Faith and the Senses

Aled Jones explores the powerful relationship between faith and the senses, discovering how the sights, sounds, textures, smells and tastes of the world around us can strengthen faith. Aled meets inspiring Christians who are harnessing the power of the senses to make the Bible come alive and to help people to heal and to express their faith in creative ways.

In Beckenham, south London, Aled meets children’s minister and founder of Alma Autism, Kirstyn Oliver. Kirstyn shares how traditional, word-heavy church services can present barriers for people, especially neurodivergent individuals and those with special educational needs. To bridge this gap, she creates interactive sensory tray Bible stories, using tactile materials like sand, water, uncooked rice and essential oils to make biblical stories hands-on, memorable and accessible to all. Aled rolls up his sleeves to help build a creation-themed tray before witnessing first-hand how non-verbal participants engage deeply with scripture through touch and texture.

In Dundee we meet artist, programmer and advocate Becky Tyler. Living with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Becky uses advanced eye-gaze technology to code, write and paint vibrant digital art using only her eye movements. Becky reflects on how technology became her gateway to independence and how a passage in the Bible helped inspire her.

Finally, in London, Aled explores the power of scent with perfumer Tonya Kidd-Beggs. Tonya opens up about her personal journey of surviving childhood trauma and how, years later, the power of scent helped to unlock joyful, long-forgotten memories from her past. Guiding Aled through a blind scent test, she demonstrates how fragrance can trigger deep emotion, heal the soul and strengthen our connection to God.

With hymns and songs to thank God for all that we experience through our senses.

1. Morning Has Broken – Down Cathedral
2. Let Our Work Be for Your Glory – The Boundless Project, The Mint Methodist Church, Exeter
3. 10,000 Reasons – Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh
4. I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say – Crathie Kirk, Ballater
5. Breathe – Salvation Army International Songsters in Trentham Gardens
6. For the Beauty of the Earth – Winchester Cathedral