THE Bishop of Oxford took to the streets on the gloomiest day of the year to offer hope through prayer.

The Right Rev John Pritchard was distributing copies of a new collection of prayers for troubled times in a bid to give people hope.

Monday, January 18, is said to be the most miserable day of the year based on the likelihood of unpaid Christmas bills, bad weather and failed New Year’s resolutions.

Bishop John, who wrote several of the poems himself, said prayer was not a quick fix.

He added: “When you pray, it is not just us worrying, but us sharing problems and issues with one who is eternally listening.

“We got the normal response, people being surprised, interested, happy to take them, and some people saying, ‘no thank you, not for me’.”

He admitted he had sometimes found himself unable to pray at the hardest moments of his life – so tried to store up prayer and faith in the good times to help him through difficult periods.

He said: “I rely on the capital of trust in God I have built up and rely on the prayers of others, but I hope I have got enough gumption to ask God for help at the bad times as well.”

He handed out 40 free copies of the book, which normally costs £5.99 from Christian bookshops, to shoppers and passers by in Cornmarket Street, and spoke to people about everything from relationship difficulties to dealing with a stillborn child.

Some of the prayers remember the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Bishop John said he had called on the diocese to do what they can to help.

He said: “It is one of the most terrible human tragedies you can imagine.

“Christians need to be releasing their pockets and their prayers for the victims of this situation.”

Prayers in the book cover work and financial issues, personal relationships, the environment, illness and bereavement.

Bishop John said he had not experienced a particularly ‘blue’ Monday and added: “I have had a good time, I enjoy meeting people and getting into ordinary conversations in ordinary situations rather than in the rarefied church setting.”

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