WOMEN across the diocese came together to take part in an international service as they celebrated Women’s World Day of Prayer.

In recognition of the worldwide Christian movement parishioners, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Weymouth, gathered at the Salvation Army Citadel, Westham Road.

On the first Friday in March, women across the world observe a common day of prayer to consider a theme and share their experiences from across the globe.

Each year the service is written by Christian women of a different nation, with this year’s created in the Philippines based on the theme ‘am I being unfair to you?’ The service was translated into 1,000 different languages to be used throughout the world including more than 5,000 services held throughout the UK.

Secretary of the WWDP Weymouth and Portland branch Grace Dursley said: “It is important to bring women to the fore. In a lot of these countries women are not regarded as equals. The prayer goes around the world, it starts in Samoa at sunrise and it ends up American Western Samoa at sunset. It is a prayer by women, for women going around the world and it’s a very nice feeling to be part of that.”

The service focused on the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines islands in the Pacific and the devastating after affects this had for the communities.

Grace said: “Everybody thought the service went very well. Everyone wore bright colours and a lot of people from various churches came along. We had three girls from All Saints School come and take the collection and give out the service books. Ladies from Weymouth Bay Methodist Church led the singing.

“It made us realise how fortunate we are to live where we live. We all know how lucky we are but we don’t always think about it.”

Next year’s theme will be ‘All God’s Creation is Very Good’ written by women from Suriname.