We are hoping to see a wave of prayer across the diocese in 2026. There are a number of things being planned for 2026, many of which will take place locally. There are a few ways in which we hope to see linking up across the diocese, which has come out of listening to deanery leaders.
Prayer boxes
Caroline Deakin, Area Dean of Locking has provided the inspiration for creating prayer boxes with resources and ideas for creating prayer spaces in a variety of contexts. If your deanery would be interested in having a week of prayer then please contact your Archdeaconry Assistant. If you would like more information please email prayer@bathwells.anglican.org.
- Bath Archdeaconry. Tamsyn Richardson-Aiken. 01749 685278. tamsyn.richardson-aiken@bathwells.anglican.org
- Wells Archdeaconry. Stephanie Smith. 01749 685147. stephanie.smith@bathwells.anglican.org
- Taunton Archdeaconry. Alison Cruickshank. 01749 588906. alison.cruickshank@bathwells.anglican.org
Pilgrimage
Jane Durham, Assistant Area Dean, Glastonbury, was one of the deanery leaders who shared a passion for pilgrimage as plans for the year were discussed. We want to hear about pilgrimage routes and destinations around the diocese so that we can begin to share them, connect people up and share learning about all the great things that are happening. If you have a pilgrimage route or destination locally, please let us know by completing this simple form. We will then gather the information we receive in 2026 so that we can work out how best to share the growing network of pilgrimage routes that exist.
Hear more from Jane and Caroline in the Year of Prayer edition of the Manna Mailing
Share your stories
Please e-mail prayer@bathwells.anglican.org, give us a call or post your prayers, pictures and stories of prayer on our 2026 Prayer online noticeboard hosted on Padlet.
We will be tagging stories about prayer on the diocesan social media channels using #YearofPrayer.
Feel free to use the prayer hands graphic in any prayer activities you are holding throughout the year.
Download the prayer hands graphic.
Lent 2026 - and learning about prayer
We have been asked about Lent Courses. We don't offer a 'diocesan' Lent Course because contexts vary so much. However, if you are looking for courses that fit the prayer and the Lord's Prayer focus then you might want to take a look at the following for Lent or indeed at any point in the year.
- Praying through Lent using the Lord's Prayer - produced by the Bath and Wells God Team, this collection of simple ideas can help people of all ages pray through Lent.
- Lord's Prayer - 5 weeks' Small Group resources from Faith in the North
- Teach us to pray - Lincoln Diocese Lent Course 2025
- Pilgrim Course - The Lord's Prayer
- 24/7 Prayer courses - including on Lectio (5 sessions), Be Still (5 sessions), Origins (8 sessions for 11-16 yr olds), The Prayer Course (8 sessions)
- Draw Near: Life-giving habits for Lent - the Church of England's 2026 Lent resources for all ages
Who to contact
The team coordinating the 2026 focus on prayer
Julia Hill Head of Mission Support and Ministry Development