Prison Bible studies are changing lives
Peter Cunliffe
I will never forget my first time inside a prison in 2015 as a chaplaincy volunteer. After nearly 35 years in business, being surrounded by convicted criminals was far outside my comfort zone.
At that time, the prison population in England and Wales was 86,193. By September 2024 it had reached an all-time high of 88,521. By mid-2025 it stood at 88,087, supported by the Government’s Early Release Scheme. Fears of a “revolving door” proved unfounded, but HM Inspectorate of Prisons reported another concern: because of staff shortages, many prisoners were spending excessive time locked in cells. This limited their access to education, development, and spiritual growth - all vital for rehabilitation.