A Christian prayer house has opened in the city of York, offering a space for anyone to come to pray or be prayed for. The Well Prayer House, located in the beautiful medieval church of St Cuthbert’s on Peasholme Green, was launched last weekend with an opening prayer weekend. Led by a team from St. Michael le Belfrey (The Belfrey), who is responsible for St Cuthbert’s, the prayer centre is now open weekly to the public as a welcoming venue for prayer and reflection.
The Well Prayer House will be routinely open to the public every Thursday from 9.30am-7.30pm for anyone wishing to come in to pray privately or to ask for prayer. It will be a facility for the whole city, for the congregation of The Belfrey and for other churches. There are many prayer rooms that have been fitted out following different themes, including: prayer for the city, for answered prayers, a bible reading room, for communion, for art, and for lament (grief and disappointment); as well as two general prayer rooms. People can pray quietly individually or with others, using any of the many spaces available within the church, or they can ask for prayer from a member of our experienced prayer team.
The Well opened last weekend with an opening 46 hour non-stop prayer weekend that saw many members of the public come in, along with students coming back for tea, toast and prayer after a night out!
The Grade 1 listed church of St. Cuthbert’s offers a beautiful space for quiet prayer and contemplation, lending itself perfectly to that of a prayer house, housing nine small rooms as well as a central worship area. One of the oldest churches in York, St Cuthbert’s was built during the 15th century, with evidence of a church being on the site since the 1st century and currently incorporating a wall from the 11th century. It was used as a parish church up until the 1970s when its parish was combined with that of The Belfrey, and later transitioned and adapted for use as church office space. It has been a prayer house periodically over the past decade, mainly used by the congregation or other churches, but has been closed for the past six months for a pause and re-organisation.
The Reverend James Congreve-Horn, Curate at The Belfrey, who is leading on the initiative, expressed his joy at the opening of The Well Prayer House, saying: “We are thrilled to see The Well open, continuing St. Cuthbert’s legacy as a place of spiritual significance in York. It is a venue where all are welcome to come as they are, to pray or be prayed for, no matter what is on their heart. Our aim is that through Jesus, this safe space will offer peace, transformation, and hope, providing a place of comfort and quiet reflection for all who seek it.”
Looking ahead, James shared the vision for the future: “The Well will initially be open to the public one day a week, offering a tranquil centre for prayer and worship in the city centre, being just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Parliament Street. We plan to build upon our opening hours in time and like a well in the heart of a village, we aim for the prayer house to be a place of community where people return time and time again to be restored, refreshed, and transformed.”
The Well Prayer House is open every Thursday, from 9.30am-7.30am, for anyone to come in to pray or request prayer. There will be short prayer services at 9.30am, 12.30pm and 6pm, with informal prayer time inbetween. Situated in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PW
