All Things Considered

Sleep is said to be a gift from God, but what happens when you can't drift off at night, or you regularly wake up in the small hours? Rosa Hunt investigates the science and spiritual purpose of sleep. Roughly 1 in 3 people experience periodic bouts of insomnia, and there's no it can be deeply troubling, both mentally and physically. Rosa Hunt (who suffers herself from insomnia) investigates the fascinating science and spiritual purpose of sleep, and talks to a number of fellow insomniacs. Rev'd Belinda Huxtable-Goy has suffered from disturbed sleep as a legacy of her previous job as a nurse working night shifts in trauma and obstetrics. Rev'd Dr Emma Whittick has managed to overcome her sleep difficulties after a lifelong struggle to sleep at night, whilst Rev Jon Birch started his teens as a very good sleeper, only to end with a very disrupted sleep pattern whilst experiencing the pressures of student life. As for so many people, this only got worse with the pressures of parenthood and dealing with very young children. In the past sleep was deemed practically a waste of time, and even the Bible sometimes seems to equate sleep with laziness. But as scientific understanding gets ever deeper, we can appreciate that sleep performs a whole range of essential functions. Professor Mark Blagrove, a psychiatrist from Swansea University and no stranger himself to wakeful hours in the middle of the night, explains some of the science and the multiple functions of sleep. Presenter: Rosa Hunt Producer: Geoff Ballinger

On July 13th last year a would-be assassin narrowly failed to kill Donald Trump, instead grazing the Republican candidate's right ear. Many people of faith - both on the right and left - see this narrow miss as something of a miracle, and for some evangelicals it is a sign of God's favour towards the president-elect. Roy Jenkins looks at the influence of faith groups on US politics, and the Republican party in particular, as Americans and the world look towards Donald Trump being officially declared the 47th President of the USA. For these groups, it is particularly important to have the ear of the President as they press their own agendas. Roy speaks to Professor Mark Silk, political analyst Calvin Dark, and to pro-Trump minister Pastor Mark Burns.

In this programme, Rosa Hunt, explores the experience and journey of grief, consolation and faith as a fellow Pilgrim walking with our contributors. Ruth McDonald lost her son Ben when he collapsed after running the Cardiff Half Marathon six years ago. Kathy Richards, who lost her son to cancer over four years ago, now runs a bereavement course. These two mothers speak to us out of their personal experience of grief. We also talk to Professor Wynn Thomas, who published 'The Art of Losing' this month. Wynn provides us with a different angle, using his literary expertise to help us see how poetry can articulate the journey of grief.

The border between England and Wales is something that some don’t really notice. Whether you’re crossing the Severn Bridge in the South as you see the dark grey of rain clouds loom. Or crisscrossing back and forth, dancing between lands in the North. Travelling between these two countries is something that is done easily and without much thought. For others, the border is a matter of heart, identity, heritage and pride. Look closely and you will see flat fields turn to mounds and mountains. Listen carefully, and you will hear accents adapt and language become a love affair. Dig deep and you find historic wounds and a heavy weariness. Whilst there are no border gates or passport controls, there are many historic evidences of a meaningful border. From the natural difference in geography, to the line of Europe’s most heavily populated castle cluster. There are remnants of a boarder everywhere. During the summer, in a series of 4 programmes, the team at All Things Considered explored this most intriguing border line: Offa’s Dyke. In this programme we will journey through the Dyke once more as we revisit some of the highlights.

Jonathan Thomas looks at the history and work of the Salvation Army in Wales as it celebrates 150 years since its first mission to Cardiff, followed later by missions to Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and many other towns around Wales. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Roberts is the Army's current leader in Wales, and he gives his account of some of the movement's early days, as well as outlining its work today. Captain Canon Kathryn Stowers is the Army's Ecumenical Officer for Wales, and she talks about the organisation's radical views on the empowerment of women - it was women who led the Army's early missions to Merthyr, for example. Professor Paul O'Leary of the University of Aberystwyth has studied street processions in Wales, and explains why evangelising on the streets was such a provocative initiative that challenged Victorian notions of respectability. Historically the Salvation Army's uniform has been a huge part of its identity, but as Jennifer Le Zotte explains, there is more to this than meets the eye: in reusing second-hand clothing there was something challenging about this uniform. Even more intriguing is the special uniform for the so-called 'Slum Sisters' who tended to the needs of the very poor. She describes this as 'cross-class drag'! For many of us the Salvation Army is synonymous with brass bands, and Jonathan visits the band of Canton Cardiff Corps to speak to their bandmaster, and to make his own practical contribution! This programme was first broadcast in November 2024.

