0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's New Year's Eve and we want to kick-start a big welcome to 2018
0:00:04 > 0:00:07with lots of wonderful hymn singing and special performances
0:00:07 > 0:00:10from the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Welcome to the Songs Of Praise New Year's Eve Big Sing.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21In today's programme, as the snow falls on London, I'm taking
0:00:21 > 0:00:24a trip along the River Thames, to where the New Year will begin,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26in Greenwich.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30A congregation of 5,000 Songs Of Praise viewers
0:00:30 > 0:00:33will be singing favourite hymns and worship songs.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42And there will be special performances from soprano Mary-Jess,
0:00:42 > 0:00:43the boys choir Libera...
0:00:46 > 0:00:47..and Westlife's Shane Filan.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55APPLAUSE
0:00:57 > 0:01:00I'm starting my journey here at the London Eye, which will be at
0:01:00 > 0:01:03the centre of the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks
0:01:03 > 0:01:06when the clock strikes midnight tonight.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09And as the whole world prepares to start a brand-new year,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11what better hymn to begin with than
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Let All The World In Every Corner Sing.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00I'm heading to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03There are many ways to get across London, but with the River Thames
0:03:03 > 0:03:05running through the heart of the city,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I thought I'd take to the water for the journey.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19As I start my journey, it's time for our first special performance.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21This South London based choir has toured the globe
0:03:21 > 0:03:23and even performed for the Pope.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It's the boys choir Libera, with From A Distance.
0:03:44 > 0:03:50# From a distance, the Earth looks blue and green
0:03:50 > 0:03:56# And the snow-capped mountains white
0:03:58 > 0:04:04# From a distance, the ocean meets the stream
0:04:05 > 0:04:10# And the eagle takes to flight
0:04:12 > 0:04:19# From a distance, we are instruments
0:04:19 > 0:04:24# Marching in a common band
0:04:26 > 0:04:28# Playing songs of hope
0:04:30 > 0:04:33# Playing songs of peace
0:04:33 > 0:04:40# They are songs of every man
0:04:40 > 0:04:43# God is watching us
0:04:43 > 0:04:47# God is watching us
0:04:47 > 0:04:53# God is watching us from a distance
0:04:54 > 0:04:58# God is watching us
0:04:58 > 0:05:01# God is watching us
0:05:01 > 0:05:04# God is watching us
0:05:04 > 0:05:08# He is watching us
0:05:08 > 0:05:12# He is watching us
0:05:12 > 0:05:16# He is watching us
0:05:16 > 0:05:19# From a distance
0:05:44 > 0:05:48# God is watching us
0:05:48 > 0:05:50# He is watching us
0:05:51 > 0:05:55# He's watching us
0:05:55 > 0:05:57# He is watching us
0:05:58 > 0:06:00# From a distance
0:06:05 > 0:06:11# From a distance, you look like my friend
0:06:11 > 0:06:17# Even though we are at war
0:06:19 > 0:06:26# From a distance, I cannot comprehend
0:06:26 > 0:06:31# What all this fighting's for
0:06:33 > 0:06:40# From a distance, there is harmony
0:06:40 > 0:06:45# And it echoes through the land
0:06:47 > 0:06:50# It's the hope of hopes
0:06:50 > 0:06:53# It's the love of loves
0:06:54 > 0:07:00# It's the voice of every man. #
0:07:07 > 0:07:09APPLAUSE
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Reverend Mark Chester is senior chaplain for the UK Waterways
0:07:25 > 0:07:27and is joining me for my journey on the Churchill.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Well, Mark, what a beautiful boat. Tell me about the history of her.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36This is one of the historic boats which you find on the waterways
0:07:36 > 0:07:41and canals. It's been used to take VIPs up and down the River Thames
0:07:41 > 0:07:44quite a lot. On one particular momentous occasion,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47it took the Queen Mother to Winston Churchill's funeral.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50And you're chaplain to the waterways.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52How did you come to get involved in it?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Well, I've been a Church of England vicar for many, many years,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57but after having done that for a while, I really wanted
0:07:57 > 0:08:01to get back to dealing with people perhaps who wanted to engage
0:08:01 > 0:08:03with God but wouldn't come to church.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06And why is it so important to have chaplains on the water?
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Very often, the waterways communities, because they're
0:08:09 > 0:08:13highly mobile, don't tend to have the sort of connectedness
0:08:13 > 0:08:15which you would have if you're land-based.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18And so you really need to have mobile chaplains who can be
0:08:18 > 0:08:19with them and alongside them.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23So we aim to be there to be a listening ear, a helpful hand
0:08:23 > 0:08:25in whatever way is helpful for them.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27I'll be chatting more with Mark later.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Our next hymn is a really special one, it's a medley of hymns
0:08:35 > 0:08:37from all four corners of the UK.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39So wherever you're celebrating New Year's Eve,
0:08:39 > 0:08:40this one's for you.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55I hope you enjoyed that medley of British favourites.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I'm with UK Waterways chaplain Mark
0:15:04 > 0:15:08on a journey along the River Thames to Greenwich.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11It's a really different way to see London, from the river,
0:15:11 > 0:15:12isn't it, Mark?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14It is. That's one of the fascinating things about it.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Because as you look at London from the river,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20you're actually seeing buildings from quite a different perspective.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22That, I think, translates into people having
0:15:22 > 0:15:24a slightly different perspective on God.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28In the Bible, we find people being drawn to water on many occasions.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34We find that the call in Psalm 23 to walk alongside still waters.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39Of course, the symbol of baptism, when we die to ourselves
0:15:39 > 0:15:41and rise again to live for God.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Well, we're coming to the end of our journey now.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45It's New Year's Eve, Mark.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47What's its significance?
