Open Heaven is a prayer walking initiative that began in 2020 in the city of Coventry, uniting churches from every denomination, network and stream, to prayer-walk every street, as we believe to see God move here for His glory.
Following several months of prayerful conversation among a number of Church leaders in Coventry, Open Heaven first ran in June 2020, during the first lockdown, using a specially developed App which enabled users to earmark streets and then show them as ‘covered’ once they’d been prayed. Over a thousand Christians from across the city united and every street, crescent and cul-de-sac was prayed over.
The following year - in June 2021, as Coventry embarked upon a year as the UK City of Culture, and the nation came out of lockdown, we took to the streets once again to prayer walk every street - lifting up the powerful Name of Jesus.
The united prayer movement in Coventry continues, through the City Praise & Prayer initiative. In May 2022, we gathered for ‘City Praise & Prayer in the Ruins’. Through this, around 1500 Christians from across the city and region met for a powerful time of worship and prayer in the Cathedral Ruins, to declare God’s rule and reign over our city, and this nation. We continue to meet twice a year for City Praise & Prayer, and you can find out further details on this initiative by visiting: www.citypraise.org
Endorsements
Here you can find some of the endorsements we received in support of Open Heaven.
Bishop Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry
“Open Heaven 2020 was a great blessing to the city and the churches. With the country recovering from the long effects of Covid and with Coventry City of Culture getting underway, Open Heaven 2021 has vital work to do for the Kingdom of God. I hope all the Christians of Coventry, with the support of all the churches of Coventry, will be covering all the streets of Coventry with prayer, and calling out for heaven to open with all the blessings of Christ.”
CANON TOM FARRELL, CATHOLIC DEAN OF COVENTRY
‘‘As Coventry begins its year as the UK City of Culture it is an opportunity to pray for all the people of the city and to pray that this year will help us to appreciate the gifts and talents of so many people. The last year has brought many challenges and we hope that this year may bring some joy and happiness and help us to celebrate many of the things we have taken for granted in the past and now realise are so precious. As we walk the city streets in prayer let us count our many blessings and rejoice in the many aspects the make our city so special.’’
ROY CROWNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOPE TOGETHER
‘‘When churches come together it is one of the most exciting, transformational pieces in a city. And as once again, we seek to prayer walk with the Open Heaven project, I can’t wait to see what God will do. People praying all over the city, on every street, is an amazing God appointment - particularly with the significance of the City of Culture 2021. Let’s recognise the spiritual transformation that will happen through our prayers. I encourage everyone, everywhere to be a part of this.’’
