麻豆约拍

Singer Katherine Jenkins OBE, 38, warmly remembers her days as a choirgirl in St David鈥檚 Church in Neath. She credits the church with starting her music career and teaching her about the Christian faith.

For Songs of Praise she鈥檚 visiting this special place once again, along with her mum Susan, where they share a deep and poignant moment which had a profound Christian impact on them both.

Tragic circumstances had caused Katherine to lose her faith. Her dad had died suddenly from cancer when she was only 15, and for many years this affected her willingness to believe in God.

With her mum, she recalls: 鈥淚 think after Dad died and moving to London 鈥� I think I stopped believing for a bit. I think I was really angry at God for taking Dad away, and so I didn鈥檛 really know how to feel about everything. And then I remember being in Australia and, do you remember, you called me and you told me a story that you were in the church on your own.鈥�

Susan tells her side of the same story: 鈥淚 used to clean this chancel area in the sanctuary [at St David鈥檚 Church]. I was feeling a bit down鈥� and I was just stood there on the step. And I suddenly felt an arm go round me. It was just so real, and I鈥檝e never forgotten that feeling. I don鈥檛 know what it was, whether it was your father, or an angel or Jesus, or鈥� but it just felt so good.鈥�

Katherine replies 鈥渢hat story has always stuck with me because it made me think that鈥� you [mum] can go through grief鈥� and your faith never stopped. Yours was so strong. And you were so certain in what you were saying to me. And it prompted me to go into a church - it was in Sydney. And I went in and I spoke with God and I said 鈥榩lease help me鈥�. And I really felt like that was the moment when [I thought] how could I not listen to him? And it really brought me back [to God].鈥�

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