Anglican church Prayer Sheet Edition 1

Welcome To The Anglican Church

Prison Chaplaincy Prayer Sheet

Dear sisters and brothers,

Whilst in prison the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Philippi:

‘I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.’ (Philippians 1: 35)

I and my episcopal colleagues who work with me in my role as Anglican Bishop to HMP Prisons want to echo those words to express our thanks to you. Bishop Michael (Lichfield) supports with visits to the male estate; Bishop Libby (Derby) focuses on young offenders alongside her work as vice-chair of The Children’s Society; and Bishop Gregory (St Asaph), supports with the prisons in Wales.

Thank you to all of you who have welcomed us on various visits this year. I am repeatedly struck not only by your faith, care, and commitment but also by chaplaincy being like ‘yeast in the dough’ - The way you live and share Christ’s hope and love can significantly affect the way a culture of relationship is embedded within a prison. I often highlight this with Governors to encourage greater use of chaplains in the induction and retention of staff grappling with how to relate to people amid challenging behaviour, policies and regime.

Thank you for the way you live all this within a criminal justice system with the highest prison population in western Europe, high reoffending rates, and a need for reform.

Whilst there are some wonderful examples of rehabilitation and transformation taking place in prisons, not least through your ministry and people’s life-changing encounters with God, there is also an insidious public narrative that prison is primarily about punishment, and that our communities will be safer if more people are locked up for longer. The episcopal team remain committed to challenging this narrative alongside you. I don’t believe our present system is strengthening communities or serving offenders or victims well (and many people are both), and colleagues and I will continue to speak into the bigger narrative, seeking join-up across our legislative work in the House of Lords.

I continue to work with Peers, MPs, charities, organisations etc. committed to transformation in the criminal justice system, as we push for a focus on the upstream issues underlying so much of people’s offending, as well as focusing on the issues faced by prison-leavers. On this note, I am delighted that the General Synod recently debated ‘The contribution of Faith to the Rehabilitation of Offenders’: Watch it here (11 minutes in). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVan3CQJzUY or read it here: https:// www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/gs-2294a-prisoner-rehabilitationworcester.pdf

Resonating with what you are seeing in prisons, we will continue to work for greater use of community-sentencing and stronger provision of community trauma-informed rehabilitation, as well as the need to address both short-term sentencing, and the issue of people serving IPP sentences. There is also a need to better attend to the impact on children and families of those in prison. I am looking forward to a couple of forthcoming events which have this focus.

Finally, all bishops have been reminded of Prisons Week as well as the need to encourage worshipping communities to continue what you have begun by registering with the Welcome Directory and join in with God’s mission of reconciliation which is at the heart of the Gospel. Thank you for the many ways you already live this.

With my thanks and prayers as ever

A Message from Revd Helen Dearnley:

Welcome to our first (I hope of many) quarterly prayer e-directory! It is my hope that this resource will both feed into our personal rhythms of prayer, and continue to build us in community together.

I am indebted to the skills of Matt Mattison chaplain at Humber for putting this together and for all those who contributed!

The next edition will be published in December, and requests for prayers and articles will be requested in October.

With prayers and thanks for all you do to serve your communities and one another

Let’s stand with each other in Prayer…..

Day 1

HMP / YOI Winchester Cat B Local

Chaplain: Revd David Hinks

Prayer Request:

 01962 723055 VPN 7228 3055

Please pray for: Rev Cliff McClelland, Rev David Hinks, Chaplaincy Volunteers Emily Stewart (Ordinand) Dr David Boul, Angus Watson, Rosemary Weir, Andrew Baines, Naomi Cansdale, Jane Rogers, Christina Matthews.

Also for our three Alpha groups and three Bible study groups meeting across the establishment, the embedding of ‘Making Connections’ mentoring scheme, visiting speakers and our witness to prison staff.

Day 2

Name of Prison: HMP Chelmsford Category B

Chaplain: Rev Wendy Norris

Please pray for our Sunday corporate worship, which is often led by volunteer churches as we try to improve the delivery and prevent repetition of themes. We also have some new volunteer churches which we hope will appeal to our diverse congregation. Please pray for the work with the VP population which now includes a Monday service (which often matches our Sunday attendance levels with a much smaller population) and an Alpha course for VPs which 10 of them are attending. Please pray for our prisoners who are self-harming and suffering with mental health conditions.

