0:00:05 > 0:00:07Today, thousands of gifts and cards
0:00:07 > 0:00:11have been given to some very special people all over the UK.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14And us men, we haven't had a look in.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Today is Mothering Sunday, of course.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22And behind all the chocolates and flowers,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26it's a day to remember and give thanks to some very special ladies.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31Which reminds me - I wonder how quickly I can get a bouquet sent up to North Wales. Sorry, Mum!
0:00:34 > 0:00:37This week, I meet some very special mums,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41including the mother who leads something of a double life
0:00:41 > 0:00:44and the church organist who proved she really has got talent.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49And we've wonderful hymns from churches and cathedrals right across the UK.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03If you've walked down any high street in the last week or so,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06you'll be in no doubt as to what day it is today.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Or will you? Is it Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday?
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Strictly speaking, Mother's Day is an American holiday
0:01:15 > 0:01:19invented by West Virginia spinster Anna Jarvis in 1907
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and celebrated every year in May.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Even though we may call it Mother's Day,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27today is actually Mothering Sunday,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31the British festival always on the fourth Sunday of Lent.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34One tradition of how the day came to be is that many years ago
0:01:34 > 0:01:38young servants were given a Sunday off to visit their mothers.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41To find out more, I've come to meet John Giffard,
0:01:41 > 0:01:46whose family have lived in Chillington Hall, Staffordshire, for 29 generations.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48I looked at the 1841 census
0:01:48 > 0:01:52and my ancestor living here at the time had 38 servants.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54- Goodness me! - It was pretty hard life.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59And the bells would have rung and they'd have rushed around to see which room required them.
0:01:59 > 0:02:0435 stairs up to find out what somebody wanted, 35 stairs down to get what they wanted,
0:02:04 > 0:02:0835 stairs back up to provide it, then 35 stairs down again.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11These servants would have had
0:02:11 > 0:02:14a small number of Sundays off as part of their times off
0:02:14 > 0:02:17and no doubt Mothering Sunday was one that they welcome
0:02:17 > 0:02:20because they got a chance perhaps to go home
0:02:20 > 0:02:25and go to their own home churches, rather than following the family here to the church in the local village.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31To return to your home - or mother church as it was often called -
0:02:31 > 0:02:35meant travelling to worship at the largest parish church
0:02:35 > 0:02:37or cathedral near your family home.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Talking of cathedrals, we're off to Salisbury Cathedral now
0:02:40 > 0:02:43to sing to the one who's the foundation of our faith.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Mothering Sunday is always special for Phyllis O'Reilly,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29but this year there's another reason to celebrate.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31For over 30 years, she and her husband, Mick,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34have been providing foster care for dozens of children.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39For their dedication, they were named MBEs in the New Year's Honours list.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44I've heard there's an extra special party taking place inside the family home.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Phyllis doesn't know I'm coming, and I've baked a cake.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Who am I kidding? It's way too professional, isn't it! Let's go and surprise her.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56Right, Mother, we have got a special surprise for you. Mother...
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- Oh, my goodness me!- How are you? - APPLAUSE
0:06:00 > 0:06:01- Hi!- You all right?
0:06:04 > 0:06:08- It's not a party without a cake, is it? How are you?- Fine, thank you!
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Are you all right? You've gone a bit speechless!
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- That's for you.- Thank you.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17The ultimate mother on Mothering Sunday, eh? Well done.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19APPLAUSE
0:06:20 > 0:06:23So, Phyllis O'Reilly, MBE.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- That sounds fantastic, doesn't it? - Very good, yes.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30- How do you feel about the award? - Erm, very pleased now.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34It was a surprise to begin with.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37But I'm very pleased with the people that have sent us cards and letters
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and rang us up, and they've stopped us in the street.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It seems a really massively happy house.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Is God at the heart of the house?
0:06:45 > 0:06:49- Do you bring the children up through faith?- Yes, they come to church.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52The little girl that goes with me at the moment, you know,
0:06:52 > 0:06:57they all love her at church and they all want to take her home with them.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Mothering Sunday must mean such a lot to you.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04- How many children have been through this house?- Er, 93.- 93 children?!
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- Wow. And you've still got a smile on your face! - SHE LAUGHS
0:07:07 > 0:07:10APPLAUSE
0:07:10 > 0:07:13We had two sons of our own, Stephen and Paul.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15And then we decided to foster.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- Dad?- Yeah!- You're on the cake!
0:07:18 > 0:07:20LAUGHTER
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Three of them, we've adopted.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28Some have come and stayed long-term, foster children,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and some we've had as short term.
0:07:31 > 0:07:37We couldn't have done it without our elder sons, Stephen and Paul.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39One of the best mothers in the world, the most humble woman
0:07:39 > 0:07:42- you've ever met in your life. - She is, isn't she?
0:07:42 > 0:07:43Do anything for anybody,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46doesn't want anything done for herself.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Puts everybody else first, and that's how she's always been.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52I think people don't see the work that my parents do
0:07:52 > 0:07:55with foster children and providing for the family.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58It's a recognition to encourage other people to do it.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00When did you first come here, then?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I was about six months old when I first came
0:08:03 > 0:08:06and then I was adopted when I was ten.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09- What makes her so special? I know she's listening!- Kind...
