Throughout 2025, Churches Together Around Tadley (CTAT) have committed to be a part of an initiative called ‘Pray Tadley’. This was initially an Advent project, but the community decided to continue the project over the coming year.
CTAT really is one of the best things about ministering here. The local CoE, Methodist, RC, URC and Community Churches, together with the Salvation Army, work so well together to put on a huge number of joint events to witness to the local area.
Revd Karen West
Assistant Minister, Benefice of Tadley with Pamber Heath and Silchester
Resident Priest for Silchester
Just before Advent, the group of churches that made up CTAT were shocked to find out that 1 in 5 children in their local schools and communities were thought to be experiencing some kind of trauma. Alongside this, young people and adults in the Tadley area were likely to be experiencing hardship also.
Churches Together Around Tadley therefore decided to implement an initiative directed at the community as a whole, using the four weeks of Advent to pray for these communities, asking that God help them to experience hope, peace, love and joy.
The geographical area was divided up into 10 distinct sections, and in each area one or two coordinators were appointed to pray for their patch in whatever ways they thought appropriate. For instance, Revd Karen West, alongside one of local URC church leaders, covered the area of Silchester, and undertook a weekly prayer walk to cover the parish boundaries, pausing to pray for the people who live and work there. Revd Karen also delivered copies of the Advent prayer leaflet to houses local to her, and encouraged people in the church family to do the same, offering contact details to anyone who wanted specific prayers.
From this initiative, ‘Pray Tadley’ has developed, which includes printed prayer cards, letting the people of Tadley and the surrounding villages of Silchester and Pamber Heath know that they are being prayed for.
These cards, which you can see below, were distributed at Sunday services this month, stating that the local church community are praying for lives to know hope, peace, love and joy, as well as asking for specific prayer requests.
Churches Together Around Tadley’s plan is to make 2025 a year of prayer in their communities. They intend to keep praying and see what God does!
