Church of England launches online prayer service

If you have ever wished there was someone who could pray for you but didn't know who to ask, the answer may lie in the Church of England's new online prayer service.

Prayers can be submitted at www.prayoneforme.org. A network of churches around the country will take it in turns to pray in response to the requests left on the website.

It comes at a time when prayers have been in the news, following last week's ban on prayers at council meetings, and a new poll suggesting even those who call themselves Christians do not make time to pray.

The Church of England is hoping that the website will be a resource for those who find it difficult.

“You can pray about anything,” says the Rev Alison Roche, vicar of St Christopher’s parish in Leicester.

“Some people think God’s only concerned with the really big things in life. But some people pray for car parking spaces.

"God is concerned about the big things in life like disasters and relationships breaking up and the very small things. In a relationship with a human being you would communicate on different levels. It’s the same with God. So go for it.”

The website, which launches on Ash Wednesday, builds on the success of a prayer website set up by the Church of England over the past two Lents.

Requests submitted to the website asked for prayer for friends, family, guidance, thanksgiving and world issues.

This time, the website will be available all year round. It will feature short profiles about some of the people and groups who will be praying the prayers, and will also link to information for those wanting to know more about praying for themselves.

The supporting Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/sayoneforme