BBC Factual has announced a season of 14 religious worship programmes, Prayer and Reflection, covering six of the major faiths across the UK. The programmes will be shown each Sunday morning across BBC One and iPlayer, except for a one week break on Sunday 9 November.

Daisy Scalchi, Head of Commissioning, Religion and Ethics, said: “Prayer and reflection are integral to so many of the world’s faiths and it’s a privilege to be invited into these sacred spaces, across all four Nations, during such personal moments of spiritual and religious connection.”

St John’s Wood United Synagogue, London

Episode one 

In the Orthodox tradition, prayer services are offered each morning within the synagogue’s smaller space known as a BHM (house of study in Hebrew). The morning prayer service is known as Shacharit

Here, the Rabbi leads a prayer service with at least 10 men (known as a minyan) and recites specific prayers. It includes a series of prayers, blessings, and readings, culminating in the recitation of the Amidah (Jewish central prayer) and a reading from the Torah.

Islandmagee Presbytarian Church, Islandmagee

Episode two

We join the congregation at Islandmagee Presbyterian Church alongside neighbouring congregations, Ballycarry and Whitehead for a joint service with the theme of Unity.

The Call to Worship is being led by Rev Mark Russell of Ballycarry Presbyterian Church, with a sermon by the Rev Peter Bovill of Islandmagee Presbyterian Church. Claire Sego of Whitehead Presbyterian Church will be leading prayers for all the Church family. The service will feature Bible readings from Corinthians alongside music by the gathered congregation.

Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, Cardiff 

Episode three 

The Aarti service is a ceremony of light where the community gathers to offer thanks and devotion to the deities, seeking blessings for peace, protection, and prosperity.

The temple serves as a community hub for daily worship, including Puja (or prayers) Aarti (the lighting of flames) and Satsang (meaning truthful community in Sanskrit) and stands as a vibrant cultural and religious centre for the Kutchi Hindu community. Gujarati hymns and the recitation of the Swaminarayan mantra (spiritual chants specific to the Swaminarayan temples) form the core of devotional practices.

Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery, Eskdalemuir

Episode four 

Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, Abbot of the monastery, invites us to a retreat led by Drupon Khen Rinpoche, Karma Lhabu, with daily meditation and teaching sessions. We will be joining the congregation of over 150 people for Mahakala prayers, Tibetan Buddhist prayers recited daily to invoke the wrathful deity Mahakala, representing compassion and the awakened mind. The service will follow a set of traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and will be led by the monastery’s Chanting Master, Gelong Tsering Tashi. These prayers include chanting praises, reciting mantras and making offerings, aiming to purify the environment, remove obstacles to spiritual practice and promote positive outcomes.

Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Gravesend

Episode five 

We are invited to attend a daily service which starts at 4am where the Guru Granth Sahib is brought out from the Sachkhand (designated room) to the Main Diwan Hall (Prayer Hall) where the 1st of the daily prayers also known as Nitnem are read from the Gurbani (Holy scriptures).

During the course of the morning as worshippers (Sangat) arrive they’ll be able to worship through a number prayers such Asa Di Var, Sukhmani Sahib Paath, Ardas and Hukumnama and Hymns which are called Kirtan.

There will also be the conclusion (Bhog) of a 48-hour prayer known as the Akhand Phaat, a non-stop reading of the entire Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s sacred scripture.

Belfast Islamic Centre

Episode six 

Belfast Islamic Centre in South Belfast invites us to join the congregation of around 100 people for the Isha Prayer service, the fifth and final of the five daily Islamic prayers, performed after sunset, starting when the sky has completely darkened after twilight. As the final prayer of the day, Isha serves as the spiritual end to the day.

Christian Pentecostal City Church, Cardiff

Episode seven 

City Church is known for its commitment to social action such as providing for weekly food banks, refugee assistance and general well-being support. The Church frequently partners with other charities such as Safe Families to offer support to families across the city.

The service is an international celebration with some congregation members dressed in a style of clothing associated with their nationalities. The services include readings and prayers, placing a particular focus on music – with a prominent role for a choir and band and with the congregation members themselves moving and dancing during the service.

