Reverend Kate Bottley, the former Gogglebox star and current broadcaster, has shared a profoundly moving story about a chance encounter that revealed the true, emotional power of hymns at the most unlikely of places: the Glastonbury Festival.
The 50-year-old vicar, who now hosts the BBC's Songs of Praise, found herself on top of Glastonbury Tor at sunrise, where she met a stranger who changed her perspective on the religious songs she presents to the nation.
A Sunrise Revelation on the Tor
In a scenario far from the traditional church setting, Bottley described meeting a man who was "holding a joint in one hand and a bottle of Jack Daniels in the other" as they watched the sun come up. Speaking to The Telegraph, she revealed how this encounter helped her battle the notion that it was 'cliché' for a TV vicar to present the long-running BBC programme.
The stranger began talking about his sick mother, explaining that hymns were their vital connection. "He said, 'I go to the nursing home every Sunday to see my mum. And my mum can’t remember who I am anymore,'" Bottley recalled. "'But when I put Songs of Praise on suddenly, I have her back for half an hour.'"
He described how they would sing hymns together, holding hands, and told her it was a "wonderful, wonderful thing." Moved by his story, the man then turned to her and asked, "Shall we sing now?"
The Power of a Shared Hymn
There, on that iconic hill at the break of day, the vicar and the festival-goer sang Morning Has Broken together. "It was beautiful," Bottley said, reflecting on the spontaneous moment.
She explained that the powerful takeaway from the experience was clear: "Never underestimate the value, was the message that came across. You never know who’s watching." This heartfelt interaction underscored the deep, personal connections people have with hymns, often linking them to cherished memories and loved ones.
From Viral Vicar to Broadcaster
Bottley's path to broadcasting began when a wedding flash mob video she organised went viral on YouTube. This led to Channel 4 approaching her to join Gogglebox in 2014.
She has since become a regular presenter on Songs of Praise since 2016. Recently, she hosted a special edition of the show with Aled Jones, celebrating the nation's favourite school assembly hymns, which featured children performing from Victoria Hall in Bolton.
Bottley has also broadcast from Glastonbury with BBC Radio 2 and has interviewed the festival's founder, Michael Eavis, discussing his relationship with Christianity on the iconic site in Somerset.
Despite her television success, she has been open about finding her time on Gogglebox "quite intrusive, really," though she acknowledged that she consented to that intrusion. Gogglebox is set to return on November 28 at 9pm on Channel 4.
