A fifth of non-believers turn to prayer in a crisis or out of habit, poll finds

Around 24 per cent of non-religious people surveyed say they prayed 'as a last resort'

Some 20 per cent of people say they occasionally pray despite not being religious (iStock)

As many as one in five non-religious people pray to God, a study has found.

Just over half of all adults in the UK pray at least sometimes and are increasingly likely to call on God for help when engaged in activities such as cooking or exercising.

But only one in three of these people say they still regularly pray at a place of worship as most people pray before going to sleep or incorporate it into their daily activities.

Some 20 per cent of the 2,069 adults surveyed by ComRes for Christian aid charity Tearfund said they incorporated prayer into their daily routine by doing so when performing household chores or cooking.

A further 15 per cent pray while travelling and 12 per cent pray during exercise.

Family was the subject of most people’s prayers with 71 per cent of respondents saying they have thought about loved ones, followed by 42 per cent of people who say they pray to thank God. Prayers for health and for friends also featured in the prayers of 40 per cent of respondents.

Among the non-religious, personal crisis and desperation tends to be what prompts most people to pray with 24 per cent of respondents saying it was a “last resort”.

A further 32 per cent said they prayed “on the off chance something could change” while three per cent said they did it simply as a “matter of routine”.

Rachel Treweek, the bishop of Gloucester, told The Guardian: “We should not be surprised by these recent findings, which reflect human longing for the mystery and love of God amid experiences of daily life.”

Meanwhile, Isabelle Hamley, chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury, said prayer is “primarily a line of communication with God – thinking, reflecting, bringing one’s concerns and worries into a bigger picture. Prayer can involve requests, but it’s unhelpful to see God as a heavenly Santa.

“Many people are driven to pray at some point in their lives, even if they are not religious. Praying spontaneously is about reaching out.”