A British cathedral has held a service in Farsi to cater for the growing Iranian population – in a first for the Church of England.

Bishops used a new Persian-language translation of Holy Communion in the “historic” service at Wakefield Cathedral in Yorkshire.

The congregation of about 450 heard the new Farsi liturgy and joined in hymns and prayers in both English and Farsi.

The service was led by the Iranian-born Bishop of Loughborough, the Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani, whose brother was murdered for being a Christian in the country’s revolution.

Her family then fled Iran when she was just 14, in 1980.

Revolution in Iran: In pictures Show all 11 1 /11 Revolution in Iran: In pictures Revolution in Iran: In pictures A demonstration against the Shah in 1979 Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Armed women on guard in one of the main squares in Tehran at the beginning of the Iranian Revolution Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Demonstrators hold a poster of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in January 1979, in Tehran, during a demonstration against the Shah AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Iranian rebels pose with a U.S. flag they bayonetted upside down on trees at Sultanabad Garrison northeast of Tehran on February 12 2019 AP Revolution in Iran: In pictures A gun battle in Khorramshahr during the revolution, 1979 Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters demonstrate in the streets of Tehran against the Shah among tear gas. The "black friday" caused the death of 200 people according to the Iranian government, 2000 according to the opposition, September 8 1978 AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Women wearing the traditional Chador demonstrate in the streets of Tehran against the Shah on September 7 1978 AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Demonstrators in Tehran calling for the replacement of the Shah of Iran during the Iranian Revolution, 1979. They carry placards depicting Ayatollah Mahmoud Talaghani, one of the leading revolutionaries Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters demonstrate in the streets of Tehran against the Shah. The "black friday" caused the death of 200 people according to the Iranian government, 2000 according to the opposition, September 8 1978 AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Thousands of the Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters on the streets of Tehran calling for the religious leader's return in January 1979 Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures The Iranian Islamic Republic Army demonstrates in solidarity with people in the street during the Iranian revolution. They are carrying posters of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iranian religious and political leader Getty

The Church of England said the Farsi translation was launched to help growing numbers of Iranians in congregations who are learning English.

Bishop Francis-Dehqani, whose role focuses on supporting black, Asian and ethnic congregations, said: “We’ve had, over the last few years, over 75 clergy contact us to ask how can we best help to integrate the Iranians who we find are coming to our churches.

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The former BBC radio producer added: “So in this liturgy we’re formally recognising a minority community as part of our wider body and crucially enabling Persian Farsi-speaking people and English-speaking people to worship alongside one another.”