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
Rt Rev’d Rachel TreweekA Message from Rev’d 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
Name of Prison: HMP Altcourse
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d. Russell Greenacre
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 2
Name of Prison: HMP Ashfield
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Liz Perry, Rev’d Anja Thomson
Prayer request:
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.
Day 3
Name of Prison: HMP Askham Grange
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 team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually,
Day 4
Name of Prison: HMP Aylesbury, Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Sue Lucas
Prayer Request:
Prayers for the prison as we transition from Young Offenders to a C Cat
Name of Prison: HMP Bedford, Anglican Chaplain: Anne Barker, Peter Littleford, Prayer Request:
Day 5
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 6
Name of Prison: HMP Belmarsh
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d TRev’dor Jacquet
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 7
Name of Prison: HMP Berwyn, Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Alan Pierce-Jones, Rev’d Helen Molesworth, Mr Michael Winwood,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 8
Name of Prison: HMP Birmingham, Anglican Chaplain: Mr Patrick Gillon
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 9
Name of Prison: HMP Brinsford, Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d David Howard,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 10
Name of Prison: HMP Bristol, Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Tricia Roberts,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Name of Prison: HMP Brixton,
Anglican Chaplain: Miss Abimbola Adamolekun,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 12
Name of Prison: HMP Bronzefield
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Kate Hillman, Rev’d Marcel McCarron, Fr Joseph Ferandes, Rev’d Carole Geroge, Rev’d Tandy Ruoff,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 13
Name of Prison: HMP Buckley Hall
Anglican chaplain: Rev’d. Hilary Edgerton
PRAYER REQUEST:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 14
Name of Prison: HMP Bullingdon
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Susan Cuthbert, Rev’d Rupert Garnett
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Name of Prison: HMP Bure
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Ian Cooper
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 16
Name of Prison: HMP Cardiff
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Nick Sandford
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
11
Day
Day 15
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 pRev’dent 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 17
Name of Prison: HMP Channings Wood
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Sarah Nichols,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 18
Name of Prison: HMP Chelmsford
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Wendy Norris
Prayer Request:
Please pray for our Sunday corporate worship, as we try to improve the delivery and 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 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.
Day 19
Name of Prison: HMP Coldingley
Anglican Chaplain: Rod Sanders
Prayer Request:
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 is new. 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 20
Name of Prison: HMP Dartmoor
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Louise Cooper, Mr Ian Cockram,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 21
Name of Prison: HMP Deerbolt
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Adele Martin,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 22
Name of Prison: HMP Doncaster
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d John Hutchinson,
Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
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 pRev’dalent 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.
SBishop Treweek, the lead bishop for prisons, addresses the Synod
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 Rev’d 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
Day 23
Name of Prison: HMP Dovegate
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Andrew Walker
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 24
Name of Prison: HMP Downview
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Beverly Fraser, Mrs Jean Watson
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 25
Name of Prison: HMP Drake Hall
Anglican Chaplains: The Rev’d Prebendary Sarah Morris Rev’d Elaine Wykes
Prayer Request:
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 pastoral load.
For continued numerical and spiritual growth of the Sunday congregation, and for that congregation to mature and flourish, becoming a supportive Christian community.
Day 26
Name of Prison: HMP Durham
Anglican Chaplains: Fr David Cleugh
Prayer Request:
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.
Day 27
Name of Prison: HMP Eastwood Park
Anglican Chaplain: Sr Gillian Martin, Rev’d Anthony Williams, Rev’d Cannon Judith Carpenter, Rev’d Guy Treweek,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 28
Name of Prison: HMP Elmley
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Nick Ash, Rev’d John Njoroge,
Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
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 Rev’d 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 Rev’d 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 months later, still had been unable to find a church that would welcome him.
Day 29
Name of Prison: HMP Erlestoke
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Jacqueline Clark, Ms Shirley Daniels, Rev’d Steve Ibbetson,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 30
Name of Prison: HMP Exeter
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.
Day 31
Name of Prison: HMP Featherstone
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Judith Drury,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 32
Name of Prison: HMP Feltham
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Gavin Cutler,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 33
Name of Prison: HMP Ford
Anglican Chaplain: Mr Steven Gurr, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
In the debate on the amendment that followed, the Rev’d 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 Rev’d 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.