Nottingham Liberal Synagogue

Episode eight 

Earlier this year, Reform and Liberal Judaism made the historic decision to join under the Progressive Judaism umbrella, unifying their movement and members. They now make up around a third of the overall Jewish population in the UK.

Our cameras have been allowed to film the Friday night service – something which is very rarely seen on camera due to the Jewish laws around the use of electricity on Shabbat and the cultural expectations that maintain that tradition.

The Erev Shabbat, which begins at sunset on Friday, is mostly made up of Psalms and hymns sung by the Female Rabbi, Gili Zidkiyahu and the congregation, with the accompaniment of piano and guitars. At the end of the service, a Kiddush is held, a ritual done to welcome in Shabbat in which a blessing is given over wine, challah and candles. The congregation then share the bread and wine, raising the glass with a cry of “L’chaim!”, which means “to life!”

Sikh Gurdwara, Cardiff

Episode nine 

One of the core values of Sikhi is Seva (selfless service and dedication to others) and the Langar (community kitchen) where free meals are offered to all – regardless of their religion or ethnicity. Community is a core value at the Gurdwara with members volunteering to prepare and distribute food, embodying the Sikh teachings of equality, humility and selfless service.

During a Gurdwara service, the holy book is opened at random to a page to receive God’s guidance – a practice known as Hukam (the divine will of God). Singing is usually led by three musicians, known as Ragis, sitting at the front on a stage. This part of the service is known as Gurbani Kirtan – the singing of devotional music and sacred hymns from the Sikh scripture.

St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Armagh

Episode ten 

Evening Prayer, an official prayer time within the Church, is hosted by Archbishop Martin and the liturgy (public worship) will last 30 minutes. It will be centred around Saint Oliver Plunkett, a 16th century Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland who is Patron Saint of Peace and Reconciliation in Ireland. 2025 marks the 400th anniversary of his birth and the 50th anniversary of his canonisation as saint in 1975.

The Evening Prayer will include opening prayers and psalms, a short scripture reading, a short homily delivered by Archbishop Martin and prayers of intercession which involve the participation of lay people. Singing will be led by one of the Cathedral’s choirs.

Glasgow Central Mosque

Episode eleven 

We’ll be joining the Muslim congregation for Jummah which is also known as Friday prayer. Jummah is a congregational prayer that Muslims observe every Friday around noon. Jummah is an important act of worship in Islam meant to emphasise unity among the Muslim community.

The service will be led by the mosque’s senior imam, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, with a congregation of over 2000 people.

The service will start with two calls to prayer by one of the mosque’s Islamic students, also known as the Adhan. The imam will then deliver his Khutba, a sermon given at Friday prayers. After the Khutba the Imam will lead prayers by reciting the first chapter of the Quaran which is called the Surah Al-Fatiha.

Shree Temple and Community Centre, Leicester

Episode twelve 

We are invited to a Hindu Service where you can expect Aartis (Prayers), Bhajans and Kirtan (Hymns) and the Abishek (bathing of the Murtis, which are statues of deities), as well as worshippers offering donations and gifts towards the Mandir. We will join the congregation at the start of Shravan, one of the holiest months in the Hindu calendar, where the Mandir could expect a congregation of up to 1000 people throughout the day.

Palpung Changchub Dargyeling Buddhist Temple, Brynmawr

Episode thirteen 

In 2004 Choje Lama Rabsang was appointed as the resident teacher at Palpung Wales.

Weekly pujas (prayers) are held at the Buddhist Temple in Brynmawr. We are invited to join the Guru Rinpoche puja – prayers for protection and to avert spiritual obstacles and negativity on the path to enlightenment.

The service include chanting – mainly in Tibetan with Choje Lama Rabsang leading the chants and the worshippers joining with the spoken text. The teacher also plays some musical percussive instruments as part of the Puja – including hand cymbals and drums. There is also a section in the puja where the Lama presents a chant in Sanskrit.

St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh

Episode fourteen 

We’ll be joining the congregation at St Giles for a traditional Christmas service with a combination of scripture, readings and a sermon led by parishioners and Reverand Dr Scott Rennie. Alongside scripture a selection of hymns and carols will be performed by St Giles’ Choir and organist, Jordan English, to celebrate this joyful time of year.

TD

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