How lovely to see a church full of congretation singing at the top of their voice. Could it possibly be for the TV cameras or am I being my usual cynical self ?
They filmed locally here some years back. They brought in choirs from various local towns and of course there were the usual 'I want to be on tv' crowd.
Also - they filmed here in the evening and set up huge lighting rigs to shine 'sunshine' through the windows...!
Don't watch songs of praise myself but I can tell you that many years ago they filmed at my Mum's church but they also invited the congregations from other local churches as I suppose it would look a bit poor if only the regulars were there.
It is indeed as has been said - local churches do get together for Songs of Praise.
.What gets up my nose is the insistence on brass bands so often.
In most churches and certainly in cathedrals the organ needs to accompaniment and could in fact "drown out" any brass band - so why are they everlastingly there?
Remember reading in the paper a couple of years ago that the Nativity service was filmed with everybody wrapped up in heavy coats. When the producer pronounced himself satisfied the congregation changed their clothes to do the Easter Sunday service.