As Christians continued to express their disappointment over the abortion vote in Parliament this week, many are renewing their determination to speak up on behalf of the unborn child.

MPs in the Commons voted on Tuesday to retain the upper legal limit for abortion at 24 weeks. Motions to introduce a 20-week limit were defeated by 332 to 190 votes, whilst proposals for a 22-week limit were dropped by 304 to 233.

"We have lost this battle, but we must continue to speak up on behalf of light and truth in this nation. We must not give up for the sake of the children," said Andrea Minichiello Williams, Public Policy Director at the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship.

Ms Williams called on the church to step up its engagement with pro-life issues.

"The church and the nation need to be aroused from slumber regarding pro-life issues. Perhaps now that it is clear just how bad it is we might do so," she said. "We need to keep praying."

Earlier in the week, CARE's Director of Parliamentary Affairs, Dan Boucher also appealed to the church to start speaking out on pro-life issues.

"May 20th 2008 was a very bad day in the history of our nation," he said. "I hope that it will serve to provoke Christians to engage in the public square with greater energy and wisdom and that God will turn the tide."

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, said that the abortion vote would come as a disappointment to people of all faiths and none.

"But this issue will not go away," he added. "Whilst the law affects attitudes, it does not in itself compel anyone to have an abortion. Even without a change in the law there is much we can all do to change the situation."

The Cardinal called for pro-lifers to work together to reduce the rates of abortion in the UK.

"There are many people on all sides of this debate who agree that 200,000 abortions a year is far too many, and abortion on this scale can only be a source of profound sadness and distress to us all.

"Abortion is not only a personal choice. It is also about the choices our society makes to support women, their partners and families who face difficult decisions.

"For the sake of our common humanity, and the lives at stake, we must work to foster a new understanding and approach to relationships, responsibility and mutual support.

"Even without a change in the law we can and should work together at least to make abortion much rarer."