|PIC1|The leaders of the UK's mainstream denominations united in a service of celebration and commitment in Westminster Abbey on Friday night to mark the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

This year marks the centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which was first observed at the Friary of the Society of the Atonement at Graymoor in New York State and at St David's Church, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, in 1908.

Since then, the week of prayer has grown to become a calendar highlight for Christians, uniting the worldwide Christian community in prayer to overcome existing divisions and reconcile the broken body of Christ.

Hundreds of Christians from across the denominations were joined by Church leaders including the head of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, and the head of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Jonathan Edwards.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, welcomed believers to the service, saying, "Today we renew our call and commitment in Christ Jesus who prayed let them be one that the world may believe and be one."

The service was organised by Churches Together in England, which unites 29 member Churches or associations of Churches under one roof. It is headed by four presidents, Dr Williams, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, the Free Churches Moderator, presently The Salvation Army's Commissioner Betty Matear, and the head of the Primate of the Armenian Church of Great Britain, Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian.

Bishop Hovhannisian reminded believers that "unity is God's gift", while Commissioner Matear delivered the evening's sermon in which she urged Christians not to grow weary in praying for Christian unity or in doing good.

She highlighted the interdenominational year of mission across Britain, Hope08, reminding believers that it was all about not giving up.

"The danger of giving up and losing heart is a very real one," said Commissioner Matear, empathising with the temptation to grow weary in the midst of busy lifestyles, or in the face of unanswered prayer.

She continued, however, "Prayer is at the heart of our Christian activity and our Christian togetherness.

"Lord, teach us to pray together. We are impoverished and impaired if we don't do that."

She added, "Together we are stronger than our individual parts."

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, meanwhile, said it was nice to see so many different traditions praying and working together for unity.

He then committed the incoming General Secretary of Churches Together in England, the Rev Dr David Cornick.

"Jesus Christ, who has called us to be one, is in our midst!" he told the congregation. "As Christians from many traditions, we give thanks that the triune God has drawn our Churches closer together in faith and life, witness and service."

The week of prayer will culminate in the Global Day of Prayer launch night next Friday at Westminster Chapel.

The event will bring together church leaders from across the capital to launch the Global Day of Prayer for London, which expects to bring 30,000 Christians together in prayer for London, the UK and the world on Sunday 11 May.