Junior Songs of Praise Songs of Praise

# We all need somebody

# To lean on... #

'Today's Junior edition is all about something

'that lots of us do every day.'

# We all need somebody

# To lean on... #

'We can do it in the bath...'

HE SINGS THE SONGS OF PRAISE THEME

'..in our bedroom...

'..or on the way to school.'

Thanks, Hacker. What am I talking about?

-Singing.

-CHEERING

We're here in sunny Gateshead in the north-east

just across the bridge from Newcastle.

Today's Songs Of Praise is a very special all-singing edition,

with lots of songs and hymns familiar to anyone and everyone.

New to Songs Of Praise, we have a CBBC favourite, Hacker T Dog,

interrogating a priest.

The cheek of that dog.

And out there, among you,

is our very own Junior Songs Of Praise roving reporter.

-Welcome, the lovely Hayley Hassall.

-Yes, hello, David, and thank you.

I am down here in the crowd,

surrounded by some very excited children

who've come from all over the place to do just one thing today

and that is to sing.

And here we have Abby and Olivia.

Can you tell me what it is that you love to sing?

Why do you love singing?

I love singing because the conductors are very funny.

And what is it you love about it?

I like the high notes and the low notes.

Yeah, all the variation you get to do.

And out of all the songs you get to sing,

what would you say your favourite would be?

-This Little Light Of Mine.

-Yours too?

Yep.

Do you think, just for us, you could give us a bit of a rendition,

just so everyone at home can get grooving with you?

Yeah? Go on, then. After one, two, three, four...

# This little light of mine I'm going to let it shine

# Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. #

-Wow! That was...

-APPLAUSE

That was beautiful.

Well done, girls. So beautiful, it was absolutely lovely.

-Back to you, David.

-Thank you, Hayley.

We're going to be hearing more from her later in the programme.

Now, we've got lots of singing coming up,

but we begin this special Songs Of Praise

with an all-winners performance

because we have the winners of the first ever Gospel Choir Of The Year competition.

From Birmingham, the Town Hall Choir.

APPLAUSE

And, joining them on stage to sing O Happy Day, we have,

wait for it...

the winner of The Voice, Jermain Jackman!

APPLAUSE

Hey, everyone. How you all doing?

CHEERING

Good, good. Good, good.

-# Happy day...

-O happy day

-# O happy day

-O happy day

-# O happy day

-O happy day

# O happy day... #

CHEERING

Congratulations on winning The Voice, Jermain.

Now, what has happened since you won? Has it changed your life?

It's changed the life around me. So many doors have opened,

not only for me but for so many other young, talented people in the UK

wanting to pursue a dream and wanting to aim high.

They see my aims and they see my aspirations

and they are inspired by that.

I've come across so many young people saying that I have inspired them,

so it's such a blessing to be able to do that

and so humbling to know that there's so many supporters

UK-wide supporting me, and around the world as well.

Now, you're a man on a mission.

You want to be the first black Prime Minister, but you're a singer.

How do you tie the two in together?

It's very difficult, but I have a passion for both.

Obviously, growing up

in East London, I'm very socially aware of my surroundings

and it's about connecting that social awareness

with political knowledge and my music and I'm just mixing it all together.

That's what makes Jermain Jackman.

You've been very open, also, about your Christian faith.

How do you see your faith tying in to your aspirations?

Well, the fact that I know I want to be...

I wouldn't have won The Voice if it wasn't for God

and he's never let go of me.

I'm here today to say that I'm thankful for that.

Now, listen, I've got to ask you this.

A lot of young people, including a lot of people here,

they've seen you begin to fulfil your dream.

If you could say anything to them

about fulfilling their own dreams, what would you say?

Just work hard at it, continue, be committed and be determined.

No aim, no ambition, no goal is too high, you can still achieve it.

No matter how young you are, no matter how old you are,

you can still achieve it.

-Ladies and gentlemen, Jermain Jackman!

-APPLAUSE

Thank you, Jermain.

He's going to be joining us later to sing again but for now,

we are going to join in an epic sing-along.

All of you will exercise your vocal cords, you at home, the choir,

the singers, as we join together and sing This Little Light Of Mine.

APPLAUSE

Still to come, see how Hacker T Dog gets on

when he goes to church to meet a famous priest.

Now, choirs have always played a huge part in Songs Of Praise

and it takes practice, determination and dedication to be the best.

