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Christmas in Winchester

Songs of Praise presenters each choose their favourite carol, and some are sung by candlelight in Winchester to celebrate Christmas.

Songs of Praise presenters each choose their favourite carol, and some are sung by candlelight in Winchester to celebrate Christmas. Sean Fletcher visits the Hospital of St Cross to find out about their tradition of giving food to pilgrims, and he catches up with former presenter Debbie Thrower, now a lay canon in Winchester Cathedral.

Music:
Once in Royal David's City - Church of St Cross, Winchester
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Church of St Cross, Winchester
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Romsey Abbey
When a Child Is Born - Hackney Empire
Away in a Manger - Church of St Cross, Winchester
In the Bleak Midwinter - Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - Winchester Cathedral Choristers
O Come All Ye Faithful - Church of St Cross Winchester.

34 minutes

Stories

The Church of St Cross
The Rev Reg Sweet is Master of St Cross in Winchester and describes how the hospital of St Cross was founded to support poor men, who became the Brothers of St Cross. The brothers are not monks but they follow a monastic lifestyle -- attending matins daily in the church.Β 
Every Monday the brothers are called to a pay parade by the ringing of a bell. They have to collect one pound from one of the trustees. The brothers have done this since the alms houses first opened -- and have never missed a week.

The handing out of the dole
Sean meets Catherine Secker, the porter at St Cross, to request the wayfarer's dole -- a horn of beer and a morsel of bread. It's given to any visitor or pilgrim who requests it. Β This monastic tradition was given to all travellers to send them on their way, which continues even today -- as long as you ask!

Hope at Christmas
We meet one man whose Christian faith is helping him face an uncertain future with positivity this Christmas. The Rev Andrew Gardiner shares his moving story of how, despite being seriously ill with cancer and giving up leading his church, he has been able to find a new way to share his faith through song writing.

The Winchester Christmas Market
The Dean reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas in front of the nativity scene at the Christmas market in Cathedral Close in Winchester.

A Songs of Praise presenter from bygone days
Former Songs of Praise presenter Debbie Thrower recalls her time on the programme and reveals her favourite memory when the hymn words were first put up at the bottom of the television screen.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sean Fletcher
Executive Producer Cat Lewis
Executive Producer Emyr Afan
Producer Judith Sharp
Series Producer Matthew Napier
Production Company Avanti Media

Broadcast

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