Confirmation Broadcast

In 1960 Spalding Parish Church was selected to host the very first Confirmation Service ever to be broadcast nationwide on BBC television. This was broadcast live, and although it was tele-recorded on film it appears that not all of the recording survives.

In the first scenes, Canon Jakeman prepares the candidates - in St. Thomas's Chapel in the church - for confirmation, and reminds them of the service in one week's time - in St. Thomas's Chapel in the church.

The preparation in St Thomas's Chapel is then followed by the opening of the confirmation service - showing the choir processing in, and two of the Confirmation Candidates being confirmed by the Bishop of Lincoln - the Rt. Rev. Kenneth Riches.

The gravestones outside the West Door have now been removed to make way for the 'turning circle', and the old clock on the right of the door was stolen many years ago.

The clip that we had posted has been removed as it is copyright. Hopefully we may be able to re-instate this at some point in the future with permission.