A PROMINENT religious figure has urged residents to come together as Brexit reaches a pivotal point.

The Right Rev Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, has joined the archbishops of Canterbury and York in calling for communities to join together in conversation and prayer.

In a letter to all clergy in the Diocese of Chelmsford, Bishop Stephen encourages churches in Essex and East London to mark March 29 – the scheduled date for the UK’s departure from the European Union – by joining in a national prayer initiative of five days.

He also encourages to the public to host informal café-style meetings over the weekend to bring people together to have an open discussion.

Bishop Stephen said: “Brexit will be a cause of celebration for some and lament for others, but one thing is clear – we can no longer continue to define one another by how we voted in the referendum.

“The time has come for communities to come together to serve the common good, in our nation and in our relationship with the rest of Europe.

“Whether or not it yet becomes the day on which the UK leaves the European Union, March 29 will be a significant moment in the national consciousness. To assist with this, the national church has produced a set of prayer resources and some suggested conversation starters.

“I encourage you to do all you can to encourage prayer and conversations within and across communities during this time.”

Bishop Stephen can be joined at Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday, March 30, from 9am.