THE important role people at Kent and Canterbury Hospital play in the community has been graphically illustrated during the filming of the BBC's Songs of Praise.

The congregation at Canterbury's St Mary Bredin Church was recorded singing the five hymns which will feature in the broadcast, due to be shown on Sunday, June 23.

Kent and Canterbury's chaplain the Rev Paul Kirby was due to give the blessing at the end of the service, but he was called away at the last moment by the hospital's intensive care unit to comfort relatives of a patient.

Songs of Praise producer Peter Williams said: "This reminds us, if a reminder were needed, of the relevance of what was going on in St Mary Bredin and the enormous debt that we owe to the people who look after us at the hospital."

St Mary Bredin vicar, the Rev Chris Pemberton, stepped in to give the blessing.

Interviews with patients, doctors, nurses and paramedics have already been filmed at the hospital and in their homes and will be incorporated into the programme.

Mr Williams said the aim was to pay tribute to the hospital staff who, through their dedication, had continued to care for people while the arguments over K&C's future rolled on.

"Those interviewed have spoken about their faith, their caring attitude to those they look after and how the hospital has influenced their lives," Mr Williams said.

"I felt it was right that we should do this programme to pay tribute to them. They have kept on doing their jobs despite all the uncertainty."

Hospital staff from Canterbury, Ashford and Margate, some in uniform, joined the regular St Mary Bredin congregation for the recording of the hymns. They were accompanied by singers from Canterbury Choral Society and The Crypt Choir of the city's King's School.

Members of Canterbury Deaf Signing Choir, under their leader Jenny Seatherton, also took part in the recording. They are regular performers at the St Mary Bredin morning services and have also taken part in a Songs of Praise from Canterbury Cathedral.

Actor Dan Rymer, who stars in the television hospital drama Casualty, will present the programme.