0:00:04 > 0:00:07Happy Easter Sunday and welcome to Songs Of Praise
0:00:07 > 0:00:10on the most important day of the year for Christians,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12the celebration of Christ's resurrection.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13I'm in Manchester,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16where final preparations are underway for an ambitious
0:00:16 > 0:00:19one-off performance of the story of Christ's life,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21and they're all volunteers.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24I'll be finding out how the story is being made relevant
0:00:24 > 0:00:26for a modern audience.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28I haven't had a decent meal in weeks.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Also in this Easter Day programme, Claire McCollum discovers
0:00:32 > 0:00:36an ancient carol found among the doodlings of a medieval monk.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42And I'm in East Sussex to meet an inspirational bell-ringer
0:00:42 > 0:00:45who's raised millions of pounds for charity.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58We've got some favourite Easter hymns both old and new
0:00:58 > 0:01:02and we'll begin with this modern, triumphant hymn
0:01:02 > 0:01:05announcing the good news that Christ is risen.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36The kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Here in Manchester, the performance of Christ's Passion is underway.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44You must be salt and light to the world.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Blessed are the poor.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It tells the greatest of all stories about Jesus' teachings,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51his betrayal, his trial,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54his journey to the cross, known as the passion,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57and followed, of course, by the resurrection.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02For the past few months, amateur and professional actors,
0:04:02 > 0:04:07all unpaid, have been rehearsing for their one-off performance.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08We've become such, like, a family.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12It's such a community, like, spirit, and it's just,
0:04:12 > 0:04:13yeah, it's just really fun.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16You realise the suffering that Jesus went through
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and the sacrifice which he gave.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24That is the real message about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
0:04:24 > 0:04:26and him coming back again to life.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30Hopefully, all the love that will be around the place
0:04:30 > 0:04:33will cascade to everybody.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36The production has been written and directed by company owner
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Geoff Millard and the process had a profound effect on him.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I had to start reading the Bible and Jesus became relevant,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48God became relevant. I learned more how to pray.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Geoff hopes the play will attract those unfamiliar
0:04:51 > 0:04:52with the Easter story.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55And he's added a few contemporary characters to the script.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00We've got a homeless guy and we've got those elements.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03And it seems to work quite well, actually,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05and they approach, they heckle Jesus.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Blessed are those who are hungry and thirst for righteousness.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10What about just plain hungry?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I haven't had a decent meal in weeks.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16I feel persecuted wherever I go because of this headscarf.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Where does gentle get you?
0:05:19 > 0:05:20Nah.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24I tell you, the gentle will inherit the earth.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26While it's been given some modern references,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29the Manchester Passion follows the traditional story
0:05:29 > 0:05:30of the Last Supper.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I am the living bread.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And then the betrayal and the arrest of Jesus.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Your day's done, teacher.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Are you not scared of me, Jesus?
0:05:43 > 0:05:47At his trial, Jesus' fate is sealed by the judge Pontius Pilate,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49who is swayed by public opinion.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Barabbas! We want Barabbas!
0:05:52 > 0:05:57Pilate is played by Nakib Narat, who is fascinated by the role.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02It's just a wonderful man to portray because he is so complex.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04No more!
0:06:04 > 0:06:09I feel personally that he saw Jesus as possibly God.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13With my interpretation he started off quite arrogantly,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16and yet, when he washed his hands of this,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18he was genuinely sorry.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21His blood is not on my hands.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23WOMAN SOBS
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Salesman Rob Slater plays the part of Jesus.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33To be able to act this out
0:06:33 > 0:06:34when you've got a faith
0:06:34 > 0:06:37is everybody's dream, I suppose.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Is there a better role?
0:06:43 > 0:06:48I have prayed about this and asked for help,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52because how could anybody know how Jesus felt?
0:06:52 > 0:06:57You know, I mean, he had these people putting him to death,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59but at the same time love them.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Emotion will take over, I'm sure,
0:07:02 > 0:07:07and it's going to be quite a poignant moment, I think.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10And a connection, if you like, for me, with God.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Father...