Jonathan Thomas talks to a range of musicians as he explores the stories and the wonderful associations behind some of our favourite Christmas carols. Andrew Gant, a former choirmaster at the Chapel Royal, is the author of 'Deck the Hall' exploring some of curious histories of certain songs. Caroline Sheen from Caerleon is a much loved star of musical theatre on the West End stage, and she recalls happy memories of singing the descant to O Come All Ye Faithful when a member of her school choir. The Welsh plygain tradition of carol singing may possibly predate most English-language carols. Arfon Gwilym and Sioned Webb recount how they first attended a plygain service and were bowled over by the wealth of carols they heard for the first time. Harpist Tom Parry recalls his time living and working near Bethlehem, whilst composer Ben Heneghan (whose credits include Fireman Sam!) talks about his carol arrangements. Finally, Rhian Jackson from Corwen recalls the snowy sixties in her village, where her father was vicar.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, and that usually involves carols, nativities, candlelight services and plenty of tradition. But not everyone is following these well-worn paths this year. Many are exploring creative ways of spreading the Christmas message. In this programme we’ll meet Christians and churches who are trying to do something a little different this advent. First up we meet Dai Woolridge, spoken word poet, storyteller, and creative specialist at the Bible Society. We also speak to American author, singer, and songwriter, Andrew Peterson, who is bringing his Christmas Show to Cardiff. Finally, we visit two different churches in Cardiff, who are looking at new ways to take the old Christmas story to their communities: Judith Holliman and the members of Radyr Methodist Church, and Sarah Roberts from the Bridge Church, Pontprennau.

With the coldest season of the year upon us, Azim Ahmed hears how faith groups across Wales are helping homeless people through the hardest winter months. It’s estimated that nearly 3000 people each year sleep rough in Wales, but being homeless also includes people who are living in temporary hostels or night shelters, or lodging temporarily with family or friends. Nearly 10, 000 households in Wales are classified as at risk of being pushed into homelessness due to poverty and insecure housing. Across Wales people of faith do what they can to alleviate the hardship of living without a home, and today we’ll meet some of these individuals and hear about the personal efforts they make. We begin at the Victoria Fish Bar in North Cardiff where one Muslim family, Mohammad and Jawad Nazakat, head up an initiative to give out free fish and chips to the homeless each Christmas. In Wrexham Housing Justice Cymru’s Citadel project helps foster community for the people they support over the Christmas period. They work in collaboration with Hope Street Church, who gather together volunteers to pack ‘Bags of Kindness’ for those in need at Christmas. It’s part of a national initiative, ‘Love Christmas’ encouraging organisations to spread kindness during the festive period. We visit the Hare Krishna ‘Atma Café’ in central Cardiff which gives out free vegan food to those in need. We hear from Father Dean Atkins and Salvation Army chaplain John Stark who have organised a memorial service at St. Mary’s Butetown to remember those who have died homeless. The service is accompanied by the ‘Choir with No Name’, a choir which builds joyful singing communities with people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation.

Advent is a time of reflection and of waiting in expectation. Roy Jenkins talks to four people with very different experiences of waiting. They include Timothy Cho, one of very few people to successfully escape from North Korea, although not before experiencing some terrifying times in a North Korean and a Chinese prison. Tanya Marlow is a bedbound mother and writer who has had to think deeply about waiting, having suffered from a chronic health condition (ME) for many years since her teens. Retired solicitor and vicar Lindsay Ford talks about the vision he received in a Caerphilly church whilst he was going through a long period of waiting. And children's charity worker Neil Davies talks about the plight of the children whom few people wish to foster or adopt, and who may wait up to two years for their forever home.

Azim Ahmed and guests shine a light on a collection of ‘Lost Hymns’; long forgotten Welsh-language folk hymns recorded by oral historians at St. Fagan’s National Museum of History in the 1960s. When musician and composer Lleuwen Steffan came across these recordings she immediately realised that they were no longer featured in contemporary hymn books. She embarked on a decade long project to track down the descendants of those recorded, and to compose music inspired by these songs. Today she brings these recordings to modern audiences, joining the recorded voices with her own compositions on piano, guitars and synthesizers. Many of the hymns were composed as a response to the Welsh Revival of 1904, a period of intense religious fervour that swept across Wales, filling chapels, and bringing life-changing religious experiences to those part of the revivals. The songs are frank, down to earth and sometimes dark. They reflect the fragility of human experience. Emeritus Professor Wyn James, a Welsh hymnology expert from the School of Welsh at Cardiff University sets out the historical context of these hymns. Catrin Roberts, the granddaughter of hymn collector William Morris (one of the voices in the collection) shares memories of her grandfather, and his passion for the heritage of Wales. Lleuwen’s work is made in partnership with Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru and supported by the British Council Wales.

