"Brown" Bouquets; Faith After The Pandemic; Deborah Feldman

Sunday

This years' bumper wedding season - postponed because of the pandemic - means difficult flower choices for many a winter bride. The Chelsea Flower Show judge and Royal Wedding florist Shane Connolly believes that using unseasonal flowers at weddings and in churches is a real problem for the environment. Edward Stourton hears from recent brides who chose recycled bouquets and talks to Shane Connolly about "brown flowers" and why he wants churches to give up using plastic foams and imported flowers for good.

In the first of a series Sunday Programme investigates faith in a post pandemic world, starting with a look at intriguing new research suggesting that young people - those aged 18 to 34 - are more likely to pray once a month than the over 55s. We discover a world of young people who rejected online worship but have since found prayer communities in unlikely places – from a Muslim basketball team to impromptu Hindu prayer gatherings – and asks if these activities will continue as normality returns.

Plus Edward talks to Deborah Feldman, author of Unorthodox, the memoir that inspired the hit Netflix series. Her latest book, Exodus, is an account of her decision to live in Berlin, part of a wave of descendants of German Jewish refugees doing the same and coming to terms with the past.

Photo Credit: Ben Achana Photography