A WEEK of prayer in Weymouth and Portland has been hailed a success.

Last week local churches joined in Thy Kingdom Come, a global wave of prayer calling all Christians to pray between Ascension Day and Pentecost.

As part of the week a number of events were held at churches, including a 24-hour prayer initiative at St Mary’s Church.

Neil Biles, the church’s community chaplain, said: “I would like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers who helped out, but also to the public who came in not just to support us, but to engage with the prayer initiative.”

Discussing the week, he said: “It was very positive, for me prayer is one of those things people seem to take on when they’re in times of difficulty because they want to believe in something bigger.

“Thy Kingdom Come was about being positive about prayer and how we can engage people in the community.

“There were various events from a 24-hour prayer initiative to Beer and Banter with God. We had a number of blokes from different churches who came along and engaged with the quiet zone, but also the worship zone. We had a cross and people could hit a nail into the cross representing the cross Jesus died on. It was an opportunity to show solidarity with Jesus or your emotion. There was also the opportunity to write a prayer on the prayer tree. We then take these and use them in our services.”

Meanwhile a prayer and Prosecco event was held at St Aldhelm’s Church aimed at women.

The week culminated with a 24-hour prayer event, which happened on the Friday.

Mr Biles added: “As part of that we had a duo who came to sing called Our Atlantic Roots, a young couple who wrote their own music, we hope to get them back again. They were showing that prayer can be through song.

“We had a steady trickle over the 24 hours, the only exception was between 2am and 4am on Saturday morning. However, we did have one man who came in drunk at half one in the morning. He said ‘I have no idea why I have come into this church’ then he started to cry. We offered to take him home, but he said he always gets home. But that moment when he cried was almost a prayer for help. The event was about encouraging people whatever condition they may be in to pray.”