National Days of Prayer called at critical times of war

As we recently remembered the end of the Second World War, readers may be interested to know that the threat of invasion was so real, King George VI called for seven National Days of Prayer at critical times.

- Rev. J Williams, via email

Fear was such that on each National Day of Prayer churches were filled with people pleading for Divine intervention.

The first National Day of Prayer took place on May 26, 1940 when the British Army was trapped at Dunkirk.

People across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for deliverance and this photograph (left) shows the scene outside Westminster Abbey as people queued.

Two events immediately followed. Firstly, a storm arose over the Dunkirk region grounding the Luftwaffe which had been killing thousands on the beaches. And secondly, a calm descended on the Channel.