The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has been met with shouts of “Israel, Israel!” and “Palestine!” during his 24hr Wave of Prayer trip to Somerset.

Archbishop Justin was visiting St Michael’s Without Church on Friday 6th September, when protestors holding signs such as ‘Silence is Violence’ gathered.

The Archbishop spoke with protestors about their concerns, saying he was “terrified” of the conflict escalating.

He recounted a conversation with England’s Chief Rabbi : "I met him with the Cardinal Archbishop in London and we both said to him- [it was] a very peaceful conversation but very direct - 'you've got to think about the West Bank. This can't go on.’

“What's happening.. is an absolute catastrophe and will lead to another intifada.' And I'm terrified of that."

The Archbishop will visit Palestine later this month.

One protestor told Somerset Live: “Our hearts are broken every day by the genocide happening before our eyes, aided by our government. Life cannot continue as usual.

"We need to see leadership from our national church and for the Archbishop of Canterbury to speak out prophetically against this genocide and why it must stop. It is to be hoped that now the archbishop has started to speak up he will continue to do so.”