My friends in our prayer or fellowship group, as it became known (by then about 20 strong), asked me to give a valedictory talk on Psalm 130 two weeks before my release date. The event was advertised on various noticeboards. As a result, the attendance swelled beyond the usual (Christian) suspects. Indeed, there was general astonishment when, just before I got up to speak, we were joined in the prison chapel by no less a personage than "The Big Face".

Every prison has among its inmates a head honcho called The Big Face. The term originally derives from the time when notorious criminals had their faces plastered on "Wanted" posters. Nowadays, it is reserved for the most feared and ferocious prisoner in a jail. Our Big Face was an old-style gangland boss coming towards the end of a lifer's tariff for a string of revenge killings. As the old wild west saying has it, he was not a man to go to the well with. His unexpected arrival at our fellowship group made several people distinctly nervous, not least the speaker.

I began my address by saying that this psalm had made a great impact on me throughout my prison journey. I had come to believe that it might have a great message for anyone suffering "in the depths". I mentioned that it was not only my favourite psalm; it also happened to be the favourite psalm of Augustine, Luther and Calvin. The Big Face nodded gravely at this.

Towards the end of my exegesis, I noticed that The Big Face was visibly moved. Tears were trickling down his cheeks as he listened in deep concentration. As I finished with a prayer, he joined in with a booming "Amen". A few moments later, he drew me aside. "Jonno, that there psalm was beautiful, real beautiful. Got to me 'eart, it did," he said. "And I want to ask you a favour. Do you think you could come over to me peter [cell] on A wing tomorrow night and say your piece over again? I got a couple of me best mates it would mean a real lot to."

I may have looked a little anxious at the prospect of spending an evening in the company of The Big Face and two of his closest associates. Sensing my hesitation, he enlarged his invitation: "And Jonno, to make yourself feel comfortable, why don't you bring a couple of your mates along with you? I mean, 'ow about bringing those geezers you said liked the psalm so much - Augustus and wotsits, too, if they're friends of yours on B wing."

Although I was unable to produce St Augustine, Calvin and Luther as my companions, Psalm 130 went down well second time round in The Big Face's cell.

Psalm 130:1 {A Song of degrees.}

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

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