0:08:09 > 0:08:10Let's make her blush.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15She's kind-hearted, patient, doesn't shout.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- Not too much.- Really?
0:08:17 > 0:08:21So was church important when you were growing up?
0:08:21 > 0:08:24That was the rock for my mother and my father.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26You know, the sanctuary as well.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30She's got so many great friends that she's met through the church.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32I think it's her way of giving back to the world.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37- In must be pretty tough for you saying goodbye sometimes, isn't it? - Yes, it is. Yes.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Especially if you've had them from a baby,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42you know, because you do get very attached to them.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45But once you've met adoptive parents
0:08:45 > 0:08:48and you know that they're good parents
0:08:48 > 0:08:53and the children gel with them, then it's easy to let them go then.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I just really want to thank her for everything.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59She's been there for all of us - true inspiration.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Sharon Stewart has something of a double identity.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24To her three children, she's Mum.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27But, to her colleagues, she's Lieutenant Colonel.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32For over 20 years, she's served as a nurse in the Territorial Army
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and has recently returned from Afghanistan.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It's really tough. We train hard.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41We have lots of clinical training, lots of military training.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44We're a soldier first.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46So what do your children think of Mum?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49I think they think I'm a bit crazy.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I think, you know,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53it was a very confusing time
0:11:53 > 0:11:56when I told them about the fact that I was going to Afghanistan.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01They'd ask questions like, "Mum, are you going to die?
0:12:01 > 0:12:05"Is that going to happen to you?"
0:12:05 > 0:12:08And those are very difficult questions for me to answer
0:12:08 > 0:12:11because, whilst I wasn't on the front line,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15obviously Afghanistan, you know, does have its dangers for a nurse.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21- Would you say war is a godless place?- No, it isn't. God is there.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24You know, at times, I found it really difficult.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29Particularly when I'm dealing with soldiers who have lost their limbs.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34And when we had to treat children who were caught up in warfare
0:12:34 > 0:12:38and I think that was probably one of the hardest things for me, really.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43When you have a child to care for, through no fault of their own
0:12:43 > 0:12:46who's injured, you know, you do question your faith.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50You do question, "God, why are you letting this happen?"
0:12:50 > 0:12:54I had a situation where I had a young girl who came in -
0:12:54 > 0:12:59she was probably about five - and unfortunately she didn't make it.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02And I had to stay with her throughout the night
0:13:02 > 0:13:06until she finally passed away.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09And just seeing her tiny hands - and I was really scared.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I was really frightened as I thought, "I've never seen a child die before."
0:13:13 > 0:13:16And I think because I'd been questioning God all the time,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20the first thing that came into my head was to say the Lord's Prayer
0:13:20 > 0:13:22and that gave me a real strength.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26And it was at that time that I actually knew God was with me.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29I witter quite a bit!
0:13:29 > 0:13:34And I'm always talking to Him upstairs. "Look, God, please," you know.
0:13:34 > 0:13:40I remember looking at my hands and saying, "Please give me strength to do what I can."
0:13:42 > 0:13:45We're celebrating Mothering Sunday. What does your mum mean to you?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48She means a lot, yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Obviously with all that she does with her nursing and stuff,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53it makes us all very proud of her.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59It's like someone else always needs her slightly more than we do,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02so we're all right to give her up for a few months to someone else.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04- Only for a few months? - Yeah, only for a few months!
0:14:04 > 0:14:08I don't think I could cope for any longer, to be honest.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11You've done such good work that you're getting an award.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14It's the Associate of the Royal Red Cross.
0:14:14 > 0:14:21And it's an amazing award to be honoured to receive, really.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Whilst my name is on the award,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27I do acknowledge that it's a team effort that makes it out there
0:14:27 > 0:14:29and I can put my hand on my heart
0:14:29 > 0:14:34and say that everyone had the guy on the stretcher as their first thought
0:14:34 > 0:14:37and gave the best care in the world to that guy.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Our next hymn is based on the Magnificat, Mary's hymn of praise
0:17:40 > 0:17:44when she discovered she was going to be the mother to God's son.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47With the school choir competition just around the corner,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49it's rather apt that we hear from one of the finalists
0:17:49 > 0:17:52from last year's competition, St Edmund's, Hindhead.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54I bet they make their mums proud!
0:20:11 > 0:20:13How lovely to see you! I can't wait for this.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17'Jean Martyn has been a music teacher and a church organist for many years.'
0:20:17 > 0:20:20JAZZY VERSION OF SONGS OF PRAISE THEME
0:20:22 > 0:20:25'But when she auditioned for Britain's Got Talent last year,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28'no-one could have predicted what was going to happen.'
