Brown hails 'conscience of country'

The Prime Minister hailed the "redeeming power of faith" and said the forthcoming official visit of Pope Benedict would make this a special year for the UK.

"Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar because it is when we reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus," he wrote.

"Christians all over Britain and the world will be celebrating in their homes and churches and thinking about the redeeming power of faith.

"This year we have particular reason to celebrate as 2010 will see the first official visit of His Holiness the Pope to Britain and also the fifth anniversary of the Gleneagles G8 summit where Christians of every denomination were instrumental in securing greater justice for the poor.

"The Christian churches are the conscience of our country, always ready to bear witness to the truth and to remind us of our responsibilities to what the Bible calls 'the least of these'.

David Cameron seized on the Easter story to speak of the hope of a "new dawn".

"No matter what faiths we follow, we can all draw strength from Christ's message of hope, of a new beginning and a promise of a new dawn," the Tory leader said.