A prayer meeting is, as its name describes, a meeting of people for the purpose of prayer as a group. Prayer meetings are normally conducted by one or more members of the clergy.
Prayer meetings usually occur at churches on days other than the normal day of worship (usually Sunday), and are sometimes scheduled weekly, often on Wednesday evenings. Church members are encouraged (but not generally required) to attend, and the public is usually welcome.
Prayer meetings may also be called as singular events and at public places, and often are during times of common crisis or concern. Public prayer meetings often represent more than one religious faith.
In the years before widespread news media, prayer meetings were also used to share news and information (including firsthand accounts) about the events leading to the meeting being called, and ways to deal with changing circumstances. While this continues, the impact may be less on the public, though perhaps not on the faithful, than in the past.