Young people help to pray for the nation

YOUNG people at a monastic community are running activities this month as senior Church leaders call for people to join a month of prayer.

Leicester Cathedral is ringing one of its bells for a minute at 6pm every night for 28 days as a reminder to pray for the nation.

Other churches across the country will also run prayer activities.

The 11 young adults from a variety of Christian denominations who are spending a year living in The Tree of Life community, close to the cathedral, will be running the House of Prayer project which will invite people to join live lunchtime prayers on the Diocese of Leicester’s YouTube channel every weekday at 12.30pm.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, pictured, said: “We might understandably feel helpless, anxious and vulnerable.

“And we do what we can to halt the spread of this virus – but we can still feel powerless.

“Is there anything else we can do? Really do? Yes. Yes there is. We can pray. Prayer is my first response when I feel out of my depth, when I need help, when I am worried, when I am concerned for those I love.

“It is a gift that God gives to all – whether you are a regular pray-er or not – bring your cares and the cares of the nation to God. For God loves and hears and holds. Prayer changes things.”

To find out more information about the invitation to pray, visit: