PARISHIONERS at Christow Parish Church were greeted with the sight of a picture standing in the children’s corner of the church.

The painting, which portrays a group of child refugees, drew the sympathetic attention of the congregation and is the work of local theological folk artist Canon Robin Murch who was taking the Sunday service that week.

Canon Murch said: ‘I wanted to draw attention to the plight of these children and ask for people’s prayers for them.’

‘I read press reports that the Jungle camp in Calais was soon to be demolished. There are 1,000 young people stranded there, 400 of whom have families in UK, yet are unable to join them.’

As a small gesture of action Canon Murch is taking the picture to all the services he will be leading.

He said: ‘Charities and many good people are working on this. Lord Alfred Dubs, who was a child refugee in 1938, raised the issue in the House of Lords recently.’

Canon Murch explained to the congregation: ‘This stalemate and crisis must soon be resolved. I am asking people pray earnestly and urge the powers-that-be take action.’