We’re running three summer prayer walks this year. Ideal for those who love praying in central London, and exploring more of the city’s spiritual and historical significance.
City of Westminster Walk: 7pm – 9.30pm, Tues 09 July, @Westminster Abbey
A Westminster prayer walk through this royal and holy city, exploring the history of the English monarchy, the growth of the Westminster system of government, and an opportunity to pray for the current Prime Minister, Cabinet and batch of MPs. Sights include Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, St James’s Park, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.
Westminster began with a small church in the marshy area of Thorney, on the banks of the River Thames. Over time the church became a Benedictine monastery, and then an abbey. It received royal patronage when the royal family built a palace next door. And so this place of worship became the seat of royal power, and remains the centre of political power in the UK. View on Facebook.
City of London Walk: 7pm – 9.30pm, Mon 15 July, @Tower of London
A London prayer walk through the historic core of the City. Travel back in time to Roman Londinium, Anglo-Saxon Lundenburgh, medieval and early modern London, right up to the modern, global financial centre that is the 21st century Square Mile. Sights include Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Bank of England, Guildhall, the Stock Exchange and St Paul’s Cathedral.
The City of London, also known as the Square Mile, is both the oldest and the most modern part of central London. It was first settled by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago as a trading centre on the River Thames. Abandoned for a couple of centuries by the Anglo Saxons, it was resettled by Alfred the Great as Lundenburgh, a fortified city to help fight off the Vikings. The City today is a major business centre, and an international capital of finance, insurance and banking. View on Facebook.
William Wilberforce & Abolition of Slave Trade Walk: 7pm – 8.30pm, Wed 24 July, @Royal Exchange
A Wilberforce prayer walk through the heart of the City of London, exploring some of the key places involved with the slave trade and its abolition. Sights include the Bank of England, St Mary Woolnoth, 2 George Yard, Jamaica Coffee House, the original Lloyds Coffee House, and Lloyds of London.
William Wilberforce fought an eighteen year parliamentary campaign to get the transatlantic slave trade abolished. And while the battleground for this fight was the House of Commons in Westminster, the vested business interests that Wilberforce fought against were based in the City. The West Indian traders based in Jamaica Coffee House and the officials of the East India Company were the ones who opposed the abolition, and it was they who Wilberforce finally prevailed against. View on Facebook.
Mark Williamson also blogs regularly at One Rock International, a training organisation resourcing missionary leaders across the globe. He’s passionate about good films, good food, getting into deep conversations, and going for long walks with his wife Joanna.