Hundreds of people braved cold, wet and windy conditions on Suffolk’s shores to take part in the first-ever Rosary on the Coast prayer initiative

At Felixstowe Pier over 30 people, led by Fr John Barnes of St Felix Church, Felixstowe, prayed the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.

Those who attended were also from St Mary (Ipswich), St Mark’s (Ipswich) and the religious Sisters of Jesus and Mary (Felixstowe).

Other gatherings in the Diocese of East Anglia included ones at the ruins of Greyfriars Priory at Dunwich, led by Dominican friars from Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge; and at Our Lady and St Peter Church, Aldeburgh, led by Fr Tony Rogers.

In Lowestoft, a small group from Our Lady Star of the Sea, Beccles and Kelvedon, led by Fr Paul Chanh and Apostleship of the Sea port chaplain Patricia Ezra, walked to Ness Point, the most easterly location in the UK before returning to the church for the Rosary and then to the Stella Maris Hall for refreshments.

Bishop Alan Hopes said: “Our parishes were encouraged to make their way to a location on the coast, and to say the Rosary in union with Catholics around our country’s shores, for three purposes: the renewal of the faith in this Dowry of Mary, a greater recognition in our culture of the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death, and finally for peace for our country and the world, in a time of great instability.”

England national co-ordinator, Antonia Moffat, from Walsingham, joined a group from the National Shrine of Our Lady at the beach atWells-next-the-Sea, led by Mgr John Armitage.

Antonia said: “It is clear that in a time of difficulty and need for prayer, people are looking for an opportunity for a supernatural response and a call to spiritual arms.

“Many saints have emphasised the importance of the Rosary as a powerful prayer which brings supernatural solutions. We hope to witness to the power of prayer to change lives. The Rosary is the spiritual sword for our time.”