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Prisons Week – 12 to 18 October

Prisons Week encourages us to pray for all affected by the prison system - prisoners, families, victims, staff, and volunteers.


Prisons Week has, for over forty years, encouraged the Christian community to pray for all affected by the prison system – prisoners, families, victims, staff, and volunteers.

It raises awareness, inspires action, and brings people together in prayer and service, reminding us to care for those often out of sight and mind.

Prisons Week is about praying, understanding and supporting.

The aim of Prisons Week is to encourage:

…. more praying for all those connected with Prisons and the Probation Service

…. greater understanding of the work of local Prisons and the Probation Service and how individuals and churches might get involved

…. further supporting of prisoners or those on probation by local churches

Resources

This prisons week, we invite you to:

watch this short film about Prisons Week

watch this God’s Word is Not Chained short film

read these stories (from the national Prisons Week Leaflet)

consider signing your church up to the Welcome Directory – a nationwide list of faith communities all willing and able to welcome and support people leaving prison.

Pray each day using the prayers below. A downloadable version of is available: Manchester Prisons Week Prayers

Manchester Prisons Week Prayers

Day 1:  Sunday 12th October 2025                        Pray for Prison Chaplains

  • Pray for the strategic pastoral role that Prison Chaplains have in prisons.
  • Pray that Prison Chaplains will have soft hears, discerning spirits, lots of energy and the joy of Jesus.

Day 2:   Monday 13th October 2025                       Pray for Prison: HMP Manchester

  • Pray for the 10th Alpha course beginning on 15th October, giving thanks for a great team and that it will continue to help many men on the journey of faith.
  • Pray for A. He’s lost a close relative. He’s been on Alpha and is attending chapel. Pray he finds a helpful church when he’s soon released.

Day 3:  Tuesday 14th October 2025                      Pray for Probation Services

  • Pray for staff who work closely with those released to help them not to reoffend.
  • As Probation Services seek closer links with faith communities, pray for more links with churches.

Day 4:  Wednesday 15th October 2025                  Pray for Prison: HMP Buckley Hall

  • Pray for groups helping men deepen their faith, including Alpha and weekly Bible Study.
  • Pray for the Living with Loss course, helping men with bereavement, as many have unprocessed grief.

Day 5:  Thursday 16th October 2025                     Pray for Judges & Magistrates

  • Pray they would be wise and trustworthy people whose sentencing is fair and just.
  • Pray for more people to feel called to be judges and magistrates in Greater Manchester.

Day 6:  Friday 17th October 2025                         Pray for Prison: HMP Forest Bank

  • Pray for good communication between prisoners and staff, as it’s often miscommunication that causes problems.
  • Pray for prisoners to find peace and that many will discover a relationship with God that continues to deepen and help them.

Day 7:  Saturday 18th October 2025                      Pray for Church Engagement

  • Pray for more lay prison chaplains, official prison visitors and prisoner pen-friends to come forward from our churches.
  • Pray for more churches to sign up to the Welcome Directory, showing they are welcoming communities for people on probation.

Prison Chaplains in Manchester Diocese

Read more about the ministry of prison chaplains around our diocese.

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