“As forty churches gathered to pray 24-7 in Coventry for revival and transformation, we felt God’s heartbeat for healing and restoring our city,” writes Catherine Findley.

“Built on ancient monastic foundations, Coventry is one of the UK’s oldest cities.  She thrived around praying, missionary communities and became known as a place of pilgrimage at the heart of the country.  But when King Henry VIII tore down the monasteries and dispersed the communities, the whole city went into decline.  Today such expressions as ‘Sent to Coventry’ speak of the nation’s indifference to the city; inside, high rates of crime and social issues seem to cloud God’s destiny for her.

Into these conditions God gave us a promise and called us to pray:

“No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah[my delight is in her],
and your land Beulah [married];
for the LORD will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.”  (Isaiah 62.4, NIV)

Our vision was to restore a unified praying presence in Coventry, interceding for breakthrough and unity.  God had gone before us, and city authorities gave us three adjoining medieval cottages on the old monastic land for a month, free of charge.

Many people came to pray – long-standing intercessors, Celtic style prayer groups, Black Pentecostal churches, cell groups, young people, old people, students… The outpouring of creativity was incredible, with pictures, poems, prophecies, scriptures and all kinds of artwork and activities.  There was a real sense of hope, unity and expectation as we met and prayed with others from all across the city, and an awareness that this was just the start of God’s plan.  One lady said, “it’s better than counselling” and left with a vision to establish a prayer community among the temples in her area where people still long to meet with an “unknown God”.

God has called our city to a future filled with hope and promise, and it is clear that something significant has begun.  In fact the council has just given us a two year lease on the property (for a peppercorn rent) to establish a Coventry Prayer House!  We will continue to intercede for revival, knowing that Jesus is coming to transform our city in every sector, in every neighbourhood, making his Coventry bride ready for his return.”