The prayers section of the Church of England website has seen a huge jump in the number of visitors as supporters turn to prayer to help the England team get to the final round of the biggest event in the football world.
A spokesman for the Church of England said the prayers section had seen a 28 per cent rise in the number of visits compared to the average of the previous four months.
The jump to 4,000 visits came after the prayer section posted up two World Cup prayers last month calling for God to bless the England football team during the tournament and all involved in the World Cup.
The spokesman said: “The Church often provides specially-written prayers to mark major national events, and the World Cup is no exception."After all, you don't find many atheists during penalty shoot-outs."
The World Cup prayers are here in full:
1. Lord God, the source of all life and joy, recreation and skill, we pray for all involved in the World Cup, and especially for those who represent our nation: for good health for the players, for high standards of sportsmanship and fairness, and for the safety and well-being of all who will watch, that in our shared enjoyment of the game, we may rejoice in the one who came to bring life in all its fullness, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2. God of work and play, Lord of all the nations, guide, guard and protect all who work or play in the World Cup. May all who watch or engage find in this competition a source of celebration and a recognition of what it means to be made in the image of the One who played the cosmos into being. Amen.