HMP Liverpool. Category C, Anglican chaplain: Philip Tyers

Prayer points:

New governor, Robert Luxford. New logo, see below, chosen in competition with both staff and prisoners included. Pray that we may see lives transformed here, so prisoners take wing. In addition, that we may be a place of safety, a therapeutic community, keeping the severely mentally ill and those people who damage others, away from the citizens of Liverpool while they complete their journey into wholeness. Pray for recruitment of officers and people to run workshops and education classes so prisoners will be fully employed while here.

In chaplaincy, pray for suitable rooms to be at last provided so we can have an effective chaplaincy suite. We have a beautiful chapel, with views towards the Welsh mountains and the Mersey estuary with an island in the distance. Pray that the roof leaks will be repaired, and facilities developed for making a brew and employ an orderlies to clean, tidy and prepare it for meetings and worship. Pray too for adequate accessible offices and group rooms. Church of England chaplain, HMP Liverpool.

Day 4

Name of Prison: HMYOI Werrington

Anglican Chaplains:

Prayer Request:

Category YCS youth estate

Please pray for our young people arriving in prison, some as young as 15, for those who are confused, frightened and isolated from family and friends.

Please pray for those about to leave to go to the adult estate, and those leaving to start their new life outside, conflicted, excited, and hopeful.

Please pray for the staff facing burn out and for the new staff being challenged by the amount they need to learn about the children and their jail craft.

Please pray for the Senior Leaders, that they may act with courage, integrity, and wisdom to maintain the safety and wellbeing of the children and staff in their care. Gracious and loving God, thank you for the privilege of caring for all these souls in Werrington.

Thank you for the glimpses of glory and hope in unexpected places.

Thank you for the trust placed in us by our colleagues, the families of the children, and the trust You place in us to do Your will in this place.

Help us to seek out the good, to encourage those who are struggling, to guide those who are lost.

Help us to stay close to You and remember this ministry can only be done in Your name.

In the name of our Lord, Friend and Companion, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Name of Prison: HMP STAFFORD Category C: Sex Offender

Anglican Chaplains: Rev Ned Kelly

Prayer Request:

For those whose experience of life has damaged and broken them: those unable to form appropriate relationships with others.

For those fearful at the prospect of going outside. For the weekly Bible Study and those finding faith by attending it. Give thanks for the witness and skills of the Sunday Worship Band, “The Prison Greys” and for its members as they lead our singing.

Day 6

Name of Prison: The Verne Category C

Anglican Chaplains: Carole Goddard (+priests: Rev Bryony Morrison & Rev Ed Tildesley for Holy Communion)

Prayer Request:

We need more Anglican Chaplaincy hours because although one quarter of the prisoners (about 150) are registered as C of E, I am only allocated 15 hours a week, which is insufficient. We also need to run a weekly C of E Bible study class to balance the existing provision from the free church.

Ed has volunteered to do this in one of the 3 evening regimes now restored to the prison, but we need to discuss and arrange this with the rest of the Chaplaincy team. I continue to run ‘Living with Loss’ courses whenever I have sufficient men but this also takes up a whole morning of the few hours I have. Please pray for an extension of Anglican provision here, either in allocated hours (unlikely) or in voluntary help.

Day 7

Name of Prison: HMP Rye Hill Category B

Anglican Chaplains: Revd Rosemary Lowdon

Prayer Request:

Please pray for our prisoner and staff community. As part of the Long Term High Security Estate our prisoners are with us for many years. Pray especially for those with sentences of over 10 or 20 years and those still with unchanged IPP sentences. We give thanks for a great Chaplaincy Team and pray for continued support from our SMT. Rye Hill is undergoing an expansion project so please pray for recruitment of more Chaplains as we prepare for this.

Rye Hill is a very isolated place: physically rural, but also our prisoners are all convicted of a sexual offence, with rejection by family and society. Staff too often face misunderstanding in the community as to why they work with this cohort. Pray for hope and strength to continue in such a situation, and that people will meet Jesus and find the hope and new life Jesus gives.

