PECH Prayer Diary - User Guide#
Welcome to the PECH Prayer Diary App 📱
This guide will help you install and use the Prayer Diary app on your device. The app is designed to support our church's prayer ministry by providing daily prayer calendars, updates, and urgent prayer requests.
Table of Contents#
- Installation
- Getting Started - Registration
- First Login & Email Verification
- Completing Your Profile
- My Preferences
- Navigating the App
- Using Touch Gestures to View Other Days
- App Features & Benefits
- Troubleshooting
Installation#
The Prayer Diary app works as a web app that can be installed on your device for the best experience. It works like a regular app once installed.
📱 On Android#
- Open Chrome Browser or your preferreed web browser on your Android device
- Go to prayer.pech.co.uk
- Look for an "Install App" button in the address bar or a popup message
- Tap "Add to Home Screen" or "Install"
- The app will be added to your home screen with an icon
📱 On iPhone/iPad (Safari)#
- Open Safari on your iOS device
- Go to prayer.pech.co.uk
- Tap the Share button (square with arrow pointing up)
- Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
- Tap "Add" to confirm
- The Prayer Diary icon will appear on your home screen
💻 On Desktop (Chrome/Edge)#
- Open Chrome or Microsoft Edge
- Go to prayer.pech.co.uk
- Look for an "Install App" button in the address bar
- Click "Install" when prompted
- The app will be installed and can be launched from your desktop or start menu
Tip: Installing the app gives you the best experience - it works offline, sends notifications, and feels like a native app!
Getting Started - Registration#
When you first visit the Prayer Diary, you'll need to create an account.
Creating Your Account#
- Open the Prayer Diary app.
- Click "Sign up" at the bottom of the login form
- Fill in the registration form:
- Full Name: Your complete name as you'd like it to appear
- Email: Your email address (you'll receive important notifications here)
- Password: At least 6 characters long
- Confirm Password: Re-enter your password
- Click "Sign Up"
Waiting for Approval#
After registering, your account needs approval from a church administrator:
- You'll see a message confirming your registration has been submitted
- An administrator will be notified of your request
- You'll receive an approval email when your account is ready.
- The approval email will contain a 6-digit authorization code - keep this safe!
First Login & Email Verification#
Once you receive your approval email, you can log in for the first time.
The Verification Process#
- Open the app and click "Log In" (not Sign Up)
- Enter your email and password
- You'll be prompted to enter your 6-digit verification code
- Enter the code from your approval email
- Click "Verify Code"
Important: This verification code is only needed on your first login. After this, you can log in normally with just your email and password. You can also stay logged in on your device so that you can directly open the app when needed.
If You Can't Find Your Code#
- Check your spam/junk folder for the approval email
- Contact your administrator if you can't locate it
- You have 5 attempts to enter the code correctly
Completing Your Profile#
After your first successful login, you'll be directed to your profile page to complete your setup.
Required Profile Information#
Fill in these details on your profile page:
- Full Name: Should already be filled in from registration
- Photo Tag: Names of people in your photo (defaults to your name). For couple/family photos, enter all names here
- Profile Picture: Upload a photo from your device or take a new picture using your camera
- Do not list in Calendar: Check this box if another family member has already registered with a family photo, or if you don't want to be included in the daily prayer calendar
- Message: Optional details about specific prayer, praise, or a greeting you may want to share.
Content Delivery Options#
Choose how you'd like to receive prayer content:
- App + Email: Receive content both in the app and via email
- App Only: Only view content within the app
Notification Preferences#
In the Notification Preferences section, you can choose:
- Yes, please send a notification message: You'll receive push notifications for urgent prayers and updates (your browser will ask for permission)
- No, I will find the messages in my email or in the app: No push notifications
Completing Setup#
- Fill in your desired information
- Choose your content delivery and notification preferences
- Important: You must accept the GDPR Data Privacy Notice to continue
- Check the box "I agree to the data privacy policy"
- Click "Save Profile"
My Preferences#
Once you've completed your initial setup, you can customize your app experience through the "My Preferences" settings.
