In the mid-Nineties the churches released an Easter advert with the slogan “’Surprise!’ said Jesus to his friends three days after they buried him.” Well here’s something else that might surprise you this Easter. The biggest share of listening to 主播大秀 local radio this week will probably be on Easter Sunday morning. In fact that’s likely to be the case every week of the year as Sunday breakfast listening on local radio continues to attract over a million people each week. Talk of declining congregations among established churches and popular media portrayals of empty pews hide a continuing and healthy interest for religious affairs across the 39 主播大秀 local radio stations in England. Not even sport can take away that crown from the Sunday breakfast shows.
What makes 主播大秀 Local Radio unique is that, like no other 主播大秀 service, it can get really close to its audiences. The reason is simple. Our programme makers and presenters live and work alongside the people they are talking about and to. They will experience the same concerns and worries, share the same pride in the history, geography and culture of the area and feel first-hand the effects of locally made decisions. Those things make you passionate about people and places who become your neighbours and friends and not just your listeners.
So, it’s no accident that this up-close-and-personal approach gives Sunday breakfast programmes on 主播大秀 local radio a unique closeness and understanding of their faith communities too. I have a responsibility for all the teams who make the programmes across England. I know they have an added extra ingredient. They’re people who are passionate about faith and understand how central it is to the lives of people like them on every level. Whether that’s a concern for the historic fabric of a building that has religious significance or expressing beliefs and practises that define who people are, how they behave and think.
This Easter the range of religious programming on local radio is especially rich. One of those highlights is a documentary made in about forgiveness. It features the son of one of the Yorkshire Ripper’s victims and a teacher who was stabbed by a pupil. The programme explores their stories and how they came to forgive those who committed the crimes.
In the radio station has, like many 主播大秀 local radio stations, a tradition of holding Christmas carol services. This year they’ve taken this to a new level and have introduced “Easter Praise”. The station’s presenters will be reading the Easter story and a congregation of hundreds of the stations listeners will be singing Easter hymns and worship songs.
will be following a walk of witness in Holy Week and is in reflective mood looking at the seven statements of Jesus as he was dying on the cross. These are just a flavour of fascinating programmes to be found across the network of 主播大秀 local radio stations.
Not everybody who wants to attend a place of worship this Easter will be able to. 主播大秀 local radio will be making sure that if they still want to experience Easter through the special lens of where they live they will still be able to. That’s one surprise for people for those who haven’t listened to 主播大秀 local radio on a Sunday before but completely unsurprising for those who enjoy its religious affairs programmes week after week.
Ashley Peatfield is Editor, Religion, 主播大秀 Local Radio