0:07:13 > 0:07:14..it is finished.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Into your hands I commend my spirit.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21WEEPING
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Leading the music at the Manchester Passion
0:09:26 > 0:09:29are Manchester Inspirational Voices,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32the current Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Their musical director, Wayne Ellington,
0:09:36 > 0:09:40had the idea of giving solo lines to some of the actors.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43# I worshipped him
0:09:44 > 0:09:46# In his eyes... #
0:09:46 > 0:09:50One of them is Ben Rigby, who plays Judas.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51I mean, I'm singing in this
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and I don't come from a singing background,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57so we've spent a lot of time developing on song.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59That's absolutely petrifying.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03# Every night... #
0:10:04 > 0:10:07It's totally outside of my comfort zone,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10performing in the middle of Manchester.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12# Who was friends with the rich... #
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Dealing with the singers who have never sung before,
0:10:15 > 0:10:20trying to get people to watch me for timing and also to help out
0:10:20 > 0:10:23with pitching and so on, that was a challenge.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27We also have the Manchester Inspirational Voices here as well,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30who won the Gospel Choir of the Year last year.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And they're really excited. They're very excited.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40And here are Wayne and his choir with an uplifting gospel song.
0:10:46 > 0:10:53# I will be with you
0:10:56 > 0:11:02# I will be with you
0:11:04 > 0:11:12# I will be with you
0:11:12 > 0:11:20# If you will only trust me
0:11:21 > 0:11:24# Trust me
0:11:25 > 0:11:28# Trust me
0:11:30 > 0:11:36# I'll never leave you
0:11:39 > 0:11:45# I'll never leave you
0:11:48 > 0:11:54# I'll never leave you
0:11:55 > 0:12:03# If you will only trust me
0:12:04 > 0:12:07# Trust me
0:12:08 > 0:12:11# Trust me
0:12:11 > 0:12:12# Oh
0:12:12 > 0:12:16# I am
0:12:16 > 0:12:19# That I am
0:12:19 > 0:12:21# Oh
0:12:21 > 0:12:27# I have all the power
0:12:27 > 0:12:29# Oh
0:12:29 > 0:12:36# I will deliver
0:12:36 > 0:12:44# If you will only trust me
0:12:44 > 0:12:46# I'll be there, yes, I will
0:12:46 > 0:12:48# Trust me
0:12:48 > 0:12:50# I'll be there
0:12:50 > 0:12:52# Trust me
0:12:52 > 0:12:54# Whenever you call
0:12:54 > 0:12:56# If you will only
0:12:56 > 0:12:58# I'll answer your prayer
0:12:58 > 0:13:00# Trust me
0:13:00 > 0:13:02# Yes, I will, yeah
0:13:02 > 0:13:05# Trust me
0:13:05 > 0:13:06# Oh, yeah, yeah
0:13:06 > 0:13:08# Trust me
0:13:08 > 0:13:10# If you will only
0:13:10 > 0:13:13# If you will only
0:13:13 > 0:13:15# Trust me
0:13:15 > 0:13:17# Trust me
0:13:17 > 0:13:19# Oh, I'll answer your call
0:13:19 > 0:13:21# Trust me
0:13:23 > 0:13:28# Trust me. #
0:13:38 > 0:13:39Here in Manchester,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42the Easter story is being told in a contemporary setting,
0:13:42 > 0:13:43but of course it's been told
0:13:43 > 0:13:46in lots of different ways over the centuries.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Claire McCollum has been to Battle Abbey in Sussex,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52where the Battle of Hastings took place, and where they've
0:13:52 > 0:13:56discovered an ancient carol telling the story of Christ's life.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02For the best part of 500 years, this abbey was home to
0:14:02 > 0:14:05a thriving community of Benedictine monks
0:14:05 > 0:14:08founded by William the Conqueror to atone for the bloodshed
0:14:08 > 0:14:10at the Battle of Hastings.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Very little survives from those times thanks to Henry VIII
0:14:17 > 0:14:18and his Reformation.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21But one book, complete with a monk's doodles,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24has brought to life a very special piece of music.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30MEDIEVAL HYMN IS PERFORMED
0:14:51 > 0:14:55The carol's found in a Latin service book and it's doodled,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59jotted down on the end pages of the manuscript.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00A couple of pages later,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03there's a little poem about the deaths of three of late medieval
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Abbots of Battle, and a couple of recipes for gastric complaints.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11And for me, it provides an insight into the wider religious life
0:15:11 > 0:15:13of the monks who lived here.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25And when would it have been sung?