Accessing My Preferences#
- Click on "My Details" in the top navigation (person icon)
- Select "My Preferences" from the dropdown menu
Display Options#
Theme Settings
- Light Mode: Classic bright interface with white backgrounds
- Dark Mode: Easier on the eyes with dark backgrounds and light text
- System Default: Automatically matches your device's current theme setting
Photo Display
- Large Photos: Bigger profile pictures in the daily prayer view for better visibility
- Small Photos: Compact profile pictures to fit more content on screen
- Choose the size that works best for your device and viewing preferences
Remember to click "Save Preferences" after making any changes to ensure your settings are applied.
Tip: Dark mode can help save battery life on devices with OLED screens and may be more comfortable for evening prayer times!
Navigating the App#
The Prayer Diary has three main sections accessible from the "Hamburger" menu or navigation bar:
📅 Daily Prayer#
- Shows prayer subjects for today
- Includes church members and prayer topics assigned to today
- Each person has their photo and specific prayer points
- Updates each day with different people/topics
📰 Prayer Updates#
- Weekly prayer summaries and updates
- News about answered prayers and ongoing needs
- Archive of previous updates
🚨 Urgent Prayers#
- Time-sensitive prayer requests
- Immediate prayer needs that arise
- May trigger notifications if enabled
Navigation Tips#
- On desktop, click on any section in the top menu to switch between areas
- On mobile, you will see a hamburger menu (≡) instead of full navigation
Using Touch Gestures to View Other Days#
One useful mobile feature is the ability to browse prayer calendars for different days using simple swipe gestures.
Swipe Navigation#
When viewing the Daily Prayer section:
- Swipe left on the prayer screen to view tomorrow's prayer subjects
- Swipe right to view yesterday's prayer subjects
- The date at the top shows which day you're currently viewing
Date Picker Alternative#
If you prefer, you can also:
- Tap on the date at the top of the Daily Prayer section
- Choose any specific date from the calendar picker
- Tap "View Prayers" to see prayer subjects for that date
- Tap "Return to Today" to get back to today's prayers
- Or, tap "By Person" and enter a name to find that person in the calendar
Mobile Tip: Swipe gestures work anywhere on the prayer content area - just avoid swiping over buttons or links!
App Features & Benefits#
Works Like a Native App#
Once installed, the Prayer Diary:
- Appears on your home screen with its own icon
- Works even when you're offline (for previously loaded content)
- Loads faster than opening a website
- Doesn't take up browser space
App Shortcuts#
On some devices, you can:
- Long-press the app icon for quick shortcuts
- Access "Daily Prayer", "Updates", or "Urgent Prayers" directly
- Pin frequently used sections
Privacy & Security#
- Your data is securely stored and encrypted
- Only approved church members can access the app
- Admin approval is required for all new accounts
- You control what information you share
Troubleshooting#
Can't Install the App#
- Make sure you're using a supported browser: Chrome, Edge, or Safari
- Try refreshing the page and looking for the install prompt again
- Check your browser settings - some browsers block installations by default
Login Issues#
- Check your email and password are correct
- Look for the verification code email in your spam folder
- Contact your administrator if you haven't received approval
App Not Loading#
- Check your internet connection
- Try refreshing the app using the refresh (circle) button in the top navigation
- Clear your browser cache if problems persist
Notification Problems#
- Check browser notification permissions for prayer.pech.co.uk
- Ensure notifications are enabled in "My Preferences"
- On mobile, check device notification settings
Profile Issues#
- Make sure you've accepted the GDPR notice before saving
- Try refreshing the page if changes don't appear
- Check that required fields are completed
Getting Help#
If you continue having problems:
- Contact your administrator
- Provide details about:
- What device and browser you're using
- What error messages you see
- What you were trying to do when the problem occurred
Last updated: September 21st 2025