Inspired by the calling of one individual, a cathedral joined in a city-wide initiative to establish prayer 24/7. The spaces provided clearly responded to a contemplative yearning on the part of many Christians

dave is an ex-policeman who has worshipped at a local Pentecostal church for 30 years. He left the police because he felt a profound call from God to set up prayer stations across the city of Chelmsford to pray for the city and the mission of the Church here. This was not an “ecumenical” venture in any formal sense. Dave simply refused to recognise the traditional boundaries and wanted to work with anyone who shared the vision.

And so it happened – to Dave’s surprise and probably to mine – that one of the chapels in the cathedral soon became the Chelmsford 24/7 prayer space for four hours on alternate Wednesdays, part of a wave of prayer across the city. And simply because of the nature of cathedrals, it soon became the busiest.

The set-up is simple and can be adapted to any space in any church. It could be a separate room or chapel, a discrete corner, part of the nave, just some chairs, well-spaced with prayer stations.

These do not have to be elaborate: a place inviting people to write Intercessions on Post-it notes and place them on a wall or board; a map of the world and/or the local community with themes and ideas for prayer; a leaflet with some Bibles giving an outline for lectio divina.