as bad as some people but I went off the rails somewhat.'
0:23:43 > 0:23:46I rebelled big-time. I mean, I just said, "Right, that's it!",
0:23:46 > 0:23:48you know, "Never catch me in a church again as long as I live.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- "What's that other thing? Atheist, I'll be that!"- Right.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56It didn't know what it was, you know, but I decided to, erm...
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Basically, I decided to live a life of, sort of, hostility to Christians
0:24:00 > 0:24:02and I did exactly that.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Paul became well-known as a staunch atheist.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10In 1967 they asked me if I, cos they said, "You're a famous atheist,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14"we'd like you to come on television and argue with a famous Christian."
0:24:14 > 0:24:16I said, "Who's that?", they said, "Cliff Richard."
0:24:16 > 0:24:19I said, "Lead me to him," I said. ALED LAUGHS
0:24:19 > 0:24:23That's... When your hobby was arguing with Christians, you know,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26you don't turn down Cliff Richard. So, I just jumped at it.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29And I was horrible on that television programme,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32and it pains me to think about it now...
0:24:32 > 0:24:33but Cliff was great.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I asked him years later, after I'd become a Christian,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38I said, "Well, you must have wanted to retaliate?
0:24:38 > 0:24:42"Come on, I was nasty. I was obnoxious. What did you want to do?"
0:24:42 > 0:24:45And he said, "It didn't matter what I wanted to do,"
0:24:45 > 0:24:48he said, "I had two friends with me and we prayed for you."
0:24:48 > 0:24:50- # Luck be a lady - Luck be a lady... #
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Cliff's prayers were eventually answered when Paul met his wife Fiona
0:24:53 > 0:24:56in a National Theatre production of Guys And Dolls.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59# ..tonight! #
0:24:59 > 0:25:02She thought she was a Christian, I knew I wasn't
0:25:02 > 0:25:06and we, sort of, wanted to meet somewhere in the middle and...
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Came out of BBC Broadcasting House
0:25:10 > 0:25:15and, having some time to kill before going to the theatre where we were,
0:25:15 > 0:25:21she went into this building opposite, which is All Souls, Langham Place.
0:25:21 > 0:25:27And she flipped open a Bible and it fell open at Gospel of John,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30chapter 3 and verse 16. It just jumped out!
0:25:30 > 0:25:35And she came to the theatre that night and she said to me...
0:25:35 > 0:25:38to cut a long story short, "I'm going to that church on Sunday."
0:25:38 > 0:25:40And I said, "I'm coming with you."
0:25:40 > 0:25:44How did you change as a person when you then became a Christian?
0:25:44 > 0:25:47I think the main thing is...
0:25:47 > 0:25:51whatever I do now is not for me.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Everything I did was for me.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58Everything I did was to build up my career, my fame, my fortune
0:25:58 > 0:26:02and so on and so forth, and that's rubbish!
0:26:02 > 0:26:04It's dangerous rubbish.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10It's just lovely to know that, erm, God loves us.
0:26:10 > 0:26:15That's the extraordinary, wonderful thing. God loves us.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19And to know that, you just want to love him back.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42# I woke up this morning with my mind
0:26:44 > 0:26:46# Restin' on Jesus
0:26:47 > 0:26:49# Woke up this morning with my mind
0:26:51 > 0:26:53# Restin' on Jesus
0:26:54 > 0:26:56# Woke up this morning with my mind
0:26:57 > 0:27:00# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:00 > 0:27:02# Hallelu, Hallelu
0:27:03 > 0:27:06# Hallelujah
0:27:07 > 0:27:10# There's no better way to live than with your mind
0:27:11 > 0:27:13# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:15 > 0:27:16# No better way to live than with your mind
0:27:18 > 0:27:20# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:21 > 0:27:23# There's no better way to live than with your mind
0:27:25 > 0:27:27# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:27 > 0:27:31# Hallelu, Hallelu
0:27:31 > 0:27:32# Hallelujah
0:27:34 > 0:27:37# You see, you can't hate your neighbour with your mind
0:27:39 > 0:27:41# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:42 > 0:27:44# Can't hate your neighbour with your mind
0:27:45 > 0:27:48# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:48 > 0:27:51# You can't be prejudiced against him with your mind
0:27:52 > 0:27:55# Restin' on Jesus
0:27:55 > 0:27:58# Hallelu, Hallelu
0:27:58 > 0:28:00# Hallelujah
0:28:30 > 0:28:32# There's perfect peace when your mind is
0:28:33 > 0:28:35# Restin' on Jesus
0:28:36 > 0:28:39# Perfect peace when your mind is
0:28:40 > 0:28:43# Restin' on Jesus The Bible says it
0:28:43 > 0:28:46# Perfect peace when your mind is
0:28:47 > 0:28:50# Restin' on Jesus
0:28:50 > 0:28:52# Hallelu, Hallelu
0:28:53 > 0:28:55# Hallelujah
0:28:58 > 0:29:01# Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! #
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Risen Lord Jesus, as Mary Magdalene met you in the garden
0:29:13 > 0:29:16on the morning of your resurrection
0:29:16 > 0:29:20so may we meet you today and every day.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Speak to us as you spoke to her.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Reveal yourself as the living Lord.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Renew our hope and kindle our joy
0:29:29 > 0:29:33and send us to share the good news with others.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Amen.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38And may the peace and the joy of the risen Christ
0:29:38 > 0:29:41be yours this Eastertide and always.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
0:29:45 > 0:29:49be with you and all whom you love, this day and always.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Amen.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57Well, we're nearing the end of our Easter celebrations here in Portsmouth.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00A big thank you to Laura, Ramin and Paul Jones
0:30:00 > 0:30:04and let's not forget our organist Brian Moles...
0:30:04 > 0:30:07and our conductor Paul Leddington Wright.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10We're finishing with a hymn that combines powerful words
0:30:10 > 0:30:14with a tune by Handel that's instantly recognisable, you'll enjoy it.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16It's Thine Be The Glory.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12# Alleluia
0:33:12 > 0:33:20# Amen. #
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Next week it's the School Choir Of The Year competition.
0:33:27 > 0:33:28This'll be the 10th.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32In the first of three programmes from the Lowry Theatre in Salford
0:33:32 > 0:33:34six of the very best junior school choirs
0:33:34 > 0:33:36sing to win a place in the final.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd