To celebrate its 200th anniversary, Aled Jones visits the National Gallery on London’s Trafalgar Square. Aled meets director Dr Gabriele Finaldi for an exclusive tour behind the scenes of the gallery, which boasts one of the largest collections of religious art in the world. He discovers the fascinating stories behind masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio, just some of the paintings that attract three million visitors each year. Looking back over its 200-year history, Aled finds out about moments that have shaped the gallery’s place in British culture, including the war years, when it became a home of free classical music concerts to inspire people at a time of suffering.

Also, Aled meets Fr Patrick van der Vorst, the founder of a website that seeks to bring people closer to God through a deeper understanding of art. Patrick takes Aled to The Supper at Emmaus, a painting that depicts the moment Christ’s disciples recognise Jesus in his risen form.

Across London, artist Sophie Hacker reveals her contemporary artwork commissioned for the 18th-century St Marylebone Parish Church. Sophie explains the themes of nature and eternity in her work and reflects on the power of art in worship.

With hymns from around the UK and special performances recorded in the beautiful setting of the National Gallery itself.

Music featured:

Angel Voices Ever Singing – Coventry Cathedral
Crown Him with Many Crowns – Canterbury Cathedral
Ave Maria – BBC Chorister of the Year performing in the National Gallery
Immortal, Invisible – Christ Church, Port Sunlight
Now the Green Blade Riseth – Holy Trinity, Long Melford, Suffolk
Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven – Apollo 5 in the National Gallery Show less