Following the referendum result the Bishop of Exeter said, ‘We are at a real tipping point in the life of our nation, in terms of our place in Europe and in terms of what we want our country to be.’ He added that whether we are elated or depressed we need to unite and move forward against a background of a divided nation. Large numbers of ordinary people feel that their concerns have been ignored. There is a divide between London and Northern England, and between England and Scotland. Our largest political parties are ripping themselves apart in acrimony and recrimination. The cost is being counted, and not just in finance.’ However, he also said that first and foremost we must resist being controlled by fears, continue to make this country a place of tolerance and welcome, and work across national boundaries to build a safer, more united future.

At this time of uncertainty we can pray. ‘Father, we ask You in the name of Jesus to release a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation over our land. We ask for Your anointing on the Church as never before so that we can declare your blessings upon the United Kingdom. We pray that You will bring about forgiveness in people’s hearts for the words that caused offence, fear or anger and in the name of Jesus, we speak healing and reconciliation into every generational and political divide, either historical or recent. Father, we ask You to pour out a new spirit of respect, love and cooperation across political and generational divisions. We pray for the Church to carry and model Your message of reconciliation and unity with sensitivity; and we call out the spiritual fathers and the mothers God has prepared for such a time as this.’

The National Police Chiefs Council said that hate crime has increased by 57% since the referendum. Cardinal Vincent Nichols said Catholics must stand together with migrants to create and fashion a society that works toward the common good. There are 850,000 Polish people in Britain. Racist graffiti was left on the entrance of the Polish Social and Cultural Association in west London. In Cambridgeshire laminated cards saying ‘No more Polish vermin’ have been posted through letterboxes. In Newcastle people have been confronted by racist banners. The cardinal said, ‘If a victory in a referendum remains a point of division, then we become weaker as a nation and do not play a part on the international scene tackling the world’s problems, which are great and challenging.’ The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has called for people to respect the outcome of the referendum and to act with ‘mutual respect and civility’.

After talks in Berlin this week, the leaders of Italy, Germany and France have ruled out any informal talks with Britain on leaving the EU, raising the prospect of a lengthy political vacuum within the EU. Pray for God to dispel anger and selfish ambition from the spiritual and emotional atmosphere of the 27 nations. Over the past week the media has been suggesting that European political chiefs will take advantage of Brexit by unveiling a long-held plan to morph the continent’s countries into one ‘giant super-state’. Pray for God to thwart any plans rooted in mammon and for the wellbeing of all areas of society to be well thought-out by politicians. This week the US secretary of state, John Kerry, visited the UK to  meet David Cameron and the foreign secretary Philip Hammond. He urged all EU leaders not to ‘lose their heads’ and take revenge on the UK after its decision to leave, saying there is a need for ‘wise choices’ or else the pressure for EU disintegration will intensify.