The Kingsgate Community Church in Staplee Way, Parnwell, will be the setting for a number of religious television programmes on BBC 1 recorded next week.

The church will be the location for a live recording on Sunday, 31 May, Pentecost Sunday.

The service will be one of only three live religious services broadcast this year, with more than one million people expected to tune in.

And on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2 the BBC will be recording two editions of its popular Songs of Praise programme, to be broadcast later to an estimated 2.5 million viewers.

Presenter Diane Louise Jordan will be in Peterborough on Monday, while Aled Jones will be at the church on Tuesday.

Today, head of management at Kingsgate Caroline Cameron said everyone was delighted the church was able to have its moment in the spotlight.

She said: "The BBC only broadcasts three live services every year – at Christmas, Easter and Pentecost – so it is a real privilege to be chosen.

"It is a wonderful opportunity to get the Christian message across to the community.

"Hopefully, people who have never been to the church will see us on television and come along to services here."

Rehearsals for the services have already taken place as preparations for the shows continue.

Mrs Cameron said: "The BBC contacted us to see if it could do the services here.

"It has been a real pleasure working with the BBC, as it has been so helpful.

"Fortunately, our church is big enough and modern enough for the cameras and lights, so we have not had to make any alterations to prepare for the filming."

The live service will be shown on BBC 1 on May 31, from 10am.

The Songs Of Praise series will feature two shows from Kingsgate Church, one in the winter and the second early in 2010.

The church, which was completed in September 2006, can hold up to 1,700 people, and tickets for the recordings are already in high demand.

There are no tickets left for the Sunday service, but free tickets for the Songs of Praise services are still available by calling 01733 311156.