Church leaders around the UK are being urged to back an initiative to see the entire Bible read out loud in Parliament Square throughout 2018.

The #TruthToPower campaign hopes to see churches, charities and individual Christians pledge to take a day or a series of days to read a section of the Old Testament, New Testament and a Psalm or Proverb.

Rev Pat Allerton, of St Peter's Notting Hill, says he first had the idea several years ago but feels it is particularly important next year with mounting tensions over Brexit and the future of the UK.

'The country is more divided than it has been for a long time,' he told Christian Today. 'There is real disunity and fractious elements around Brexit and the future of this country and what is best for it.

'I think the Church can play a part but the Church is increasingly sidelined and muted and we don't necessarily have a strong voice in the market place. But we can act through elements of faith.

'This is one way of doing it visibly and prophetically and praying and longing for God's best for this country.'

With the final reading taking place on December 31, 2018, Allerton says he hopes it will be important spiritually as well as symbolically.

'Like Paul said in Ephesians 6, our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces,' he said.

'I think it is a prophetically powerful statement of holding out God's word, which historically has been hugely influential in this nation.

'There is power in declaring God's word and his promise out loud over your government and over the nation.'

But he also said that practically it will challenge people's preconceptions and make them ask questions.

'The UK is living in an interesting time. We are searching for our identity. We have been a Christian country in the past but I don't think we could call ourselves a Christian country now.

'Where are we going to find our values? What are going to hold on to?

'That is an interesting question. It is all to play for.'

With only about five days every month taken and just 11 days until January 1, he urged church leaders to back the idea and adopt a day a month. 

'They are already interceding for the nation and goverment on a Sunday. What about heading to the heart of where the government sits and doing something a bit more stretching and out there and quite prophetic?'

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