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Well, in the Middle Ages, carols were never sung in church.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31They were sung in secular spaces.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33They could be sung throughout the year.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36We have carols on the Trinity and any number of saints -
0:15:36 > 0:15:38this one is on Christ himself
0:15:38 > 0:15:42and Christ's suffering and the example that Christ sets
0:15:42 > 0:15:44for all of humanity.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46And we're here at Eastertide,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and I think a focus on Christ's suffering
0:15:49 > 0:15:52would be an appropriate time to be singing at this,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55the great relief that comes on Easter Sunday.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57You can break your fast again.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It would have been a great time to be singing this carol
0:15:59 > 0:16:01in somewhere like the abbot's hall.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06'To preserve the book for future generations,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08'it has now been safely archived.'
0:16:08 > 0:16:12You're one of the very few to have actually held this book.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14For somebody like you, what is that like, that experience?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16It's always fantastic to have
0:16:16 > 0:16:19an original medieval manuscript in front of you.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And so few of these survive from Battle Abbey.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24The abbey would have had over 1,000 books in its library.
0:16:24 > 0:16:2727 survive today.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31And to be able to look through it and see not the formal text,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35the formal Latin text but the things which were individual to the monk
0:16:35 > 0:16:38who was using this book, who was making these little jottings
0:16:38 > 0:16:42and thinking these are important things to be writing down.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52And tell me about its relevance today.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56It talks basically about not being too materialistic,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and also thinking about being charitable.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14The chorus changes from being a follower of Christ's word
0:17:14 > 0:17:16to being a doer of Christ's word.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20So after singing this carol, after even dancing to it, perhaps,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24in the abbot's great hall here, your life has been improved
0:17:24 > 0:17:29and you're being kinder, both to yourself and to your fellow man.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38The story of Christ's life is also told in our next song,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41a contemporary setting of the Christian creed.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17You may have heard your local church bells ringing out today for Easter.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19But for the past year the bells in
0:20:19 > 0:20:22St George's Church in the East Sussex village of Brede,
0:20:22 > 0:20:26along with churches and cathedrals in the world, have been ringing out
0:20:26 > 0:20:31a special tune, as the Reverend Kate Bottley has been finding out.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32CHURCH BELLS RING
0:20:35 > 0:20:38These bells are ringing a new tune.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40This conversation was created for
0:20:40 > 0:20:44and named after bell ringer Julie McDonnell.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48And whenever it's rung, it raises money for her cancer charity.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52An incredible £7.2 million
0:20:52 > 0:20:54in less than 12 months.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58An achievement made all the more remarkable
0:20:58 > 0:21:02because Julie herself is fighting an ongoing battle with the disease.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05When you are first diagnosed with cancer,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09first of all you're very shocked.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Then you get numb.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Then you get really angry and quite annoying, I think,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17because you want to hit out at somebody
0:21:17 > 0:21:19so you hit out at those closest to yourself.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21And then you get that kind of strength
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and I think that's the strength I actually got through my faith.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And then you get the determination to do something
0:21:27 > 0:21:29and not just sit there
0:21:29 > 0:21:31and wonder what's going to happen to me.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33It strikes me, Julie, that this is your mission.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- This is your calling. - It's pretty crazy, isn't it?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Bells ringing across the world,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42but it's just a unique thing to do.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44I think bells do call people to worship
0:21:44 > 0:21:49but I think I wanted those bells to support people with blood cancer,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51to actually say you're not on your own.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Because every time I hear those bells ring
0:21:54 > 0:21:56I don't feel like I'm on my own.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00You say, is this your mission?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03People have been put on Earth for different reasons.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06It could be all part of a plan, I don't know.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09But without it I don't think it would have given me
0:22:09 > 0:22:13the strength to get this point when I am now,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15and I'm very, very grateful. I feel loved.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Now I know that your campaign has had a massive boost recently.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- Tell me about that. - Oh, absolutely.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I actually wrote the Dean, Dr John Hall, at Westminster,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and I asked him like I asked many people, including yourself...
