Broadcast Dates: 5th to 11th July (excluding Sunday) at 5:43am on BBC Radio 4 and afterwards on BBC Sounds.
As BBC Radio 4’s ‘Prayer for the Day’ marks its 55th anniversary on 6th July, the spotlight turns to Bradford, the UK’s City of Culture 2025, for a special celebratory takeover.
From Friday 5th July to Friday 11th July, six voices from Bradford’s richly diverse faith communities bring thoughtful storytelling and prayers, broadcast each morning at 5:43am; nestled between ‘The Shipping Forecast’ and ‘Farming Today’. The Revd Canon Ned Lunn spoke on Saturday 5th July 2025 and you can listen back on BBC Sounds, and he also spoke about the feature on Sunday 6th July, and you can also listen back to that from around the 26:45 mark.
Recorded at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the contributions shine a light on the city’s unique blend of cultures, stories and spiritual traditions and offer listeners across the UK a glimpse into the heart and soul of this special city.
“To be able to showcase the voices of Bradford, the City of Culture, on Radio 4 for Prayer for the Day’s anniversary is a real privilege. Bradford is a city with a rich mix of culture and faith, and it’s always a pleasure to experience the hospitality, warmth and storytelling that define it.”
Carmel Lonergan, Producer
Contributors:
Revd Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, Bradford Cathedral
Jane Williams, Editor of The Bradford Synagogue Star
Haridas Sharan, Hindu Priest and NHS/Prison Chaplain
Furaha Mussanzi, Singer, Storyteller and Pastoral Care Leader at The Light Church
Simmy Sekhon, Solicitor, Entrepreneur and Spokesperson for the Yorkshire Sikh Forum
Saarah Hamayun, Spiritual Care Practitioner at Martin House Children’s Hospice
Photo credits: Tom Rank (group shot) / Lydia Rose (Individual)