Church says prayers in demand to calm finance fears

London, UK - The Church of England has found that an increasing number of people turn to its prayer website for support in the current global financial crisis, the church said Friday. A Church of England website focusing on advice to those concerned about rising personal debt had seen a 70-per-cent increase in traffic in recent weeks, the church's own website said.

The number of web users looking up the page for the daily prayer had grown by 25 per cent, with one addressing the financial turmoil proving especially popular, the church website said.

The prayer had been viewed nearly 8,000 times since it was published online in September.

It reads: "Lord God, we live in disturbing days, across the world, prices rise, debts increase, banks collapse, jobs are taken away, and fragile security is under threat. Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer: be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands, and a light in the darkness; help us receive your gift of peace, and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.