In the UK, prayer spaces are spreading, and they're spreading fast.

Schools and youth workers are finding that these creative, prayer/reflective spaces provide a simple, effective way to communicate and to welcome children and young people into an experience of the Christian faith. They offer an invitation to 'belong' without requiring any particular 'belief'.

"I’ve never seen prayer displayed or experienced like this before. It’s made me realise how many different ways prayer can be appreciated. it’s opened up religion into my life. Thank you!"

Teachers and other educational staff are finding that prayer spaces (or 'soul spaces' or 'sacred spaces' or whatever other names they're being given) fit well with different curriculum areas - R.E. and Citizenship being the most obvious, but not the only ones - as well as with wider aspects of school life.

"Thank you for the amazing prayer experience that you have given us as staff, parents and for the students. It will have a totally transformational effect for many people. We are so appreciative of all that you have done for our school community, for all the unsociable hours, for the energy and strength you’ve injected to our spiritual life."

Over the past couple of years, we've offered support and resources to those organising and hosting prayer spaces around the UK, and we've gathered information and stories from them too. So far, it looks like there were 6 prayer spaces in 2008, 12 in 2009, around 48 in 2010 and a massive 92 this year. That's not including a bunch of others we've heard rumours of but aren't confirmed yet. And there were probably many more.

There have been more workshops and training events too. During 2011, the Prayer Spaces in Schools team joined with many others around the UK to help host more than a dozen of these, including a national Day Conference in London, which attracted 110 teachers, schools and youth workers (we expected around 30!). Training events in Aberdeen and Belfast helped to speed up the spread of prayer spaces in Scotland and Ireland too.

So into 2012... and we're very excited!

The number of prayer spaces being hosted in schools will almost certainly grow, and probably multiply again, this coming year. Youth and schools organisations, Diocese advisors and those with responsibility for children and young people, local schools and local churches, governors... all kinds of people who have involvement in the life of local schools are making plans to host prayer spaces this year. If you're one of these, please let us know - we'd love to offer any support that we can, and we'd love to hear your stories.

We're working on some new resources too, which we're very excited about. The first is a 4-5 minute Prayer Spaces in Schools 'promo' video, which will help us to communicate what prayer spaces are about and, we hope, will inspire others to join in. The second is a complete graphical redesign of the 'Creating a Prayer Space' section of our website... we can't wait to post this onto the website. We're also exploring ways to encourage students to continue their 'prayer/spiritual journey' beyond visiting a prayer space in their school. Watch these spaces...

Most of all though, we're looking forward to hearing about more children and young people experiencing prayer and encountering God during 2012. I'll end this short report with some of Sophie Llewellyn's feedback on their two-day prayer space in Birmingham earlier this month;

"The prayer space at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Primary School (11th-12th December) was fantastic! The heartfelt depth of some of the children's prayers really moved us. They all absolutely loved it and are already asking when we can come again! Here are a couple of wonderful stories from the two days:

'A 9 year old boy sat in the prayer chair and asked us to pray for his Dad, who he hasn't seen since 2006, he's in London. He also wanted to pray for his mum "because it is difficult for her to be a single mum".' Nick

'Some 9 year old boys were praying and asking God to help them forgive people. I asked them how they felt after they had forgiven them. One said "I feel free" and the other said "I felt bad but now I feel good."'

It is stories that these that remind us why we do prayer spaces and give us passion and vision to do more!"

Come on, 2012!

Posted by Phil

Phil Togwell lives in a large community house in Romford (UK) with his family (three daughters - Megan, Poppy and Angel, and one wife - Emma) and various visitors and pilgrims... exploring and experimenting with rhythms of prayer, mission, hospitality, life together. Phil is learning to cook, slowly. He likes curries, mountains, lengthy late-night conversations and reading books. He dislikes cats. Phil leads 24-7 Prayer's UK team and the Prayer Spaces in Schools team.