Prisoner's Sunday October 12th 2025

“I was in prison, and you visited me”

What is Prisoners’ Sunday?

Prisoners’ Sunday is an opportunity to consider how we, as individuals, as a Church, and as communities, are serving our brothers and sisters affected by imprisonment.

Our prisons are in crisis. There are record numbers of people behind bars. Inspectors regularly report instances of vermin, violence, self-harm and people languishing in cells with nothing to do. At the same time, too many people are released with no home, no job, no family and no hope.

The ripple effects of this crisis are felt well beyond the prison walls. The lives of hundreds of thousands of families and children are affected as they, too, serve a hidden sentence. Having a mother, father, husband or wife in prison can have a devastating impact – more than half of families tell us they are struggling to afford the basics for themselves and their children.

This year, Prisoners’ Sunday takes place on 12 October, but you can mark the occasion on a day that suits your parish calendar. Your support will help women and men in prison and their families to make a fresh start.

Prayer for Prisoners

We pray your grace Lord Jesus for prisoners and their families,
who walk their sentence with their loved one.
We pray your healing Lord for the trauma that has caused them
to hurt themselves, their families, and their victims.
We pray they will turn to You and begin their journey of
recovery, finding compassionate support in our Christian society.
Jesus, we trust in you. Amen.