A CBBC children’s programme, Princess Mirror-Belle was filmed in a Salford church over the summer for a Christmas special episode.
St Anne’s Church (Clifton) Treasurer, Andrew Miller was first approached by BBC, who were scouting for a location to film their ‘Christmas special’ episode. Andrew and the bookings manager, Sue Speakman, initially showed them around. The next day the BBC team keenly requested to start filming as it was exactly ‘what they were looking for’.
After having had big refurbishments, the church was very much in need of some financial support and agreed for the filming to take place. The church vicar, Reverend Grace said: “We don’t get any funding externally besides donations… so it was a big support.
Ms Speakman said: “I think it was ideal. The altar fit the theme the crew were going for… they didn’t need to worry; it’s nice well-kept setting was perfect.”
During the filming, regular classes in the centre were cancelled for a week to allow the crew to have full access. The whole time the building was “closed off and security were put in front” to keep from anyone seeing the production before its release.
Mr Miller said: “It was quite exciting… they had this table, the full length of the hall, with all this food on it and some of it was makeshift and some of it fresh… it was very impressive.”
After the release of Princess Mirror-Belle, they all were quite impressed with the way the church looked in the show. Having captured it’s beauty and warmth Gary Brooks, the church warden, felt “quite proud” to see the place he is so used to decorated.
After watching the final cut, Reverend Grace said: “Part of me was really wishing they had just kept the decorations up.
“It just looked so beautiful; they really did the space justice.”
Gary Brooks, the church warden, lit up the altar to show the gorgeous details of the stain-glass windows lined at the head of the church. It’s interior, though cold to stand in, was magnificent to the eyes.
The altar’s “blue skies and gold stars” ceiling captured the peaceful atmosphere felt within the building. Mr Brooks said: “We see it every day… but to see it all prepared and done it really shows how beautiful the building is.
“I was quite proud seeing it on TV yesterday. It really shows that church isn’t scary…it’s a nice place to sit and relax.”
The church will be open during Christmas and will still be holding regular Sunday services. This Sunday the junior church plans on performing The Nativity.
Reverend Grace said: “If we can find ways to engage with people who maybe want to grow in faith and learn more, then wonderful things like this, help us to do it.
“That’s really part of our mission, just to be able to say come and have a look. See if you find or feel anything, come and have a chat to us.”
St Anne’s Church was first opened in 1874 by a local businessman as an act of giving back to the community.
In the evening of Sunday, they will hold Nine Lessons and Carols with some mince pies and port to enjoy later. In the upcoming days the church will be organizing many Christmas events for the local community to join.
The Church always keeps their doors open to welcome any opportunities that will help them portray the building the way they see it, a “beautiful peaceful holy space”.
St Anne’s Church holds many events which can be viewed on their website here.
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