The first multi-faith service in the long history of London's Westminster Abbey was held on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the July 7 suicide bomb attacks on the British capital.

Representatives from nine major religions attended the event at St Margaret's Church, which lies in the abbey's grounds opposite the Houses of Parliament.

The service was the brainchild of Khalid Hameed, the first Muslim to be elected as High Sheriff of Greater London, now a largely ceremonial post historically upholding law and order on behalf of the monarch.

Speaking before the service, Hameed said he decided to organize the event to send out a message that "we will not be intimidated by terrorists, we will not be intimidated by radicals." "We intend to live life together practising whatever faiths we wish to in harmony and at peace with each other," he said.

Canon Robert Wright, from St Margaret's Church, said he hoped it would "encourage understanding, courtesy and harmony between people of differing faiths by underlining the respect for our fellow human beings that is shared by all religions."

The abbey, which dates back to the 13th century, will be open today for the public to pay their respects at the Innocent Victims memorial. Morning prayers will be followed by a national two minutes' silence.

An abbey spokesman said before the service: "We have never, ever had a multi-faith service. It is the very first one. There will be readings from the scriptures of the various faiths... It will be as all embracing as possible."

Source: China Daily