About us – OUR HISTORY & VISION

October 2020: Click here to read exciting news about part of our developing Vision. 

Originally affiliated to 24-7 Prayer UK, in 2015, Chelmsford 24-7 Prayer, now City Prayer,  was started as initiative to bring together, ‘As One’, the Christians of our City through prayer and our mutual love of  Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

We have sought to purposefully pray that the Good News of Jesus will be taken out into our communities, causing transformation, blessing and revival to our City.

We have seen ourselves as ‘Catalyst’, working in partnership with local Churches and Christian organisations, especially Christians Together in Chelmsford (CTiC).

Where did the vision come from?

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David Gilbey has lived in Chelmsford all his life, and since 1980, been a committed Christian. In 2011, he ‘retired’ after 30 years service with Essex Police. For several years before this, he believed that God had something significant for him to be involved with, in his City.
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August 2014 David attended a Christian summer camp where he clearly heard God call him to start a city-wide Christian prayer movement in Chelmsford.
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With the blessing and subsequent commissioning of his own Church, he immediately left his employment with a local social housing provider to pursue this vision. Early in 2015, a Steering Group and a supporting prayer team was formed with Christians from around Chelmsford.
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2015 – We launched!
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March 2015, Chelmsford 24-7 was launched with a City and District wide Week of 24-7 Prayer. An estimated 300 people, from over 40 local churches, local Christian groups and organisations signed up online to pray in 1 hour time slots. All 168 hours of the week were filled.
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Prayer Space at North Avenue URC in 2016

Looking beyond, David then heard God speak about creating ‘portable Prayer Spaces’,  where resources were transported and set up at different churches, to guide prayers, for a few hours at a time on various days.

Stepping out

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Prayer Walk in ‘The Bunny Walks’ Chelmsford January 2017

Prayer Walking has made us a visible presence in our City Centre and Communities, seeking to bless and pray for the The Kingdom of God to come to our streets.

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At the Retreat House open day, Pleshey, May 2017

Our Prayer Tent, has also been taken to community events during the Spring and summer months. 

Other initiatives

Chelmsford 24-7 Prayer has also initiated and been involved with other prayer and outreach initiatives around Chelmsford. Details can be found here.

Page updated October 2020

The Christians of Chelmsford praying for our City, Nation and World