Members of Bradford-based JustChurch held the service, which is a key part of the Easter calendar, at the gates of Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, yesterday, to coincide with Maundy Thursday.

Group spokesman the Rev Chris Howson said: "As the anniversary falls on Maundy Thursday it felt appropriate to do this as a way of symbolising the British and American governments' need to serve the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and not to occupy them or plunder their resources.

"We have come here today saddened that over one million lives have been lost in Iraq, dismayed that over four million Iraqis have been displaced, and heartbroken that it is our own Government that so prominently backed George Bush's war for oil.

"We were lied to about the reasons for going to war, and it is the Iraqi civilians who have paid the price."

Prayers were offered for humility in governments, for them to genuinely rebuild and serve the people of Iraq and to bring home their military forces currently stationed in the country.