General Synod digest: Faith and forgiveness considered in prisons motion from Worcester [Diocese]

BY PAT ASHWORTH

14 JULY 2023

SAM ATKINS/CHURCH TIMES

Kashmir Garton (Worcester) opens the debate

THE contribution of faith to the rehabilitation of offenders was the subject of a motion from Worcester diocesan synod which was vigorously debated at the Synod on Saturday afternoon. The motion commended the value of working with the Probation Service in light of the latter’s decision to recognise faith and belief as a protective factor in reducing reoffending, and its desire to work in partnership with churches, chaplains, and faith communities to support rehabilitation.

The background paper and the Secretary-General’s note describe the UK as having “comfortably the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe”. The prison population has increased by 70 per cent in the past 30 years and is projected to reach about 100,000 by 2026. Of the 41,000 people sent to prison in the year to June 2021, 61 per cent had committed a non-violent offence and 40 per cent were sentenced to serve six months or less.

Ministry of Justice data for September 2022 show that 69 per cent of the England and Wales prison population identified with a faith or belief, of whom 45 per cent were Christian. Prison chaplains provide a multifaith service of pastoral care and spiritual support for all faiths and none, the Worcester paper says.

“At the heart of the Christian message and indeed many world religions, is the belief that human life is not grounded on the retributive logic of an eye for an eye, but on repentance and forgiveness which can promote the rehabilitation of individuals,” it says.

“Forgiveness can be a difficult concept and indeed traumatising for many victims and survivors to consider when their lives have been changed by such crimes. The act of seeking forgiveness and restoration by those who have offended and who wish to change their lives, does not minimise the seriousness of their actions or diminish the experience of victims and survivors.

“However, it can enable positive change to take place that can prevent future victims and can contribute to a safer society.”

The paper suggests that the prison community does not exist in isolation but is an integral part of the wider community, “formed of people who come from the community and return to the community upon release”.

The Probation Service published its National Partnership Framework in 2020. Its work

Day 8

Name of Prison: HMP/YOI Drake Hall

Category: Female Establishment

Anglican Chaplains: The Rev’d Prebendary Sarah Morris (Managing Chaplain)

Rev’d Elaine Wykes (Christian Chaplain)

Prayer Request:

For the team as we cover shortfalls in staffing, and often find ourselves working alone. For the appointments process for new team members – that appointments are able to be made; that clearances come through swiftly; and for good integration into the team. For wisdom, strength and resilience to cope with the enormous pastoral load that we are currently carrying.

For continued numerical and spiritual growth of the Sunday congregation, and for that congregation to mature and flourish, becoming a supportive Christian community. For wisdom to continue to strive for the best outcome for our women, offering the best possible multi-disciplinary package and approach to ensure their safety and nurture whilst in custody, and on through the gate.

HMP Coldingley

Anglican Chaplain: Rod Sanders (C of E Chaplain)

Day 9

Category Men’s Cat C

Give thanks for a relatively stable environment with relatively low levels of violence

Thanks too for increasing numbers at Sunday morning services and midweek bible studies

Thanks for close working relationship with Free Church colleagues

Please pray for our new No. 1 Governor, Dom Ceglowski, as he starts work on Monday Pray too for the make up of our Chaplaincy team here as I and others approach retirement and for subsequent recruitment. Pray for faithful preaching of the gospel in both word and deed and for continued response to it

Day 10

Name of Prison: HMP Wayland

Anglican Chaplains: Rev’d Patrick Morrow

Prayer Request:

Category C (Male)

Prayers for our context, please. The prison suffers in many ways from its rural location. This applies to the recruitment of staff, and the morale of prisoners, who come from far and wide. Sometimes they can have no in-person visits. The Governor has recruitment-and-retention of staff as his first priority. The chaplaincy is good heart overall, led by our utterly sympathetic Humanist Managing Chaplain, Kate.

The needs of the men and the expectations of the establishment are such that there is always more to do than time to do it in. As the one full-time Band-5 Chaplain, I find the effort of covering as much as possible, while paying full attention to the person in front me, a “challenge”.

Bereavements are often where I have to find myself. Within all the constraints, there is also the joy of being with men who find their way to faith.

is overseen by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) chaplaincy team, which is managed by the Chaplain General and includes anAnglican adviser.

