News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Buckingham-Palace-concert-for-Aid-to-the-Church-in-Need-May-2018-main_article_image.jpg
Weenson Oo/picture-u.net
UK News

Buckingham Palace hosts concert helping persecuted Christians

Birgitte, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, attended the concert within the ballroom of the royal residence in central London.

The event highlighted the work of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity supporting believers living under pressure for their faith around the world - particularly in the Middle East.

UK National Director, Neville Kyrke-Smith said: "This concert is a great sign of support, not just for Christians in the Middle East, but for all communities who are trying to rebuild and who want to deepen bonds of trust and understanding."

Also in attendance was the leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the UK Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawood and Syriac Orthodox priest Father Aphram Ozan.

The two choirs also performed at an Evensong service led by Canon Paul Wright, Sub-Dean for Her Majesty's Chapels Royal at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace.

The Royal Family

ACN has been helping support 120,000 Christians and other communities forced out of the Iraqi areas of Ninevah and Mosul by Islamic State (IS).

With IS now driven out of those places, the charity is focused on helping families return to their homes - by rebuilding houses, churches and clinics.

In neighbouring Syria, ACN has been offering emergency and pastoral help to families in areas worst affected by violence - including Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.

Top picture: Left to right Neville Kyrke-Smith, National Director at Aid to the Church in Need (UK), Syriac Orthodox priest Father Aphram Ozan, Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawood leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the UK, Father Nadheer Dako a London-based Chaplain of the Chaldean Catholic Community, and Father Dominic Robinson SJ a Chaplain to Aid to the Church in Need (UK) and Superior of Farm Street Jesuit Community, London.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate