MORE than 600 people attended a talk in Dorset by Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad.

Hundreds of people turned out to the event at Purbeck Secondary School to hear him talk of his experience promoting reconciliation in the Middle East.

And more than £7,000 was raised for his charity, the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.

Canon White has won a number of awards, including the Anne Frank Award for religious tolerance in 2014.

He was also named the UK’s number one Christian for 2014.

Organiser Reverend Anni Douglas said: “The amount of people who attended was just incredible. He was an amazing speaker.

“It is the most terrible situation in Iraq at the moment, there are hardly any Christians or Jews left because they are being persecuted.”

Canon White was pulled out of the post in October following fears for his safety.

He told the audience in Purbeck of a man who was forced to choose between converting to Islam or being killed.

Canon White recounted how he told the man that God will forgive him, as He knows what is in the heart. But IS forces captured the man’s children, killing them when the children said that they loved Jesus.

Rev Douglas said: “This is the kind of thing that is happening daily in parts of the Middle East.

“The Canon White is such a powerful speaker. He is now based in Bethlehem.”