Thousands Participate in Methodist Church Prayer Labyrinth

Since The Methodist Church launched an online prayer labyrinth last year, the response from visitors has been 'overwhelmingly positive', say project organisers.

Over 5,000 people have participated in 'Lost in Wonder', which offers a place for meditative prayer for anyone at their computer.

The site has recently been revamped with background music and an online gallery where people can share the paintings they can create as part of their journey through the labyrinth.

A standalone version is being developed, due to public demand, so that people can use the labyrinth even when not connected to the internet.

Some of the comments received about the labyrinth include: "I can't believe the ... gentle peace that I am experiencing from going on the journey of your labyrinth"; "What a wonderful discovery - the labyrinth is an excellent aid to spiritual experience on this Monday afternoon."

"It was a fairly swift journey today to explore what was being offered. I shall encourage others to use Lost in Wonder, and I will return to have a more reflective journey."

The Rev Michaela Youngson, who oversaw the project, said: "Although we speak of the worldwide web, it still comes as a little shock to realise that people from all over the world are visiting Lost in Wonder. It is also great to receive positive comments from people with such a wide variety of church backgrounds. It was never designed to be just for British Methodists, and so I'm delighted to see that we are helping all sorts of people in so many places."