Roy Jenkins reflects further on his broadcast career, and recounts some memorable moments in such diverse places as Russia, South America, South Africa, Hong Kong and Israel.

The first of two special editions of All Things Considered to mark Roy Jenkins' 50 years in religious broadcasting. Across his career, Roy has been involved in a vast number and variety of programmes. Today, he looks back on just a few which have made some kind of mark on him. We hear archive footage from across Roy's career, as well as the stories behind some of these memorable programme-making experiences. Join us again next week, when Roy will reflect on some of the fascinating encounters had had making radio in other countries. This programme was first broadcast in June 2024.

Minister and biker Sean Stillman gives a searingly honest insight into a life that's been turned upside down since his diagnosis some three years ago, after experiencing a number of strange symptoms. Sean is a Christian minister at Zak’s Place , which is both a church and outreach to the homeless in Swansea. He's also international president of a Christian motor-cycle club called ‘God’s Squad’. But, like many people living with a serious illness, he has had to cut back on some of his commitments. At the same time he has also taken on new challenges such as boxing and ballet in order to maintain strength and balance. In this special programme for Parkinson's Awareness Week, recorded over several years, Sean tells his story in his own words through interviews and audio diaries. Details of organisations offering information and support with Parkinson’s are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5TzWfx4YgJVMS3N49BsyTcR/information-and-support-parkinsons-disease This programme was first broadcast in April 2024.

In the final part of our series exploring aspects of Offa's Dyke, and Offa's Dyke Path, Rosa Hunt walks a part of the way in the company of five people with a passion for the outdoors, and asks the theological conundrum of whether God is a walker? There are many suggestions in both the Old Testament and the New that God does indeed walk, and it's possible - some argue - that we come nearest to Him not when we rush around but when we walk at a moderate pace. Even for people without a formal faith, the meditative action of walking can lead to a deep spiritual experience, regardless of whether or not they believe in a creator God. For Steven Carter, a retired Baptist minister, walking Offa's Dyke has a particular significance - despite his cancer prognosis, he is determined to walk as much of its 177 miles as possible in easy stages. In this programme Rosa joins him for a section of the Dyke at Hergest Ridge. For Llinos Metcalf easy stages are probably not what she is seeking, since over the last ten years she's signed up for and completed numerous arduous treks in places such as Patagonia, the Sahara and the Arctic, sustained by her faith and a mission to raise money for Velindre cancer hospital. Rosa takes a detour to Newchurch, near Gladestry, to speak to Ann Dean about the diaries of Francis Kilvert, the one-time curate of Clyro who was an avid walker in the district. Near Hay Bluff Rosa encounters Susan Langford-Johnson, a former Catholic chaplain who despite no longer believing in God, believes she has had a deeply spiritual experience whilst walking a pilgrimage. Finally, on a gentle stretch of Offa's Dyke path at Hay Rosa meets Rev'd Dr Mark Clavier, who has written about his own 'pilgrimage' whilst never having been on a 'proper' one to a religious shrine. Is God a walker? "Yes", he agrees, "God must certainly be a walker...or else a sadist!"

Azim Ahmed walks a section of Offa's Dyke, to explore what it has to tell us about our place in the world, and in the universe. This ancient archaeological wonder constructed by the Mercian King Offa has in some ways been the making of Welsh identity. But it also speaks of fascinating connections with Europe, and possibly the Islamic world. A visit to Knighton's Spaceguard centre, however, suggests that our planet, let alone Wales, may be but a mere speck in a vast and dangerous universe.

