Under the expert guidance of the late Bishop George Appleton a selection of prayers has been made covering many centuries. It includes prayers from the Bible and from the saints and mystics from the past, as well as from the great religions other than Christian, and also contemporary prayers from different parts of the world. The cooperation of many advisers has ensured that the choice of prayers is ecumenical in the widest sense of the word. The prayers are arranged under headings such as 'Prayers from the Scriptures', 'Prayers of Christians, personal and occasional', 'Prayers of the Church', and 'Prayers from other traditions of faith', but there is also a subject index to guide the user to prayers for particular occasions, and an index of authors and sources. The book may thus be used for browsing or for more structured prayer, for private meditation or for public worship.