Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to be celebrated 18-25 January

Beginning on Sunday 18 January, churches around the world will mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity over eight days.

This year's worship materials have been created by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches.

The resources use traditional Armenian prayer and petitions, along with hymns from the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date back to the earliest days of Christianity.

The annual Week of Prayer, which first began in 1908, is designed to strengthen the ecumenical ties between denominations and encourage a sense of mutual support.

It is timed to run from the date commemorating the Confession of St Peter to the Conversion of St Paul, marked on 25 January.

Rev Dr John McPake, who is the Church of Scotland's acting principal clerk, said: "As ever we affirm the significance of prayer and encourage people to use the resources prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches.

"We recognise the truth of these words: 'Jesus Christ is our Mediator with the Father, constantly praying for us before the throne of God.' In response to the prayer of Jesus Christ, we offer our prayers.

"As we pray during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we live out our response to the prayer of Jesus that we 'may all be one…that the world may believe' (John 17: 21)."

Social media

Show your support for Christian Unity by posting unity messages and details of your events to our Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Twitter wall – simply add the #wpcuwall hashtag to your Twitter post (note there is a delay before they appear). You can also find updates about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Twitter and Bluesky by following the #wpcu2026 hashtag.

Christian Aid

Each year Christian Aid provides the Go and Do action points for each of the daily reflections – linking into the important work of Christian Aid in the relief of poverty and advocacy of justice.

Resources

Download this year's resources which have been adapted by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.