A TV programme celebrating the birthday of the Christian Church was broadcast live from Wrexham over the bank holiday weekend.

A Celebration of Pentecost went out live on BBC1 on Sunday 24 May at 10.30am from Hope Street Church in the city centre. The programme was presented by the church’s vicars and featured personal stories of hope from members of the congregation.

Every seat was taken for the special service, with the music led by the in-house worship band.

The sermon was given by the Revd Andy Kitchen, lead pastor at the church. He said: “Pentecost remembers the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first disciples, and the worldwide church was born. This felt like a great opportunity to celebrate all that we have seen God do since this church was started back in 2021, as well as highlighting the role of faith in the contemporary life of Wrexham and north Wales.”

Hope Street Church is part of the Diocese of St Asaph, one of the six dioceses in the Church in Wales. It was started by a team led by the Revd Rachel Kitchen and the Revd Andy Kitchen in 2021. Housed in the renovated former Burton store on Hope Street, the church is open throughout the week. It is home to Tabernacl coffee, together with a number of other community and church activities. The church has grown quickly and now holds three services on a Sunday: 9:30, 11:15 and 6pm.

Hope Street Church was approached by the BBC earlier this year to host the service. In 2025, a similar service for Pentecost was broadcast live from Gas Street Church in Birmingham.

The service was broadcast live on BBC1, and remains available on BBC iPlayer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002wymq/pentecost-2026-a-celebration-for-pentecost