Introducing the debate, Kashmir Garton (Worcester) said that the issue went to the heart of the Church’s mission to bring hope, healing, and justice to all, without underestimating the seriousness of crime and its effects on victims.

Thirty years in the Probation Service had reinforced her belief in a person’s capacity to change, Ms Garton said. Prisoners’experiences and the factors prevalent in many of their lives could make change a very difficult process.

“Often they can only see helplessness and despair. . . I see them as more than the worst things they’ve done,” she said.

Each week, churches opened their doors, yet many of the people leaving prison each week failed to find one that would welcome them. “As Christians, we believe we are all made in the image of God,” she said, urging the churches to work together to help individuals become the persons God intended them to be.

The Synod was then shown a short video testimony on the value of prisons’working with faith communities, from, among others,Amy Rees, the director general and chief executive of HMPPS.

Continuing the debate, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, the lead bishop for prisons, said that short-term policies were not serving offenders and victims well. She said that 17,000 children a year had been separated from their mothers, 60 per cent of whom had experienced abuse. Levels of illiteracy were four times as high in prison, she said.

“But, as a Church, we can be good news. Love, hope, reconciliation, and transformation are at the heart of the gospel message.”

The need was to reduce the drivers of offending and to offer overt support for those at risk of offending. It should be a holistic approach, in which chaplains played a key part in passing on the baton after prisoners left.

“The motion challenges us to be more connected with the Probation Service,” she said. “May we commit to taking up our responsibilities.”

Catherine Stephenson (Leeds) recalled a visit to a women’s prison, New Hall, in the rural Holme Valley. Supporters of prisoners faced challenges in visiting because of

SBishop Treweek, the lead bishop for prisons, addresses the Synod

Name of Prison: HMP Long Lartin Category A

Anglican Chaplains: Nick Scott

Please pray for the men and women who work here, the men who live here and all who support us on the outside.

Day 12

Name of Prison: HMP Swaleside

Anglican chaplain: Revd. Stephen Plumb

Prayer request:

To give thanks to God that we were able to restart the Alpha Course. An enthusiastic and gifted team of volunteers helped with the course which was attended by 12 prisoners. It is planned to run Alpha regularly in Swaleside.

It’s a joy to share in Sunday service ministry with teams from various Free churches. Give thanks for these teams, their dedication and enthusiasm as they lead worship and share the gospel in engaging ways. Please pray for the development of this shared ministry.

Please pray for the governors Carol Service on the 13th December in the St. Augustine’s Chapel Swaleside, where we welcome prisoners, the SLT, staff and guests, and The Bishop of Dover will be the guest preacher.

Day 13

Name of Prison: H.M.P. Risley

Chaplain: Revd Lynette

Prayer Request:

Please could I ask for prayers for all those who minister in the Chaplaincy- both chaplains and volunteers- at H.M.P. Risley and for all those to whom they minister in a challenging environment.

Day 14

Name of Prison: HMP Durham Category B Local

Anglican Chaplains: Fr David Cleugh

Pray for the prison as David leaves on the 5th November, for his successor who will be interviewed in early September. Pray for the Bishop of Durham who comes to celebrate Harvest Festival with us on the 1st October. Pray for our interfaith Remembrance service on the 11th November. Pray for our carol service with choir from Durham University.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

long-distance travel, which often resulted in grandparents’bringing their grandchildren, she said. “The team here offers warm hospitality and unjudgemental love, week by week.” The support at New Hall was part of a Mothers’Union project initiated in 2004 after a request for help in a mother-and-baby unit. “The volunteers are bridge-builders, faith in action,” she said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed the motion, particularly as it related to prison chaplains. “It needs a whole system change, and a change of mind and heart,” he said. “We need more prison chaplains, more widely spread. . . We need our dioceses to encourage chaplains to be part of [their] daily life.”

He wanted the Ministry Division to encourage chaplaincy as a vocation, but recognised that prison chaplains did not get tied housing. “If you’re going to develop it as a ministry of expertise, they need to be able to move around the country.” He suggested that the Church Commissioners might invest in chaplaincy housing so that prison chaplains had the same freedom of movement as other clergy.

The Chaplain General of Prisons, the Ven. James Ridge (ex officio), told the Synod: “It would be easy to dismiss this matter as having nothing to do with you, but it speaks to the heart of what we should be as a Church.” He described chaplaincy in prison as “a form of firstAid: pastoral care carried on in cells and on landings. . . life-changing, lifesaving work, proudly rooted in our own faith tradition. What we do in prison and probation directly affects you.”

The motion confidently asserted that faith made the difference to “those whose past is not their future. . . These young people hold the key to our hopes and dreams of becoming simpler and humbler and bolder.”

He referred to a list of faith communities that were prepared to welcome ex-offenders, and challenged Synod members: “Is your church registered? I urge you to engage as far as you can in this work.”

The Revd Matthew Beer (Lichfield) moved an amendment calling on prison governors and chaplains to “promote and facilitate the provision of courses such asAlpha and Christianity Explored in all penal establishments”.

The amendment was lost. Speakers expressed discomfort at the nature of the two courses named, which were seen as coming from particular parts of the Church. The Revd Robert Thompson(London) said that it should be remembered that “we are guests in a secular environment.”

CanonAndrew Cornes (Chichester) spoke to and moved his amendment, which called on dioceses to “enable a swift welcome of offenders after release into an appropriate church community, subject to agreed and clear safeguarding boundaries; and to make this part of the brief for their Diocesan Safeguarding Team”.

He recounted the experiences of “John”, who had come to faith before a long prison sentence for sex offending.All efforts to find a suitable church for him to attend on release had resulted in nothing, and in one instance, “all the excuses under the sun”.

“John” had wanted to go to church to pray, immediately on release from prison, but, 11

Name of Prison: HMP Maidstone, Category C, Foreign National

Anglican Chaplain: The Revd Dr Geoffrey Burn (Managing Chaplain), The Revd Alisoun Francis (Volunteer Chaplain), Barbara Lewis (Chaplaincy Volunteer), The Revd Ken Wilkin (Volunteer Chaplain)

93% of prisoners at Maidstone have a registered faith, around 300 of them Christian. There are roughly 120 Roman Catholics, 70 Orthodox, 90 Free Church, and 20 Anglican. We run the Bible Society ‘Bible Course’ and a Prayer Course, introducing different ways of praying. We are exploring the possibility of another session, partly contemplative prayer, partly Bible teaching. There are two Anglican Eucharists each month, one service provided by a group from London churches, and one service led by a Free Church volunteer.

Staffing is an issue: one Roman Catholic, one Muslim, and a Managing chaplain, so we rely on volunteers for much of our Christian provision, and we only have irregular visits from a Romanian Greek Orthodox monk. We have been trying to get the prison’s Annex G changed to reflect the needs of the prison. Bishop Rose will be preaching at our Carol Service, which is a major event, with over 50 visitors attending, including County Dignitaries.

Day 16

Name of Prison: HMP Buckley Hall, Rochdale

Anglican chaplain: Revd. Hilary Edgerton

PRAYER REQUEST:

• Ongoing pressures due to issues of space, causing immense stress amongst reception prisoners in particular

• IPP prisoners who are 13,15,18 years over tariff and not being recommended for cat D or release

Blessings for the small number of people who continue to want to come to Bible studies to grow in faith

Day 17

Name of Prison: HMP Ashfield, Category: C private people convicted of offences.

Anglican Chaplain: Rev Liz Perry part-time Deputy Managing Chaplain, and Rev Anja Thomson Full-time

The Chaplaincy team is now almost complete, after we had several long-term vacancies. This means that Sundays are now covered by more than one chaplain! Our prison is presently going through changes within the Senior Management Team, and we are preparing for a rebid in the coming year, which means quite a lot of stress und uncertainty for some.

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.

months later, still had been unable to find a church that would welcome him.

In the debate on the amendment that followed, the Revd Chantal Noppen(Durham) said: “We’re not meant just to be welcoming those who look like us and fall within our narrow remit. We need to each, as church leaders, be willing to address the problem of Nimby attitudes in parishes. If we don’t give grace a chance, what are we doing it for?”

The Revd Claire Lording (Worcester) spoke of the “powerful, life-affirming experience” of being nurtured by the Church. “It is beholden on those who know the circumstance of a prisoner’s situation to create a welcoming environment for those who will spend their lives on the sex-offenders register,” she said. “All those who leave prison are vulnerable, and we’re asked to travel well with them.”

The amendment was carried.

The Chaplain-General requested a counted vote on the motion as amended. This was carried by 331-2, three recorded abstentions.

That this Synod, recognising that faith and belief can have a positive impact on an offender’s behaviour:

1. note with pleasure the decision made by the Probation Service to recognise faith and belief as a protective factor in reducing reoffending, and its desire to work in partnership with churches, prison and community chaplains and faith communities to support rehabilitation;

2. commend the value of partnership working with the Probation Service as an important additional support in churches’ welcome of people leaving prison, including training of clergy and authorised lay ministers;

3. call on dioceses to nominate a contact person or office to link the Probation Service locally to clergy, parishes and chaplaincies;

4. call on dioceses to enable a swift welcome of offenders after release into an appropriate church community, subject to agreed and clear safeguarding boundaries; and to make this part of the brief for their Diocesan Safeguarding Team.

If you would like to know more about this then please contact Chaplaincy Head Quarters will be more than happy to help you with your enquiry.

Day 18

Name of Prison: HMP Woodhill

Anglican Chaplain: Rupert Garnett

Category: B

Praise: In a prison of about 500 prisoners, we have about 25 attendees at the CofE / Free Church service and 25 at the RC service. Prisoners enjoy the services greatly.

Request: There is considerable interest in Bible studies and 1-1 discipleship, and pray for continued spiritual growth, including for those isolated in the Close Supervision Centre.

Request: We are planning to run an Alpha course in the Autumn with the support of local churches, God willing. Pray for an enthusiastic uptake from the prisoners, and good facilitators.

Request: Pray for Advent and Christmas. We haven’t had a Governor’s Carol Service since before covid and are considering running an event to which prisoners’ families may also be invited.

Request: Pray for governors and staff in a prison with significant staff shortages, which has an impact on the stability of the prison and the ability of staff to best support prisoners.

Day 19

Name of Prison: HMP&YOI Swinfen

Category : C

Anglican Chaplain: Pastor Samuel Ntoyimondo

Prayer Request: Please pray for the following requests for our

1. We have a new Governing Governor from the beginning of this month( August) so that her vision for the prison will allow the prison to move forward in the right direction.

2. Pray for the whole SMT members to have a good relationship with the new Governor as if not, the prison motion forward does not happen.

3. Pray for the chaplaincy to get the right candidates to fill in the current vacancies of part-time RC and Pagan chaplains as well as the sessional vacancy of Buddhist after the death of our dear colleague Saido few months ago.

Pray for the prisoners who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour while in prison to continue being born again in the community given that we don’t know what they become after release into the community.

Day 20

Name of Prison: HMP Aylesbury, Category: C, Male

Name of Anglican Chaplain: Revd Sue Lucas

Prayer Request:

Prayers for the prison as we transition from Young Offenders to a C Cat

Proverbs 15: 29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Name of Prison: HMP Leicester Cat B local prison.

Name of Anglican Chaplain: Helen Stokes

This is a rather unsettled time here at Leicester. Can I ask for prayers for our many new staff as they settle into their jobs, for all the men currently on open ACCT documents and for all those awaiting a hospital placement. We are thankful for our excellent Chaplaincy Team, including a good number of volunteers who are very committed to serving here.

Prayers for everyone’s safety would be appreciated.

We are starting a pilot Sycamore Tree course in September so prayers for the appropriate prisoners to engage.

Romans 12; 12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Day 22

Name of Prison: HMP Leeds Category B

Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Roger Reece

Prayer Request:

*For recently appointed Governor Rebecca Newby as she continues to settle and that any changes made be for the good of the establishment. For all members of the SMT

*For all those in leaderships positions on the wings and across the establishment. To lead with honesty and integrity.

*For all members of the Chaplaincy Team especially those working in a prison setting for the first time.

*For chaplaincy volunteers . Official prison visitors, counsellors, Daylight prison ministers leading the Bibles Studies. Alpha Team leader and team members.

*For prisoners off all faiths and especially those due to commence the forthcoming Alpha Course next Monday.

*For all prisoners, those in prison for the first time, those on remand and those due in court for sentencing this week.

