As the title suggests, a permanent prayer space is one that’s available for people to use throughout the school year. It may be in the corner of a classroom, in the hall or a space set aside in the library, or even in a designated room.

Depending on the type of school or college, the prayer space may have a clearly Christian character, or be designed for people of all faiths and none.

The best permanent prayer spaces are ‘curated’, that is, looked after by a chaplain or someone from the local church who can make sure the space remains welcoming and that any prayer activities are updated regularly. If it’s big enough, the permanent prayer space is sometimes used as a venue for lunchtime groups who are exploring their faith.