Name of Prison: HMP Forest Bank
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Rhiannon Jones,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 35
Name of Prison: HMP Foston Hall
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Nichola Grey,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 36
Name of Prison: HMP Frankland
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d 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 37
Name of Prison: HMP Full Sutton
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d 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 38
Name of Prison: HMP Garth
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Richard Bunday
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 39
Name of Prison: HMP Grendon & Springhill
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Sue Smith, Rev’d Ben Whitaker
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Proverbs 15: 29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Day 34
Name of Prison: HMP Guys Marsh
Anglican Chaplain: Peter Browne
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 41
Name of Prison: HMP Hatfield
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Christopher Hobbs
Prayer Request: We haven’t had a multi-faith centre for a year, 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 42
Name of Prison: HMP Haverigg
Anglican Chaplain: Mr Steven Gurr, Cannon Angela Overton-Benge
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 43
Name of Prison: HMP Hewell
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Stephanie Watson,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Name of Prison: HMP High Down
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Egerton Gbonda
Prayer Request:
Day 44
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 45
Name of Prison: HMP Highpoint
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Mark Osborne, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 46
Name of Prison: HMP Hindley
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Marion Hawley, Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 40
Day 47
Name of Prison: HMP Hollesley Bay
Anglican Chaplain: Edith Peck, Mrs Alison Wintgens,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 48
Name of Prison: HMP Holme House
Name of Anglican Chaplain: Kate Brooke
Prayer Request:
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 50
Name of Prison: HMP Hull
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Fiona Robinson,
Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 51
Name of Prison: HMP Huntercombe
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Ian Thacker,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 52
Name of Prison: HMP Isis
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Adele Davies,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 53
Name of Prison: HMP Isle of Wight
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Judith Swaine,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
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.
Day 54
Name of Prison: HMP Kirkham
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Fiona Haines, Rev’d David Hargreaves, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 55
Name of Prison: HMP Kirlevington Grange
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d John Little, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 56
Name of Prison: HMP Lancaster Farms
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d David Noblet, Rev’d Alecia Johnson, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 57
Name of Prison: HMP Leeds
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Roger Reece
Prayer Request:
For recently appointed Governor Rebecca Newby as she continues to settle. For all members of the SMT For all those in leaderships positions on the wings and across the establishment. 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 58
Name of Prison: HMP Leicester
Name of Anglican Chaplain: Helen Stokes
Prayer Request:
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.
Day 59
Name of Prison: HMP Lewes
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 60
Name of Prison: HMP Leyhill
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Bryony Davies, Rev’d Lesley Hewish,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 61
Name of Prison: HMP Lincoln
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Adrian Smith
Prayer Request:
Please join us in praying for all at HMP & YOI Lincoln for those who have recently arrived; those who might be bereaved or aware of family members with a serious illness at this time. All staff and volunteers, including those from our partner agencies. Those who have joined our Chaplaincy Team and other functions in recent months. 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. 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 62
Name of Prison: HMP Lindholme
Anglican Chaplain: Jo Byrne, Rev’d lyn Wortley, Rev’d David Rhodes
Prayer Request:
For continued support, strength and guidance to work with prisoners every day in what can be difficult circumstances.
Day 63
Name of Prison: HMP Littlehey
Anglican Chaplain: Alison Hutchinson, Rev’d David Kinder, Rev’d Philip dean, Ray Porter,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 64
Name of Prison: HMP Liverpool.
Anglican chaplain: Philip Tyers
Prayer Request: New governor, Robert Luxford. New logo chosen in competition with both staff and prisoners included. Pray that we may see lives transformed here, that we may be a place of safety, a therapeutic community. In chaplaincy, We have a beautiful chapel, with views towards the Welsh mountains and the Mersey estuary with an island in the distance.
Day 65
Name of Prison: HMP Long Lartin
Anglican Chaplains: Nick Scott
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the men and women who work here, the men who live here and all who support us on the outside.
Day 66
Name of Prison: HMP Low Newton
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Sarah Parkinson
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 67
Name of Prison: HMP Lowdham Grange
Anglican Chaplain: Mr David Clarke,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 68
Name of Prison: HMP Maidstone, C, Foreign National
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Dr Geoffrey Burn, Rev’d Alisoun Francis, Barbara Lewis, Rev’d Ken Wilkin
Prayer Request:
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. Bishop Rose will be preaching at our Carol Service, which is a major event, with over 50 visitors attending, including County Dignitaries.
Day 69
Name of Prison: HMP Manchester
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Joanne Calldine, Rev’d Sean Page,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Name of Prison: HMP Moorland
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d 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.
Day 71
Name of Prison: HMP New Hall
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 72
Name of Prison: HMP North Sea Camp
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Terry McFadden
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 73
Name of Prison: HMP Norwich
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Oladapo Sotonwa, Rev’d Ian Johnson, Rev’d Shawn Tomlinson
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 74
Name of Prison: HMP Nottingham
Anglican Chaplain: Mr Steve Clark, Mr Martin Tyack
Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
If you have any question about this prayer sheet please email:
matt.amrtinson@justice.gov.uk
Day 70
Name of Prison: HMP Oakwood
Anglican Chaplain: Twaiwo Olumuyiwa,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 76
Name of Prison: HMP Onley
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Sarah Gillard-Faulkner, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 77
Name of Prison: HMP Parc
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Glenda Oglesbee, Rev’d Dawn Tilt, Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 78
Name of Prison: HMP Pentonville
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Jo Davies, Mrs Karis Carson
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 79
Name of Prison: HMP Peterborough
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Jacqueline Wiegman
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 80
Name of Prison: HMP Portland
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Susan Linford, Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 81
Name of Prison: HMP Preston
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Lorriane Innerdale, Rev’d Gail Miller, Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 75
Day 82
Name of Prison: HMP Ranby
Anglican Chaplain: Mr Robert Heaton
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 83
Name of Prison: HMP Risley
Chaplain: Rev’d Lynette
Prayer Request:
Please could I ask for prayers for all those who minister in the Chaplaincy both chaplains and volunteers at HMP Risley and for all those to whom they minister in a challenging environment.
