Liverpool: Tony Blair, Archbishop Kelly at interfaith service for Ken Bigley

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw took part in an interfaith service for Ken Bigley at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Saturday. Mr Bigley's wife Sombat, his brother Paul and mother, Lil, with his 10-year-old niece, Hannah, and other family members were joined at the service by about 300 people who signed a condolence book at the end of the service. Hannah sang 'Safe in the Father's Hands', accompanied by the cathedral's Centenary Girls' Choir. Members of all faiths were welcomed and there were readings from the Koran. Later Mr Blair read a passage from St Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Prayers were said for the family, people involved in the Iraq violence and the US hostages killed along with Mr Bigley, Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley. The Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Archbishop Patrick Kelly, gave an address in which he called for peace and reconciliation between all the faith communities. (see text) The Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, the Right Rev Rupert Hoare, read a message from former Middle East hostage Terry Waite, who apologised for being unable to attend. Mr Waite said: "I salute the Bigley family for their dignity and courage and for their determination not to be defeated by this tragedy. "May God continue to give them his peace and may we do all within our power to bring peace to this troubled world."