On stage and providing us with precision,

accuracy and soul are the current holders of the title

Gospel Choir Of The Year, led by their director

and conductor, Colin Anderson, it's the Town Hall Gospel Choir.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I hear the saviour say,

# "Thy strength indeed is small

# "Child of weakness, watch and pray

# Ooh

# "Find in me thine all in all."

# Jesus paid it all

# All to him I owe

# Sin had left a crimson stain

# Jesus washed me white as snow

# Jesus paid it all

# All to him I owe

# Whoa, whoa

# Sin had left a crimson stain

# Jesus washed me white as snow

# Whoa, whoa, whoa

# He washed me

# Jesus washed me

# He washed me

# I'm so glad he washed me

# He washed me

# Jesus washed me

# He washed me

# I'm so glad he washed me

# Sin had left a crimson stain

# Jesus washed me

# I'm so glad he washed me

# Jesus washed me

# With his blood he washed me

# Jesus washed me

# White, he...

-# Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-# Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

-Washed!

# Jesus washed me

# I'm so glad he washed me

# Jesus washed me

# With his blood he washed me

# Jesus washed me

# White as snow! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, we've got Ruth and we've got Ella.

-Why do you girls love singing?

-Um, cos it's really fun.

And what about you, Ruth?

I love all the unique notes all joined together.

It is all different, isn't it?

And do you girls have a special song that you love?

Um, the Ellie... How Long Will I Love You? by Ellie Goulding.

I love that one, it's so beautiful.

Do you think that you girls could give me a bit of a tune from it?

Go on, off you go. When you're ready.

# How long will I love you?

# As long as stars are above you

# Longer if I can... #

That is gorgeous, girls. You're stars.

Absolutely beautiful, well done. Really, really gorgeous.

APPLAUSE

# Doo, doo, doo, doo

# Doo, doo, doo, doo

# Doo, doo, doo

# Doo, doo...

# Doo...

# Doo, doo, doo, doo

# Doo, doo, doo, doo

# Doo, doo, doo, doo-oo... #

APPLAUSE

What an amazing rendition of Lean On Me, there.

All the children had their part to play.

They were absolutely fantastic.

Even my friend Hacker T Dog from CBBC had his part,

didn't you, Hacker?

-What was that, Hayley?

-Lean On Me, Hacker, I said, Lean On Me.

-If you insist.

-No, no, no...

-I made a joke.

-I mean, what part are you playing in the song?

-Is it a tenor?

-A tenner? Ooh, no. I'm worth more than that, Hayley.

Is that all they're paying them to sing here today?

No, no. They're here to sing for Songs Of Praise in the north-east.

You do realise that you're on Songs Of Praise right now, don't you?

Am I? Oh!

Hello, dearly beloved... Hang on, I'm not in my Sunday best.

Should I pop my dog collar on?

-Another joke!

-I see what you did. Very good, very good.

-Yeah.

Actually, I know a bit more than you might think, you know. Watch this.

This is St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle

and I'm here to ask questions about church from CBBC viewers.

They want to find out what goes on here and what it all means

and I'm looking for a friendly person who can help.

-Hello. You must be the priest.

-That's right, I am.

Well, PRIEST to meet you.

-Do you get it?

-I do, yeah.

-So who are you, then?

-My name's Dermot Donnelly.

-Hang on a minute... Donnelly, Donnelly...

-You're related to Dec, aren't you?

-That's right, I am, yeah.

-And how are you related to him?

-He's my brother. My little brother.

Ooh. Interesting.

Now, the CBBC viewers have sent me in their questions.

They use made-up user names on our website,

so if you think their names sound a bit strange, don't worry.

They're not real names, you know.

Ahem. So here's the first one.

Teal Cooking Tulip wants to know,

how long has the Christian faith been around for?

-It's been around for over 2,000 years.

-2,000 years, eh?

Oh.

-This is the font.

-Ooh, what's a font? You mean like Times New Roman?

Cos I prefer Comic Sans, although Wing Dings is a good font.

Do you like that font?

-No, this is a different kind of font, this is the baptismal font.

-Oh.

Eh, well the next question's about that, you know.

Starstone Talkative Bobcat asks,

why do priests put water on babies' heads in the sign of the cross?

Well, baptism is when you become a new Christian and new creation.

Right. So why do you use the cross, then?

Because Jesus told us.

He said, go out and baptise all people

in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I see. Makes sense now. Can I have a drink of that water?

