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| 40% of Britons pray, survey shows | 40% of Britons pray, survey shows |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| People feel prayer changes their lives and over 40% engage in the activity in the UK, research has revealed. | |
| A survey of 2,000 adults shows that 42% pray to God, with around one in six praying every day and one in four praying at least once a week. | |
| After praying, 38% reported feeling "peaceful and content", 30% were strengthened and 57% said it changed what happened in their lives. | After praying, 38% reported feeling "peaceful and content", 30% were strengthened and 57% said it changed what happened in their lives. |
| Even people with no religion reported praying, with 12% praying sometimes. | Even people with no religion reported praying, with 12% praying sometimes. |
| Praying made 30% of people feel strengthened, 22% said they felt close to God, 21% said they felt reassured and safe and 19% said they felt happy and joyful. | Praying made 30% of people feel strengthened, 22% said they felt close to God, 21% said they felt reassured and safe and 19% said they felt happy and joyful. |
| 'Prayers answered' | 'Prayers answered' |
| A total of 57% of those who pray said they believed that prayer changed what happened in their life. | A total of 57% of those who pray said they believed that prayer changed what happened in their life. |
| One in three adults agreed with the statement "There is a God who watches over me and answers my prayer", according to the survey. | One in three adults agreed with the statement "There is a God who watches over me and answers my prayer", according to the survey. |
| It was commissioned by Tearfund, the Christian relief and development agency. | It was commissioned by Tearfund, the Christian relief and development agency. |
| Top prayer topics in order of popularity were family and friends, thanking God, guidance, healing and worldwide problems such as poverty, wars and disaster. | Top prayer topics in order of popularity were family and friends, thanking God, guidance, healing and worldwide problems such as poverty, wars and disaster. |
| Young people were less likely than their elders to pray, with just over a quarter - 27% - of 16 to 24-year-olds admitting ever praying. | Young people were less likely than their elders to pray, with just over a quarter - 27% - of 16 to 24-year-olds admitting ever praying. |
| The proportion of those praying rose steadily as people got older, reaching 51% of those aged 55 to 74 and a peak of 61% of over 75-year-olds. | The proportion of those praying rose steadily as people got older, reaching 51% of those aged 55 to 74 and a peak of 61% of over 75-year-olds. |
| Matthew Frost, Tearfund chief executive, said: "This report means a great deal to us in our work to help to eradicate poverty through local churches by demonstrating the prevalence and potential of prayer." | Matthew Frost, Tearfund chief executive, said: "This report means a great deal to us in our work to help to eradicate poverty through local churches by demonstrating the prevalence and potential of prayer." |