Pentecost ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship programme for Pentecost, 8 June 2025, came from Leeds Cathedral.
Episcopal Vicar for Education in the Diocese of Leeds, Fr Paul Grogan, presented the programme – with hymns and choral music from the Junior Choirs of Leeds Cathedral, the Catholic Youth Choirs from Huddersfield and Bradford, and a congregation of 600 young people from Catholic schools across Yorkshire who are part of the Schools Singing Programme. All the singers were expertly directed by Elizabeth Leather and Roland Mander and the organists were Darius Battiwalla and Leeds Cathedral Organ Scholar, Frankie Tempest.
Other than Fr Paul, none of the on-air speech contributors to the programme were over the age of 18! The all-schools line-up included Scripture Readings for Pentecost from choir members, and beautifully written and presented reflections on pilgrimage from St Wilfrid’s Catholic Secondary Academy student and member of The Twelve, Ellie-Louise – and also from Connie, a student at Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College who is discerning a vocation to the religious life. The prayers were confidently led by Esosa from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Leeds, who is also this year’s Leeds Children’s Mayor.