A HADDINGTON church will take centre stage in a special concert broadcast across Scotland just hours before Christmas.

St Mary’s Parish Church will feature on BBC Scotland’s Christmas Eve programme, with a special Watch Night Service.

The church, which has previously featured on BBC’s Songs of Praise, will be packed with both singers and a television crew later this month.

David Strachan, producer of the show, said: “The recording will happen on November 26.

“We will record several songs and carols with various choirs during the day, but from 7pm until 10pm we will record six congregational carols with brass band, organ and timpani accompaniment.

“It should sound lovely, and hopefully will be a pleasure to be part of.

“Because we want the programme, to look as good as possible we will fuss a lot to get it all just right, so it will take time.

“Please come prepared to sing some bits many times!

“We are lighting the west seating area only, so we have limited space.

“We want to avoid empty seats, and we also want to avoid having to turn people away.”

Members of St Mary’s Parish Church will be invited to attend the special recording next week.

Mr Strachan added: “Christmas Eve on the BBC is a unique and special moment.”

The Rev Jennifer Macrae, who has been at the church for nine years, was sure that the filming of the service would prove to be a memorable occasion.

The church was approached by Tern Television a couple of months ago about the possibility of presenting the show from the historic church.

Mrs Macrae said: “There are a lot of things about it which are very exciting.

“We did a radio one a few years ago but this is different.”

Councillor John McMillan, a Haddington and Lammermuir ward member and the local authority’s spokesman for tourism and economic development, echoed Mrs Macrae’s sentiments.

Mr McMillan is also an elder at the church, on Haddington’s Sidegate, and highlighted that as well as appearing on Songs of Praise, it had attracted the attention of BBC Radio in the past.

He added: “It’s going to be exciting.

“You can see why they have selected St Mary’s and if I have read the notice correctly it is going to be other choirs and congregations invited.

“I just think it is an amazing tribute to Haddington.”