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- Brilliant! - I didn't go in it to win it, Aled.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35I just went in to take part. I think it's the taking part that counts.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38And there were 3,000 people in the audience.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43- You've got your name on your keyboard behind you.- That's in case I forget who I am.- Brilliant.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47I don't know your surname. Could you move over slightly? Ah! It's Jean Martyn.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- The judges, they didn't know what to expect, did they?- No, they didn't.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55I thought, "Well, I've got to hit them in the eyes kind of thing with the music."
0:20:55 > 0:20:58And make them sit up.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03So I played four bars of Chopin's Revolutionary Study. I went...
0:21:10 > 0:21:11And their eyebrows all shot up.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14David Hasselhoff leaned back and Michael was frowning
0:21:14 > 0:21:17and Amanda was sort of staring straight.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20And then of course I went... BEAT KICKS IN
0:21:22 > 0:21:25AUDIENCE CLAP ALONG
0:21:29 > 0:21:34My face shows the joy and the love of music.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36You do have an amazing ability.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I've only spent a little time with you, but I've smiled constantly.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I think it's because if you're happy within yourself
0:21:42 > 0:21:46you can portray that to people, and I think people will pick up.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50If they know you're a Christian as well, people pick up on that.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53They'll say, "You're a Christian, aren't you?"
0:21:53 > 0:21:56And I think, "Well, my mum's done that for me."
0:21:56 > 0:21:58How important was your mum to you?
0:21:58 > 0:22:02She gave me my life, she gave me my career, the love of music,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and her love flowed into me.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11It was this love of music from her mother
0:22:11 > 0:22:13that started Jean's lifelong passion for hymns.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16And I'll be finding out more after our next hymn.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07ORGAN MUSIC
0:24:08 > 0:24:11What joy do you get from playing the organ?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13I think it's a spiritual thing.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16When I'm playing religious music, I'm in a different world.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19I get a lot of pleasure from playing religious music,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and I get a lot of pleasure from watching the congregation
0:24:22 > 0:24:23who are enjoying it.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27- It seems to lift them. They always know when I'm here.- Why's that?
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Because of the style that I play!
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Because occasionally we do get a bit of pedal-work
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- that sounds a bit like the boogie in the hymns.- Oh, really? - SHE LAUGHS
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Mind you, I did play for a wedding just before Christmas
0:24:41 > 0:24:43and the couple who got married, I said to them,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47"What would you like when you get to signing the register?"
0:24:47 > 0:24:49And do you know what they said?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- "Will you play Crocodile Rock?" - You didn't.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- I did!- What does it sound like on this organ?- Oh, it was fantastic.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- Shall we have a quick burst? - Go on, then. No-one's here. - SHE LAUGHS
0:25:04 > 0:25:09- You mentioned a gift. Do you think it is a gift from God? - It is absolutely a gift from God.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12God provides the music and it just flows from my fingers.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Tell us a bit about Mothering Sunday this year. It's going to be quite tough for you, isn't it?
0:25:21 > 0:25:25It's going to be a difficult one. It's the first one without my mum.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27But I just feel that I know she's at peace now.
0:25:27 > 0:25:33I know the Lord's got her. And I'm happy and at peace within myself.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37With her passing away, you felt that God played a part in that as well?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40When I was on the Britain's Got Talent Tour,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44my mum had watched everything that I did. She was so proud.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48I was just about to go on stage at Wembley Arena
0:25:48 > 0:25:51and the Lord spoke to me that night.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54And it was 5:40pm, I rang home
0:25:54 > 0:25:58and my son said, "Mum, she's just gone."
0:25:58 > 0:26:03And he said, "How did you know?" I said, "I just knew, Scott."
0:26:03 > 0:26:07And it was so moving. And I didn't shed a tear for a moment.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10I just reflected on her life and how much I loved her.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14There was never a day went by when I didn't tell her I loved her.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16And I gave the performance of my life.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19At the end of it, I'm afraid I did break down.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22But it was a night that I'll never forget.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25- Do you think about her when you're sitting here? - I do because that light
0:26:25 > 0:26:29shines through the window. That light is the Lord telling me she's OK.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31- It's amazingly bright, isn't it? - It is.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- And it does just hit you right here. - It hits me right here.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39It's amazing. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27SOOTHING MUSIC
0:29:29 > 0:29:33Father God, we thank you for all your good gifts to us.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36For music and memories.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39For love and for laughter.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42We thank you for the gift of motherhood
0:29:42 > 0:29:45and for those who through their grace and love
0:29:45 > 0:29:47have been mothers to us.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Help us to always follow their example
0:29:50 > 0:29:54and to show your love to those in our care. Amen.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01Whether or not you are able to visit your mother church today,
0:30:01 > 0:30:06I hope you've enjoyed this Songs of Praise and, like me, been inspired by some wonderful mums.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09Our final hymn comes from a congregation
0:30:09 > 0:30:12not too far from my own mother church on Anglesey in North Wales.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Until next time, bye-bye.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Next week, I meet gospel music legend Mavis Staples.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36In a memorable interview, she reflects on her career, her faith
0:33:36 > 0:33:38and her involvement in the civil rights movement.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41She performs some toe-tapping gospel greats
0:33:41 > 0:33:45and leads the congregation in some classic hymns.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd