A church held a concert yesterday to raise money and awareness of the atrocities against the Christians of Iraq.

British born Iraqi Christian, Carl Bahoshy, was collecting money while he played the organ at 1.30pm at St John’s church in Church Lane, Leytonstone.

Mr Bahoshy is in the middle of a UK tour, currently raising over £29,000, to provide shelter and medical supplies to some of the displaced families in Iraq.

Charity Christian Aid claim that more than 1.45million people have had to flee their homes in the last year due to attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS).

There are reports of atrocities including mass killings, summary executions, rape, kidnapping and other forms of violence against Christians.

Last year the Leytonstone church made a giant loom band to raise awareness of persecution in Iraq.

This was the first free lunchtime concert of the year at St John’s and the next one has been scheduled for 1pm on March 19.