Pentecost Festival will launch on Saturday 11 May with a prayer gathering in front of Parliament.

Hundreds of Christians are expected to meet in Parliament Square for "Pentecost 7:14" where they will pray for London, the nation, and the world.

Organisers want the gathering to be a "creative and visual expression" of the Christian faith and message of Pentecost.

Joining the gathering will be the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres.

He said: "The Holy Spirit continually surprises us by breaking out of the familiar and leading us into new and unexpected places.

"I hope and pray that this year's Pentecost Festival will encourage us to celebrate the great variety of the Spirit's working through the glorious diversity of our life in Christ."

The time of prayer will be followed by a Pentecost worship service in Methodist Central Hall with artists like Rend Collective Experiment, Noel Robinson, Graham Kendrick and Guvna B.

Other special guests include the Reverend Martin Turner, Lord Paul Boateng, and Pastor Marcos Ravelo.

The event will be hosted by Pentecost Festival director Andy Frost.

He said: "I am looking forward to helping commission the scores of events across London that will help communicate the timeless message of Jesus relevantly.

"During the worship service we will be commissioning all the local missional events that will take place across London in celebration of the Church's birthday between 10 and 19 May 2013.

"The Pentecost Festival team are also delighted that other regions across the UK will be hosting similar Pentecost Festivals, as far off as the Wirral and Halifax, all under the banner of the 'Biggest Birthday Party Ever'."

Tickets for the Release the Spirit at Pentecost concert at Methodist Central Hall are priced £7.95 and can be bought online at www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/booking