Hundreds of Christians from Wales will be gathering to pray in Swansea city centre on Sunday at 3pm.

The open air event is part of a Global Day of Prayer where millions of Christians from 220 nations will be praying for individuals, their nations and the world.

The Swansea meeting will be the only Global Day of Prayer event in South Wales. Prestatyn churches will be holding an event for North Wales and other prayer events will be taking place across the UK.

Lord Mayor of Swansea Councillor Alan Lloyd will be attending the event with his wife Lilian. He will be speaking to the crowd about how the church, city and police can work together to make Swansea a safe place to live.

Chief Superintendent of South Wales Police Mark Mathias will also be addressing the crowd.

Swansea Sound breakfast show presenter and Kevin Johns is hosting the prayer event, which will feature a mix of music and drama.

Dave Ward of Riverside Christian Fellowship, Gorseinon, is one of a number of Swansea church leaders working together under the name of 'Swansea Hope', and is heading the group coordinating the prayer event.

He said: “This is an opportunity for Christians from Swansea and other parts of Wales to stand together and pray, focusing on prayer close to home as well as across the nation for the needs facing the modern world. Prayer changes things. As well as a day of unity, it is a day for change. “

The Global Day of Prayer was started by South African Christian businessman Graham Power in Cape Town in 2001. The event has spread to all denominations and cultures across the world.

This is the second Global Day of Prayer event to be held in Swansea. Swansea churches which will be present on the day include Cornerstone Church in Penlan; Gendros Baptist Church; Life Point Church in Sketty; Linden church in West Cross; Parklands Evangelical Church in Sketty; Pantygwydwr Baptist Church, Uplands; Riverside Christian Fellowship, Gorseinon and many others.

In 2008 millions of Christians from 214 nations took part in Global Day of Prayer events which helped unite the church across the world. In the British Isles, there were around 60 events taking place in Cathedrals, churches, open air parks, on hills, up cranes, at city gates, in smaller football stadiums, at Millwall stadium in London and many more venues.

On the web: www.swanseachurches.com/directory.htm