*For all prisoners on ACCTs, those on the hospital wing, those suffering in body, mind or spirit

*For recently deceased prisoners here at Leeds and the families who mourn their lost.

Day 23

Name of Prison: HMP Lewes Category B & YOI

Anglican Chaplain: Anna Glenton

Prayer Request: Please pray for sensitivity, wisdom and discernment in our team as we try to encourage and help our prisoners.

Day 24

Name of Prison: HMP Lincoln Category B

Anglican Chaplain: The Revd Adrian Smith

Prayer Request: Please join us in praying for all at HMP & YOI Lincoln for:

a. prisoners, especially those who have recently arrived; those who might be bereaved or aware of family members with a serious illness at this time.

b. all staff and volunteers, including those from our partner agencies.

c. those who have joined our Chaplaincy Team and other functions in recent months.

d. those taking part in our weekly services, Bible Study, Christianity Explored courses, Emmaus Bible Correspondence, etc. We pray that these will be a helpful and fruitful time for all involved.

e. Chaplaincy “Monday with Meaning” (podcast on Way Out TV) – that the air time would receive attention and be a tool for reflection to prisoners. recent initiatives at fostering positive activities, employability and reducing reoffending will bear desired fruits.

Day 25

Name of Prison: HMP Exeter Category B

Local

Anglican Chaplain: Katy Gough

Please pray for:

• Our Governor, SLT and staff continuing to implement change following an Urgent Notification, and for our Independent Review of Progress which begins on 13th November

• New chaplains and volunteers growing into their roles

• Men from our VPU who are studying Philippians, for inspiration and wisdom to live out the Gospel

• As I am about to attend safeguarding training, wisdom in applying this to develop best safeguarding practice in the chaplaincy context and making this more visible to prisoners

• Our Community Chaplain Liz W, an Anglican Reader, in the challenges of her role

• Our Chaplaincy Youth Worker Liz D, an Anglican Pioneer working with young prisoners of all beliefs, as she continues to build relationships and to develop the Kintsugi Hope course here

Spiritual and numerical growth as an authentic and hopeful worshipping community

Day 26

Name of Prison: HMP Wymott Category C

Anglican Chaplain: Calum Crombie, David Noblet, Louis Ward, Joan Gregson

Prayer Request: Licensing of our new chaplain David. Restarting our prison choir. For the team who are struggling with health or bereavement.

Name of Prison: HMP Wakefield Category: A / B

Anglican Chaplain: Mark Lyon

Prayer Request:

Chaplaincy team dynamics and improving our wider impact in the prison supporting the staff as they negotiate the changing context of prisoner demographics.

Day 28

Name of Prison: HMP Frankland Category: A

Anglican Chaplain: Revd Rachael Farnham

Prayer Request:

Give thanks for the baptisms and positive engagements. Pray for the discipleship groups/bible studies—that the men are able to get to chapel for them and that they connect deeply with the content. Pray for wisdom as we decide which studies to use with them. Pray for the team as there are retirements and changes of management.

Day 29

Name of Prison: HMP Hatfield Category: Open Prison

Anglican Chaplain: Revd Christopher Hobbs

Prayer Request:

We haven’t had a multi-faith centre for a year, and the proposed building has had to be redesigned because of the increase of cost. Pray that the new building gets approval and starts soon. It’s great when some committed Christians come to our prison, as they are good recruiters.

Day 30

Name of Prison: HMP-YOI Moorland Category: C

Anglican Chaplain: Revd Marion Ball

Prayer Request:

Give thanks and praise God for green shoots of faith that keep appearing among prisoners in our establishment, as elsewhere. Always a joy. Give thanks and pray for prison officers, and for chaplaincy’s relationship with them; in particular for a growth of awareness of chaplaincy among the wider prison staff, and for wisdom to know how best to promote this awareness. Pray for our small group work in particular. There is particular challenge to know how to provide for those whose theological and biblical knowledge is high, when most of the time we are providing for those whose knowledge is much less. Pray for the elderly prisoners, many of whom will die in prison.

The Welcome Directory is a multi-faith organisation which helps faith communities, including churches, to offer welcome to people leaving prison with faith. We maintain a directory, used by Prison Leavers, Prison Chaplains and Approved Premises, to help them to identify welcoming and supportive faith communities beyond the gates.