Throughout July, All Things Considered will be coming from the ancient boundary between Wales and England – Offa’s Dyke. Each week, we explore a different section of the border as we travel from Chepstow to Prestatyn, joined by voices from the borders sharing their stories of faith, encounter and identity. This week Jonathan Thomas explores the idea of ‘borders’ and identity, starting at St. Mary's Capel y Ffin. Here Jonathan meets Father David Wyatt at the tiny 'chapel on the border,' a focus of pilgrimage for centuries and the source of inspiration for William and Dorothy Wordsworth. Jonathan walks a stretch of the Offa's Dyke route with vicar and pilgrimage leader Simon Lockett. Starting at the Gospel Pass they head past Hay Bluff towards Llantony to discuss identity in the border lands. Jonathan speaks to pupils at Clyro Church in Wales School to hear their perspective on living on the borders. The children explain that they see borders as a point of connection, a place to forge new friendships and to hear different languages. Canon Dr Manon James of the St Padarn's Institute shares insights into her research into Welsh identity and border lands. At the end of the Offa's Dyke path Jonathan meets Baptist minister Rob Beamish to discuss journey's endings.

To judge from the number of recordings (they run into the thousands) Amazing Grace is one of the world's most popular hymns. And yet this global 'hit' was many years in the making. Penned by a former slave trader turned abolitionist, John Newton, it was in America that it would be popularised, largely through the agency of a Welshman who wedded it to the tune with which we are familiar nowadays. Ironically, the song was most enthusiastically adopted by African Americans. And it would be two centuries before a hymn written for a rural parish in Buckinghamshire would return to Britain as a popular song, conquering the charts with recordings such as Judy Collins' version in 1970, and an unlikely chart-topper in 1972 with The Pipes And Drums And The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Rosa Hunt explores the various twists and turns, and the ironies in this story of John Newton's most famous hymn, which is now some 250 years old. Acclaimed baritone and composer Roderick Williams talks about his collaboration with poet Rommi Smith in writing a song-cycle expressing some of our contemporary unease with a hymn which is both loved and despised, depending on perspective. Historian James Walvin is the author of a new book on Amazing Grace, and he provides the historical context to Newton's life, whilst Welsh historian Marian Gwyn gives her insight into the nature of the Atlantic slave trade at the time of John Newton. One landmark recording of the song was made by Paul Robeson, and Beverley Humphreys comments on both that recording and on Newton's words. This programme was first broadcast in November 2023. Producer: Geoff Ballinger https://www.johnnewton.org/Groups/222562/The_John_Newton/new_menus/Amazing_Grace/Amazing_Grace.aspx https://cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk/john-newton-1725-1807/

Roy Jenkins talks to former nun Catherine Coldstream, who has recently published a fascinating, challenging and highly praised memoir of her former life in a Carmelite monastery. Following the death of her father, Catherine Coldstream abandoned her musician's life in Paris and sought spiritual solace in a monastery, and found what she thought was a vocation for life as a Carmelite nun. She was only in her mid-20s Yet on a rainy night 12 years later she would try to escape from the community which had once seemed idyllic. By that time it was riven between two factions, one for maintaining the old traditions at all costs, and the other for embracing the Catholic church’s modernising concern for individual welfare. In recent years Catherine has been a teacher of religion and ethics, and in this conversation she reflects on both the good and the bad parts of her experience in the monastery to which she gives the fictional name of 'Akenside'.

Recent figures suggest that Christianity is now one of the most widely persecuted religions in the world. Rosa Hunt speaks to three people who have had experience of persecution in countries where to follow Christ demands a high price - sometimes literally. In Malaysia, Susanna Koh talks about the day seven years ago when her husband, Pastor Raymond Koh, was abducted possibly at the hands of Malaysian police and religious authorities, unhappy that he was doing social work among people of various religions, including Muslims. In Manipur, in north-east India, Sharon Singsit-Evans talks about the way conflict between tribes has ended up destroying churches, killing pastors and displacing thousands from their homes. Finally, in West Africa, Suleiman talks about the extreme dangers facing Christians there, where kidnapping, murder and the destruction of farmlands is becoming ever more common.

This week the Media Bill has been scrutinised and debated in the House of Lords. The aim is of the bill is to reform decades-old legislation for Public Service Broadcasters (including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and S4C), but in its current form it will remove the requirement for specific genres of programmes on religion, arts and science. With religious programming already in decline, some groups are concerned that this will deal a serious blow to faith broadcasting. Others argue it’s a necessary step, giving broadcasters greater flexibility and reflecting a post-Christian Britain. What might happen if there isn’t a a requirement to make programmes about religion and belief? With a rapidly changing religious landscape in Britain, do current faith programmes meet audience needs? To what extent does religious broadcasting matter? Azim Ahmed is joined by four guests to explore the issues; Tony Stoller, Chair of the Sandford St. Martin Trust, Tim Pemberton, Head of Religion and Ethics for BBC Audio, Kathryn Riddick from Humanists UK and journalist and broadcaster Remona Aly.