Day 84
Name of Prison: HMP Rochester
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Mirriam Barker, Rev’d Beatrice Musindi,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 85
Name of Prison: HMP Rye Hill
Anglican Chaplains: Rev’d Rosemary Lowdon
Prayer Request:
Please pray for our prisoner and staff community. SMT at Rye Hill is undergoing an expansion project so please pray for recruitment of more Chaplains as we prepare for this. 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.
Day 86
Name of Prison: HMP Send
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Lesley Mason, Rev’d Annie Dixon, Rev’d Susan Roberts, Rev’d Betty Hayes,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 87
Name of Prison: HMP Stafford
Anglican Chaplains: Rev’d 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. It’s a joy to share in Sunday service ministry with teams from various Free churches.
Romans 12; 12 “
Day 88
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Name of Prison: HMP Standford Hill
Anglican Chaplain: Fr Tim Foreman,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 89
Name of Prison: HMP Stocken
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Timothy Wright, Mr Paul Ogunyemi,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 90
Name of Prison: HMP Stoke Heath
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Mark Kinder, Rev’d Christine Simpson
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 91
Name of Prison: HMP Styal
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Lisa Davies, Louise Annison,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 92
Name of Prison: HMP Sudbury
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d jo Honour
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 93
Name of Prison: HMP Swaleside
Anglican chaplain: Rev’d. 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. 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.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
1 Timothy 2:1
Day 94
Name of Prison: HMP Swansea
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Nicola Startin
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 95
Name of Prison: HMP&YOI Swinfen
Anglican Chaplain: Pastor Samuel Ntoyimondo
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the following:
Our new Governing Governor, Pray for all SMT members, 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 96
Name of Prison: HMP Thameside
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Berhane Asmelash, Cannon Roger Harpper
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 97
Name of Prison: HMP Thor Cross
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Shawn Verhey
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 98
Name of Prison: HMP Usk/Prescoed
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Nick Sandford
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 99
Name of Prison: The Verne
Anglican Chaplains: Carole Goddard Rev’d Bryony Morrison & Rev’d Ed Tildesley
Prayer Request:
We pray for help in starting a C of E Bible study class. I continue to run ‘Living with Loss’ courses whenever I have sufficient men. Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 100
Name of Prison: HMP Wakefield
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 101
Name of Prison: HMP Wandsworth
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Timothy Clapton, Mr Nicholas Boddy, Wendy Stephens,
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 102
Name of Prison: HMP Warren Hill
Anglican Chaplain: Mrs Alison Wintgens, Edith Peck
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 103
Name of Prison: HMP Wayland
Anglican Chaplains: Rev’d Patrick Morrow
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 104
Name of Prison: HMP Wealston
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d David Hayes, Rev’d Jeff Cuttell, Mr Alan Stanley
Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 105
Name of Prison: HMYOI Werrington
Anglican Chaplains:
Prayer Request:
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.
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 YOI Wetherby
Name of Anglican Chaplain: Andy Rowe
Prayer Request:
Prayer request supportive and encouragement for the staff 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 107
Name of Prison: HMP Whitemoor
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Paul Foster
Prayer Request: Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 108
Name of Prison: HMP Winchester
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Cliff McClelland, Rev’d David Hinks, Emily Stewart, Dr David Boul, Angus Watson, Rosemary Weir, Andrew Baines, Naomi Cansdale, Jane Rogers, Christina Matthews.
Prayer Request:
Please pray 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 109
Name of Prison: HMP Woodhill
Anglican Chaplain: Rupert Garnett
Prayer 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. 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.
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. Pray for governors and staff in the prison
Day 110
Name of Prison: HMP Wormwood Scrubs
Anglican Chaplain: Rev’d Mary Calner, Rev’d Paul Cowley, Mr Ray Elliot, Mr Bob Mayo
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
Day 106
Day 111
Name of Prison: HMP Wymott
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.
Day 112
Anglican Chaplain: Chaplaincy Head Quarters Team, Rt Rev’d Rachel Treweek, Ven James Ridge, Rev’d Helen Dearnley, Barry King
Prayer Request:
Please pray for the team and the work that they do and for those who are in their care.
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.