Edward Stourton presents a special Christmas Eve edition of Sunday, featuring live carols from Manchester Chamber Choir.
On Christmas Eve in 1223, in cave near the cliffside village of Greccio in Italy, St Francis of Assisi created what's thought to be the first nativity scene. It was staged for the local villagers and it was a 'living scene' featuring people and animals. Colm Flynn reports from Greccio, and the art historian Dr Geri Parlby explores the nativity scene’s fascinating story and enduring appeal.
There will be no Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem this year. Shaimaa Khalil reports from the birthplace of Jesus. Rev Dr Munther Isaac, Dean of Bethlehem Bible College, has created a nativity scene in his church directly inspired by the suffering endured as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict. He reflects on it with Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner.
Carol singing is another much-loved tradition at this time of year. But how many of us have really thought about where our favourite carols come from? The composer and conductor Andrew Gant traces the weird and wonderful history of our carol tradition in his book "Deck The Hall". He says, “it can be a bit like trying to sweep up all the stray pine needles when you’ve taken down your Christmas tree: there’s always a corner you find you haven’t reached.”
Producers: Dan Tierney and Alexa Good Editor: Helen Grady.
State funeral; Radical generosity; Folk songs in church
The Queen and Faith
Pope John Paul I; Pakistan floods; Disability at church
Liverpool shooting; Great cathedrals; Russian Jews
William Shatner, Bahá’is in Iran, Class in the Church of England
14/08/2022
Beyoncé and Faith, Gordon Brown and Pastor Mick; Lambeth Conference
31/07/2022
The Pope in Canada, faith groups at the Commonwealth games, the theology of Stranger Things
Faith and Tory Leadership Contest; Krishna Das and his Spiritual Journey; Stories marking 50 years of Uganda Asians in the UK
10/07/2022
Hajj Pilgrimage Bookings Chaos, Racial Justice in the Church of England, Wedding Fees
Hong Kong and faith; Traveller theology; Qawwali for a modern age.
The Church of England and slavery; Ukrainian military chaplains; Should the Lords Spiritual be scrapped?
Rwanda Asylum Scheme; Bible Readings and Prime Ministers; Musician Jim Seals and his Bahai faith.
05/06/2022
The Archbishop of Canterbury on Reconciliation; Religion and social care; US Christians divided over gun law reform.
'Replacement theory' and Christian nationalism in the US; the Sufi Muslim pacifist who turned British resistance agent
The arrest of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen; The history of black nuns; A Russian Quaker
The Bible on Screen; Religious Clashes In India; A Quaker Approach To School Behaviour
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