-No, you can't, you mucky pup.

-Oh, you cheeky scamp.

Here's a question from Navyblue Grinning Ladybird,

why are there pictures on the stained-glass windows

like the one behind us?

Oh, yeah. The reason why that is,

is because when stained glass first came in,

-not as many people could read then as they can now.

-Oh, I see.

-It's like a picture book.

-That's right, yeah.

So when you want into a church, you see the story of what we believe in.

It's like walking into a book, a book of truth.

I've got another question for you.

Why are they called hymns and not HERS?

-Well, that's actually a good question.

-Is it?

Yeah, because the words "hymns" comes from a Greek word

which means "in praise of God" so when we sing

we're not just singing music for the sake of singing music,

we're singing in praise and worship of God.

All right, we're running out of time here,

so here's some quick-fire questions.

Ahem. Aqua Random Anteater says,

do you have to be a Christian to go to church?

Anybody can come to the church, everybody's welcome,

our doors are open.

Why did you decide to be a priest?

Oh, well, now.

That's a longer answer, but I'll give you a short one.

I believe God called me to be a priest.

-What's the neck thing you wear?

-It just represents being a priest.

It's like a uniform.

What type of clothes do the visitors have to wear?

-Is there some sort of rule?

-No, not at all.

People can wear what they like. I mean, look what you've got on today.

Do you like it?

-It's different.

-In a good or bad way?

-Well...

That was amazing and another first today.

CBBC's Hacker T Dog appearing on Songs Of Praise.

Now, from one children's favourite to another.

A song that's been around for generations.

It's a timeless classic

and it's still being taught in schools across the land.

We're going to sing Sing Hosanna.

CHEERING

Helping to lead our singing today are young musicians

Chloe and her brother, Jonno.

'Jonno is... constantly tapping something.

'Chloe will harmonise to anything and everything.'

-We spend most of our time doing something musical.

-Yeah.

INDISTINCT LYRICS

Chloe and Jonno regularly lead worship in their local church

but today they're taking on the role of backing vocalists.

'It's quite different to when you're leading.'

Backing vocalists basically bring shape to a band

'and it makes it sound a bit more full.'

# All around... Clap, clap! #

'So you have to be ready to adapt to what's happening.

'And you've got to kind of think about what different...'

harmony you're singing,

because you're not always singing the melody when you're singing backing vocals.

-'We work out a lot of our harmonies by ear.

-Yeah.

'Because we've sung together before.

'So sometimes we're...'

We don't even mean to, but we do the same thing and it's like,

"Oh, yeah, I did that as well..."

'Music, for me, has always been a really good way

'to give something back to God through worship,'

whether it be singing or playing the drums.

The idea of being able to sing to God, it's almost like a prayer.

You can sing your prayer to glorify God.

When I got the call asking us

to sing on Junior Songs Of Praise, I was like, "What?!"

Cos we've never really done anything like it before.

It's quite daunting to be singing with Jermain Jackman and...

-It's quite cool.

-It is, very cool.

# Amazing grace!

# How sweet the sound

# That saved a wretch like me!

# I once was lost

# But now am found

# Was blind but now I see

# 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

# And grace my fears relieved

# How precious did that grace appear

# The hour I first believed!

# When we've been here ten thousand years

# Bright shining as the sun

# We've no less days to sing God's praise

# Than when we first begun

# Than when we first be-gun. #

Yes.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Wow, wasn't that amazing, guys?

Wasn't Jermain amazing? What did you think of him?

-Erm, he was really inspirational.

-And you?

He's just an inspiration to, like, everybody

because the way that he's just...

really young and he's got a voice that amazing, it's incredible.

It was incredible, wasn't it? What did you think of Jermain?

I thought that his voice is just so powerful

and it spreads all around the world.

You're very right. And what about you, what did you think of him?

I thought he's a big inspiration to young children

and he sings very, very nicely.

Well, there you go. He's inspired all you lot, hasn't he?

Back to you, David.

Before our last song, I want to thank Jermain!

I want to thank the Town Hall Gospel Choir!

CBBC, Hacker T Dog!

You, the crowd!

And you at home, thank you for watching.

APPLAUSE

Next week, Bill reveals the secrets

of some of Britain's most fascinating private chapels.

From the splendour of Europe's largest

to one man's mission to create possibly its smallest,

plus, music sung by choirs

at private chapels in some of the UK's most stunning locations.