Heather Bellamy spoke with Primavera Quantrill from SPCK about their prayer posters on the London Underground and buses in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Primavera Quantrill

According to a YouGov survey 42% of British adults answer 'yes' to the question: 'Do you ever pray?' In response to this, SPCK have launched Prayers On The Move, a campaign seeking to encourage more people to give prayer a go.

Commuters across London and Newcastle upon Tyne are being invited to pray using thought provoking posters on public transport. Heather Bellamy spoke with Primavera Quantrill, the Fundraising and Programmes Director for SPCK to find out more.

Heather: Why do you want to get more people praying?

Primavera: We think prayer really helps people and so we think it's good for more people to give prayer a go.

Heather: What sort of prayers will be on these posters?

Primavera: The prayers are aimed at young stressed commuters. They're very short, so that people can share them on social media. They have mostly been specially written for this programme.

Heather: Could you give me a couple of examples?

Primavera: For example, on one of the posters is: 'My heart, it still keeps beating, but what for? Show me how to measure my life in something other than years.'

Heather: As well as this poster campaign, you've got other things going on as well. Could you tell me what else is happening?

Primavera: We have got an app, which has one minute of prayer for every day of the month. We have got a booklet, website and social media feeds. We've even got merchandise, if you fancy a tote bag with the serenity prayer on it.

Heather: The survey showed that 42% of people pray and that's more people than believe in God, or take part in organised religion apparently. Why do you think that is?

Primavera: I think a lot of people do believe in some higher power. They may be disillusioned with religion as it stands, but they do still want to connect with something greater than themselves and find meaning to their life. A lot of people find that prayer helps them to do that.

Heather: If you pray not believing in God, or knowing which God you're praying to, do you think God still answers?

Primavera: I think that prayer changes people as they pray. 'Does God answer prayer?' is a question that's a matter of faith. Personally I believe God does answer prayer, but I think everyone has to find that answer within themselves.