0:15:47 > 0:15:50The significance of New Year for so many people is about new beginnings.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Of course, that's at the heart of the Christian message.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55In Christ, we do have the opportunity
0:15:55 > 0:15:57to actually have those things sorted out,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00which you might have made a bit of a mess of in the last year.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Also it's an opportunity to give thanks
0:16:02 > 0:16:04for some of the wonderful things that have happened in the last year.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09A great time to take stock and look ahead with hope, with encouragement
0:16:09 > 0:16:12and trust and faith that we can go forward with God.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Our next special guest this New Year's Eve
0:16:18 > 0:16:22performed in front of 70 million when she won the X Factor in China.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Singing the powerful worship song In The Name Of The Lord,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28it's the stunning Mary-Jess.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:16:36 > 0:16:42# Crowds have lined the narrow streets
0:16:43 > 0:16:49# To see this man from Galilee
0:16:51 > 0:16:59# Just a carpenter some say leading fools astray
0:16:59 > 0:17:05# Yet many kneel to give him praise
0:17:07 > 0:17:12# And in his eyes they glimpse the power
0:17:14 > 0:17:21# That sees the hearts of all men
0:17:21 > 0:17:25# And he knows his father's mind
0:17:25 > 0:17:28# He speaks his father's words
0:17:28 > 0:17:39# For he comes in the name of the Lord
0:17:39 > 0:17:47# There is strength in the name of the Lord
0:17:47 > 0:17:54# There is power in the name of the Lord
0:17:54 > 0:18:03# And there is hope in the name of the Lord
0:18:03 > 0:18:07# Blessed is he who comes
0:18:07 > 0:18:13# In the name of the Lord
0:18:13 > 0:18:20# His name will be worshipped forever
0:18:20 > 0:18:29# Creator Redeemer and King
0:18:29 > 0:18:38# There is strength in the name of the Lord
0:18:38 > 0:18:45# There is power in the name of the Lord
0:18:45 > 0:18:53# And there is hope in the name of the Lord
0:18:53 > 0:19:00# Blessed is he who comes
0:19:00 > 0:19:07# Blessed is he who comes
0:19:07 > 0:19:13# Blessed is he who comes
0:19:13 > 0:19:24# In the name of the Lord
0:19:24 > 0:19:27# Of the Lord
0:19:27 > 0:19:40# In the name of the Lord. #
0:19:40 > 0:19:42CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Our final performer here at the Royal Albert Hall was in Westlife
0:19:56 > 0:19:59and had 14 number one hits in the UK,
0:19:59 > 0:20:03including the song he's about to sing for us.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04It's Shane Filan.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19# When I am down
0:20:19 > 0:20:23# And oh, my soul so weary
0:20:24 > 0:20:28# When troubles come
0:20:28 > 0:20:32# And my heart burdened be
0:20:34 > 0:20:37# Then I am still
0:20:37 > 0:20:41# And wait here in the silence
0:20:43 > 0:20:46# Until you come
0:20:46 > 0:20:50# And sit a while with me
0:20:52 > 0:21:01# You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
0:21:01 > 0:21:08# You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
0:21:10 > 0:21:18# I am strong when I am on your shoulders
0:21:19 > 0:21:27# You raise me up to more than I can be
0:22:05 > 0:22:13# You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
0:22:14 > 0:22:22# You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
0:22:24 > 0:22:32# I am strong when I am on your shoulders
0:22:33 > 0:22:41# You raise me up to more than I can be
0:22:47 > 0:22:51# You raise me up
0:22:51 > 0:22:57- # So I can stand on mountains - Stand on mountains
0:22:57 > 0:23:00# You raise me up
0:23:00 > 0:23:06- # To walk on stormy seas - Stormy seas
0:23:06 > 0:23:10- # I am strong - I am strong
0:23:10 > 0:23:16# When I am on your shoulders
0:23:16 > 0:23:23# You raise me up to more than I can be
0:23:25 > 0:23:29# You raise me up
0:23:29 > 0:23:34- # So I can stand on mountains - Stand on mountains
0:23:34 > 0:23:38# You raise me up
0:23:38 > 0:23:45- # To walk on stormy seas - Stormy seas
0:23:45 > 0:23:53# I am strong when I am on your shoulders
0:23:54 > 0:24:02# You raise me up to more than I can be
0:24:08 > 0:24:11# You raise me up
0:24:15 > 0:24:25# To more than I can be. #
0:24:31 > 0:24:33CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I've arrived at the historic Prime Meridian
0:24:52 > 0:24:55here at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's on this very spot where midnight officially strikes tonight,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04marking the beginning of 2018 for the UK.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Greenwich Mean Time has actually only existed
0:25:10 > 0:25:12since the late 19th century.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Before then, almost every town kept their own local time.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18So if you were in Cardiff, for example,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22then you'd have to wait an extra 13 minutes for midnight to strike.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Tonight, of course, the whole country will welcome 2018 together.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30But my time here in Greenwich is almost up.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Next week on Songs Of Praise, Sean Fletcher is in Durham
0:25:36 > 0:25:38for the world's largest festival of light,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41as we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44The great cathedral of Durham is transformed,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and Sean discovers the stories of the extraordinary saints
0:25:47 > 0:25:49who rest there.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Also Pam Rhodes goes behind the scenes
0:25:52 > 0:25:54of BBC Radio 4's Daily Service
0:25:54 > 0:25:57as it marks its 90th anniversary.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03We end our New Year's Eve Big Sing
0:26:03 > 0:26:06with one final hymn from the Royal Albert Hall.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08And I think it's the perfect choice.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12All of us on Songs Of Praise wish you a happy and peaceful 2018.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:28:13 > 0:28:14MUSIC: Songs Of Praise Theme
0:28:59 > 0:29:02CHEERING AND APPLAUSE