Caroline Spelman MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, said Mrs May's faith "shaped her personal and political outlook".
The Home Secretary will take over from David Cameron this evening. He will take his last Prime Minister's Questions in parliament before visiting the Queen to resign.
Theresa May will then be invited to meet Her Majesty and asked to form a government.
After the expected nine-week leadership campaign was truncated to just a couple of days by Andrea Leadsom's withdrawal from the contest, Mrs May now must appoint a new Cabinet as she takes the reins of power.
Caroline Spelman told Premier she was hoping to keep her role working with the Church: "I'm hugely enjoying being Church Estates Commissioner, it's got a very wide range.
"I feel I've been able to help the Church in a number of ways in bring my own cabinet experience to bear in tackling the government over some things that we need to get sorted out and I hope that I may continue in post."
Speaking about her friendship with Mrs May she said: "She has a very strong sense of social justice.
"Right from the beginning you could see that from her approach and you can see that now in her determination, her vision for our country, that we've got to build a society that works for everyone.
"Theresa has spoken about how her faith continues to shape her personal and political outlook and I hope that this continues to stand as a source of strength for her.
"She needs our prayers at this time."
After presenting herself as the unity candidate, Mrs May is expected to offer senior posts to leading figures from both the Remain and Leave camps from the EU referendum, in which she backed continued membership but kept a low profile.
Listen to Caroline Spelman MP speaking to Premier's Antony Bushfield:
