Jonathan Aiken visits the Diocese for Prisons’ Sunday

Prisons’ Sunday on 11 October marks the start of Prisons’ Week, which invites us to remember people who are often out of sight and easily forgotten.

For more than forty years, churches across the country have used this week to pray for all those affected by the criminal justice system: prisoners, their families, victims of crime, prison staff, chaplains, volunteers and all who work to bring hope and restoration.

On Prisons’ Sunday this year, the Revd Jonathan Aitken will be visiting Worcester to speak both in the Cathedral morning service (10.30am) and also at St Helen’s Church in Fish Street at 2pm.

Jonathan’s journey from a high-profile political career to time spent in prison for perjury, to his ordination and current role as a priest and part time prison chaplain at HMP Pentonville is a remarkably transformative one. His afternoon talk will be on the subject ‘From Prisoner to Prison Chaplain to Prison Reformer’.

The event has been organised by the diocesan Criminal Justice Affairs Group which seeks to promote awareness of criminal justice issues.

When we hear the word “prison”, it can be easy to think only of those serving sentences. Yet the impact of imprisonment reaches much further. Families can be separated, relationships strained and futures left uncertain. Victims continue to live with the consequences of crime, while prison officers, chaplains and support workers carry significant responsibilities each day.

Prisons’ Week encourages us to hold all these people in our prayers and reminds us that prayer should move us towards action. Whether through volunteering, supporting families, writing letters, offering practical help or simply challenging stigma, we can all play a part in building communities of hope and restoration.

Find out more about Prisons’ Week

Download a poster of the Jonathan Aiken talk to display in your church