THE British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, has assured church leaders that he is willing to meet them at any time to help the peace process along.
The churchmen had called for the restoration of the ceasefire.
Four church leaders, the Catholic Primate, Cardinal Cahal Daly, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, the Presbyterian Moderator, the Rt Rev Dr John Ross, and the Methodist President, the Rev Christopher Walpole, met Mr Major at Downing Street as part of a series of meetings connected with the peace process.
Following the meeting Dr Daly said that while huge difficulties remained, he believed that everyone should enter the process for all party talks.
"Everyone should take part in a process where all substantive issues will be discussed."
Dr Eames was encouraged by the meeting. He believed Mr Major would put in place the appropriate structures so that "the peace we all desire can be made a reality".
Dr Walpole urged the reinstatement of the IRA ceasefire and added that difficulties lay ahead.
Dr Ross said it was a useful meeting. It provided an opportunity to state the concerns of the churches and encourage the Prime Minister to make positive steps to move the peace process forward.
The church leaders last met the Prime Minister together in Downing Street in 1992. Contact had been maintained, however, through meetings with Mr Major in Northern Ireland and by delegations representing individual churches meeting him in London.