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Norwich Cathedral

Kate Bottley finds a helter-skelter in Norwich Cathedral is bringing Christianity to life and attracting many families. She also meets a Norfolk farmer praying for a good harvest.

The Rev Kate Bottley visits the magnificent Norwich Cathedral to discover how a 50-foot helter-skelter in the nave is attracting families, allowing them to see the beautiful ceiling sculptures and bringing the Bible to life in a new way. She meets Canon Andy Bryant, the man behind the idea of installing the helter-skelter, and cathedral dean Jane Hedges, who explains that the cathedral鈥檚 central purpose has always been to offer a sacred place where all can reflect and celebrate the whole of life.

A short walk from the cathedral, Kate embarks on a personal pilgrimage to St Julian鈥檚 church to learn more about the city鈥檚 most famous daughter, Julian of Norwich, a medieval Christian mystic who wrote down her reflections on the visions of Christ she received in 1373. Still inspiring Christians today, Julian鈥檚 book Revelations of Divine Love is the oldest English book written by a woman.

At a time when many churches are celebrating their harvest festival, Kate also travels into the Norfolk countryside to join farmer Robert More and help bring in his wheat harvest. Robert鈥檚 family have been working the same land for over 300 years, and he tells Kate how his strong Christian faith has helped him through the tough times and why he is always thankful to God at harvest time.

New presenter Simon Thomas returns to Norfolk 鈥� his home county 鈥� to discover the remarkable East Anglian tradition of angel roofs. In the parish church of Swaffham, he is introduced to 192 beautifully carved wooden angels that have looked over worshippers for over 500 years. Simon discovers the powerful symbolism of angels in Christianity鈥� past and present.

Music
Holy, Holy, Holy 鈥� Nottingham Albert Hall
All My Hope On God Is Founded 鈥� Southwark Cathedral
It is Well With My Soul 鈥� Laura Mvula (performance)
We Plough The Fields and Scatter 鈥� Northampton
Blessed Assurance 鈥� St Elisabeth鈥檚, Reddish
Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord - St Thomas Martyr鈥檚 Church, Newcastle
Love Divine - St Asaph Cathedral

34 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Sep 2019 13:15
主播大秀 One

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Stories

Helter Skelter
Canon Andy Bryant explains how he came up with the idea of a Helter-Skelter in the Nave and the serious mission behind the fun. And Dean Jane Hedges explains some of the rich history of Norwich Cathedral and tells us why peace, prayer and a fun filled cathedral are all very much at the heart of the Cathedrals 鈥楽eeing it Differently鈥� experience.

Julian of Norwich
Rev. Kate has, for many years, been inspired by the writings of Medieval Christian mystic Julian of Norwich. Here she visits St Julian鈥檚 Church on the site where Julian lived for most of her life and experienced her visions.

贬补谤惫别蝉迟听
Kate meets up with local farmer Robert More whose family have been on the same Norfolk farmer for over three centuries. She gets a hands-on experience of bringing in the wheat harvest and hears how Robert鈥檚 faith sustains him through the ups and down of modern farming and how Harvest time is very much an opportunity to give thanks.聽

Angel Roofs
Simon Thomas returns to Norfolk, where he grew up, to find out more about the amazing East Anglian tradition of angel roofs. At Swaffham Parish Church he discovers 192 Angel carvings in the wooden beam roof, discovers their significance and is told that today many people continue to see and believe in angels.

Seeing it Differently
Back at Norwich Cathedral, Canon Andy tells Kate that 鈥淪eeing it Differently鈥� is more than a Helter-Skelter. They lie on their backs to look at the roof bosses and visit the 鈥淏ible Box鈥� which has every word of the Bible pasted on its walls.

Credits

Presenter Kate Bottley
Presenter Simon Thomas
Executive Producer Cat Lewis
Executive Producer Emyr Afan
Series Producer Matthew Napier
Producer David Waters
Production Company Avanti Media

Broadcast