Welcome to our website! Christians in Parliament (CiP) is an official all party group with a clear vision to encourage and support all Christians who work at Westminster, whether elected or not. It is great to think that stretching back to William Wilberforce and beyond God has always had his people in this place.
You will be pleased to know that there is more Christian activity in the Palace of Westminster than generally assumed and we aim to work out our faith in these corridors of power in a way that serves the nation as a whole and supports all those who work here. There is no single blueprint for a Christian working at Westminster. It is for each person elected or working here to work out the specific calling that God has given each one. Our aim is to serve them along that journey..
CiP is open to Peers, MPs and all staff in the Palace of Westminster, and exists as an umbrella organisation for the diverse expression of the Christian faith in Parliament. We are not about events, but there are plenty of them! There are informal prayer and Bible study groups, and formal services in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, Methodist and Roman Catholic as well as Anglican. Both Houses of Parliament begin each day with prayer, led in the Commons by the Speaker’s Chaplain and in the Lords by a Bishop. Once a term, there is an evening supper reception with an invited speaker, giving us an insight into a topical contemporary issue. There are several informal fellowship groups in which members meet with each other as we grapple with all that a life in politics can mean.
Each year Westminster Hall hosts the National Prayer Breakfast, with the kind permission and active support of Mr. Speaker. We are also linked with other groups of Christians in the workplace, and overseas, often struggling in an environment more hostile to an open expression of faith than our own.
If you would like to become actively involved in praying for those serving locally in your constituency, Member of Parliament, Councillors, Police or Fire chiefs please consider finding out more about our Constituency Prayer Group initiative. Call a small group to meet together and begin to build relationships and pray for those leaders who serve the local communities.
It means a lot to us to know that many thousands of people are praying for Parliament and its work every day and we trust that the information contained on this website will be helpful and informative for you.
Gary Streeter MP
CiP Chair