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I remember you writing to my church.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33..asking them to ring out in support of blood cancer.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35CHURCH BELLS RING
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Usually the bells at Westminster Abbey are reserved for royalty
0:22:38 > 0:22:40and state occasions.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44But today Julie is here to enjoy the sound of bells
0:22:44 > 0:22:45ringing out in her name
0:22:45 > 0:22:48as a guest of the Dean.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50How many towers have you grabbed?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- What, for Julie McDonnell?- Yes.
0:22:52 > 0:22:58There's been 569 quarter peals rung for Julie McDonnell.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01But for cathedrals and abbeys and minsters,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04this will be the 31st that's rung for Julie McDonnell.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- Wow, and you've been to each one of these?- No.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07SHE LAUGHS
0:23:09 > 0:23:13I'd like to think that people that maybe don't have faith,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16but to hear bells rung out for them,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18for people with blood cancer is incredible.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21And actually it gives me a huge boost.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30# There is a redeemer
0:23:31 > 0:23:38# Jesus, God's own son
0:23:38 > 0:23:45# Precious lamb of God, Messiah
0:23:45 > 0:23:51# Holy one
0:23:52 > 0:23:58# Thank you, oh, my father
0:23:58 > 0:24:06# For giving us your son
0:24:06 > 0:24:14# And leaving your spirit till
0:24:14 > 0:24:19# The work on Earth is done
0:24:25 > 0:24:32# Jesus, my redeemer
0:24:33 > 0:24:40# Name above all names
0:24:40 > 0:24:48# Precious lamb of God, Messiah
0:24:48 > 0:24:53# Hope for sinners slain
0:24:55 > 0:25:02# Thank you, oh, my father
0:25:02 > 0:25:08# For giving us your son
0:25:08 > 0:25:15# And leaving your spirit till
0:25:15 > 0:25:21# The work on Earth is done
0:25:21 > 0:25:23# Thank you, Lord
0:25:23 > 0:25:29# And thank you, oh, my father
0:25:30 > 0:25:37# For giving us your son
0:25:37 > 0:25:45# And leaving your spirit till
0:25:45 > 0:25:51# The work on Earth is done
0:25:53 > 0:25:59# And leaving your spirit till
0:25:59 > 0:26:11# The work on Earth is done. #
0:26:13 > 0:26:17I can't get over the fact that I'm not going to see him again.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19At the Manchester Passion we've reached the moments
0:26:19 > 0:26:21that follow the Crucifixion.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25It's the women who are first to discover the empty tomb
0:26:25 > 0:26:28as the Resurrection becomes clear to them.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30No!
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Mary Magdalene is played by Gillian Freeman,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37who feels a strong connection to the role.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41My take, really, is she was just a really broken and lost woman.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Because she was just seeking love in all the wrong places,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48when really what she really needed was the love of Christ.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Why do you connect with her personally?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Because I lived a similar life to Mary
0:26:54 > 0:26:56before I came to know Jesus.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00I lived a life of promiscuity and alcoholism
0:27:00 > 0:27:06and I sought love and fulfilment in all the wrong places.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Woman, why are you crying?
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Who is it that you are looking for?
0:27:13 > 0:27:17It doesn't matter how far down you've been.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Jesus can forgive anybody and he loves every single person.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Mary?
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Teacher!
0:27:26 > 0:27:28You can't touch me yet.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30I believe that Jesus is real
0:27:30 > 0:27:34and alive and he transforms lives.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38And I'm hoping that other people will be able to see that it's real.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07Go now, out into the world.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11And tell everyone the good news.
0:30:11 > 0:30:12APPLAUSE
0:30:12 > 0:30:15The Manchester Passion performance is coming to an end
0:30:15 > 0:30:17and it's clearly moved the audience.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22It was fantastic, it was moving.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24- Oh, it was so good.- Really good.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27It had just the most incredible raw power,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31I think perhaps because it was not simply a professional performance.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34This was really people being passionate about the Passion.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37It's great to see so many people come together,
0:30:37 > 0:30:39diverse backgrounds, to hear it today.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41APPLAUSE
0:30:42 > 0:30:44That's it from the Manchester Passion.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46It went very well.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50And we leave you with a glorious Easter hymn.