WWDP

WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER IN THE BRITISH ISLES

It was in 1928, at an international missionary conference in Jerusalem, that Scotswoman Grace Forgan first learned of the world day of prayer and brought the news to these islands.

The first services were held:
1930 in Scotland. 1932 in England 1933 in Wales 1934 in Ireland.

The Second World War was a time of great growth - drawing women together in prayer and fellowship.

In 1941 the WWDP office in London was bombed and all property and records destroyed. There was no loss of life and minutes recovered from members enabled the bare bones of the first 9 years to be preserved.

Often the planning committee in London met in an air-raid shelter but every year Orders of Service were produced and supplied to the rest of the country.

It was not until the reforms of the second Vatican Council that Roman Catholic women were able to take a full part in the day of prayer and in 1967 the day was celebrated at a special service in Westminster Cathedral, by invitation of Cardinal Heenan.

In 1969 the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations encouraged Roman Catholic women worldwide to participate in WWDP and to make this possible WUCWO moved their own Day of Prayer from March to May.

In 1982 the service was prepared by the women of Ireland, both north and south.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are now over 3,000 branches holding 5,000 services every year. Last year 275,000 copies of the Order of Service were printed.

It is from such roots as these that WWDP has taken its present shape- a worldwide ecumenical movement of Informed prayer and Prayerful action.

Join women in prayer

SCARBOROUGH churches are preparing to celebrate the Women's World Day of Prayer with a service from Guyana.

Each year women from a different country prepare the service, which is then translated into other languages by the Women’s World Day of Prayer Organisation, and delivered around the world.

Patricia Mollon, chairman of the Scarborough Women’s World Day of Prayer Committee, said: “With each annual service comes something of the cultural and social problems of the particular country which has prepared the service.”

The service will be held on Friday at St Andrew’s United Reform Church, on South Cliff, from 10.30am. Children from Scarborough College Junior School will be performing at the event.