Songs of Praise comes to Bridgwater

Members of Holy Trinity Hamp in Bridgwater welcomed the BBC to their church for the forthcoming harvest edition of Songs of Praise. The visit brought together local worshippers for an afternoon of music, patience and shared praise, as the congregation took part in a national celebration of thanksgiving, creation and community.

Here Revd Tobie Osmond, Vicar of Holy Trinity, shares what it was like preparing to film a TV programme with their community in the church. 

On 15 August, on what felt like one of the hottest days of the year, the BBC descended on Holy Trinity Hamp in Bridgwater to record hymns for Songs of Praise. Although we had certainly had some very hot days already, the heat inside the church made the afternoon especially memorable. For six hours, the congregation gathered, sang, waited, and sang again, all for a programme that will form part of the harvest episode, due to be broadcast on 20 September at 13:15.

Most of the hymns recorded that day were harvest based, which felt fitting given that the episode itself is centred around a local farm. There was something very appropriate about singing words of thanksgiving, provision and creation in a church rooted in the local community. The whole occasion had a sense of connection: between church and countryside, between worship and everyday life, and between a national television programme and a very local gathering of people.

The recording process was fascinating to observe. At first, microphones were placed throughout the church so that the sound team could capture the music clearly. Each hymn was sung several times until a clean recording had been achieved. Only then did we move on to the next song. It was slow and careful work, far more detailed than simply standing up and singing through a service. Every verse, every pause and every note mattered.

Once all six hymns had been recorded, there was a break while the microphones were removed. Then the congregation sang the songs again, this time for the cameras. The camera crew took wider shots of the church, the people and the setting, capturing not only the sound of worship but also the atmosphere of the afternoon. It was interesting to see how much work goes into creating something that, when broadcast, may appear effortless and natural on screen.

It was, without doubt, a long and hot afternoon. The heat became difficult, and three people even passed out during the session. Yet despite the discomfort, the repetition and the waiting around, the event never lost its sense of purpose. To sing those hymns together, again and again, still felt like worship. There was a quiet determination in the room, and a shared understanding that we were taking part in something special.

By the end, I was tired, warm and ready for some fresh air, but also grateful. Grateful for the music, for the church, for the chance to see behind the scenes, and for the reminder that worship can continue even when conditions are far from comfortable. What began as a television recording became something more: an afternoon of community, endurance and praise.

The program will be aired on the BBC 20 September at 13.15.