The BBC has published details of the major services over Holy Week and the Easter weekend that will be broadcast on radio or TV.
On Palm Sunday, Radio 3 has three broadcasts from across Europe: Bach’s St John Passion from Helsinki; the Liturgy of Palm Sunday from the Vatican; and Arvo Pärt’s Passio from Brno, in the Czech Republic. These will be followed by compline from St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield in London.
On Good Friday on Radio 2, Canon Kate Bottley will host a reflective two-hour programme about hope after loss. She will also present a special Easter Day edition of Good Morning Sunday.
On Good Friday on Radio 3, there will be a broadcast of Bach’s Matthew Passion by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists, under Sir Simon Rattle.
On Easter Day on BBC1, morning worship will be broadcast live from St Mary´s Redcliffe, Bristol, and on Radio 4 from Canterbury Cathedral, where the preacher will be the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin.
In addition, there will be 3 special episodes of Songs of Praise on BBC1: Canon Kate Bottley presenting a reflection on women of the Easter story (13 April); Aled Jones presenting hymns for Easter Day from St George’s RC Cathedral, Southwark; and a celebration of gospel music introduced by Mark De-Lisser (27 April).
Tim Pemberton, BBC Radio’s Head of Religion and Ethics, said: “At this special time of year, BBC Radio seeks to bring people together to reflect on their faith, to hear some amazing stories and to experience the uplifting power of extraordinary music.”
Find more details here.