To find out more information, watch their 'Beyond the Gates' video or check out their website. The Welcome Directory are also running an online event 'Welcome Connections' on Wednesday 11th October during Prisons Week. Welcome Connections are online networking events to build and strengthen relationships, understanding and capacity for appropriately welcoming prison leavers into faith communities. More details and free tickets can be found via the webpage.

Day 31

Name of Prison: HMP Lindholme Category: C

Name of Anglican Chaplain: Jo Byrne, Rev lyn Wortley, Rev David Rhodes

Prayer Request:

For continued support, strength and guidance to work with prisoners every day in what can be difficult circumstances.

Day32

Chaplaincy Head Quarters Staff:

• The Bishop to Prisons: Rt Revd Rachel Treweek (Bishop of Gloucester)

• Chaplain General/Head of Faith Services: Ven James Ridge

• Anglican and Headquarters Chaplaincy Advisor: Revd Helen Dearnley

Day 33

Name of Prison: HMP Askham Grange Category: Women's Open

Anglican Chaplain: Julie Hay

Prayer Request:

Give thanks that local churches and Area Dean are enthusiastic to build links with the Chaplaincy and the prison and offering courses and to lead worship. Please pray for the barriers to this, particularly the lengthy and demanding vetting process and patience for all!. Also SMT to understand the benefits and need for this, particularly in light of the only Anglican chaplain being a Lay Reader and the request for communion by extension having being refused.

Day 35

Name of Prison: HMP Full Sutton Category: A

Anglican Chaplain: Revd Andy Robinson

Prayer Request:

We give thanks for a supportive and highly committed multifaith team. We give thanks for prisoners coming to faith in Christ and growing in faith, and we pray for opportunities for transformative ministry with all prisoners. We pray for those prisoners who have lost hope and pray for opportunity to show the love of Christ

Day 36

Name of Prison: HMYOI Wetherby Category: Juvenile

Name of Anglican Chaplain: Andy Rowe

Prayer Request:

Prayer request supportive and encouragement for the staffing group struggling with the intensity of working in the environment, working with complex children in our care. For the resilience of the Chaplaincy group to meet the need pastorally and spiritually to support the staffing group.

For the increased opportunities to get alongside the young people, to bring them closer to the loving Father and to encourage them in their journey. To work with young people to help them to turn away from violence and walk the pathways of peace and build community.

Day 37

Name of Prison: HMP Holme House Category: C

Name of Anglican Chaplain: Kate Brooke

Prayer Request:

We have had a tough couple of years, losing a member of the team to suicide, and being recently named as prison with the worst resourced chaplaincy team in the country. That said, there have been some wonderful moments. Baptisms and confirmations, and real discoveries and deepening of faith. It is a place of spiritual joy, even when failure and misunderstanding happen so easily and frequently.

Pray for the new Anglican Chaplain Andrei, who is due to start in September and for a good new Imam to be appointed. Please pray for Senior Governance of the prison.

Day 38

Name of Prison: HMP New Hall Category: Female Closed

Name of Anglican Chaplain: Beth Edwards, Lesley Green-Haigh

Prayer Request:

Please pray that our fellowship in prison ministry continues to grow, that we have are quipped to serve all whom we encounter, prisoners and prison staff alike and that those we serve would feel hope as a result of our encounters.

Day 39

Name of Prison: HMP Exeter Category B Local

Anglican Chaplain: Katy Gough

Prayer Request:

• Our Governor, SLT and staff continuing to implement change following an Urgent Notification, and for our Independent Review of Progress which begins on 13th November

• New chaplains and volunteers growing into their roles

• Men from our VPU who are studying Philippians, for inspiration and wisdom to live out the Gospel

• As I am about to attend safeguarding training, wisdom in applying this to develop best safeguarding practice in the chaplaincy context and making this more visible to prisoners

• Our Community Chaplain Liz W, an Anglican Reader, in the challenges of her role

• Our Chaplaincy Youth Worker Liz D, an Anglican Pioneer working with young prisoners of all beliefs, as she continues to build relationships and to develop the Kintsugi Hope course here

Spiritual and numerical growth as an authentic and hopeful worshipping community

If you have any question about this prayer sheet please email:

matt.amrtinson@justice.gov.uk