IT was a moment when we could feel proud of both our cathedral and Portsmouth’s military heritage.Millions of viewers saw Portsmouth Cathedral at its best when it was featured on the BBC’s Songs of Praise in November.Around 600 people - including hundreds currently serving in the Royal Navy, the Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines and many others from veterans’ organisations - packed the cathedral for the Remembrance Sunday edition of the programme.Among the highlights were HRH Prince Andrew reading For the Fallen, Portsmouth Cathedral Choir singing the anthem Benedictus from The Armed Man - a Mass for Peace, and rousing renditions of hymns such as I Vow To Thee My Country and Abide With Me.Among those with stories of faith to tell were Lt Tim Haddow and Lt Rachel Holmes, who served on HMS Ark Royal during the recent war against Iraq. Veterans also recalled incidents from the Second World War and the Korean War that had crystallised their faith.A second programme was also filmed in the same week in October. This ecumenical edition of the programme will be broadcast on April 25 next year, and was the first in the programme’s 42-year history to feature a modern worship band in a cathedral.More than 500 Anglicans, Baptists, Roman Catholics, Methodists and members of independent churches from across the city of Portsmouth sung both traditional hymns and modern choruses side-by-side as cameras swooped down over their heads. The congregation clapped along to Jesus Is The Name We Honour and filled the cathedral with beautiful harmonies for Christ Triumphant. Conductor Noel Treddinick energised the congregation between takes with jokes and encouragement. And the cathedral’s arches and architectural features were lit with coloured lights for emphasis.Series producer Michael Wakelin told the congregation: “There has been a fantastic variety of traditional hymns and modern songs in this edition, and you’ve really done them justice.”Valerie England, from St James’ Church, Milton, who was singing soprano in the specially-formed ecumenical choir, agreed.“It does everybody good to know what other churches’ music is like,” she said. “I come from a traditional church, but I enjoyed singing the modern songs. The band were very good.”And Paul Imonopi, from House on Fire, a Southsea independent church, said: “It was really fun to meet other Christians and worship together in the cathedral. We should do it more often.”

Photos taken during the recordings will be published in the new Songs of Praise magazine, which goes on sale on February 25.