Nearly 1,000 people packed Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford last night for a multi-denomination service and concert to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Called Remembering Slavery, the free concert featured singer Jacqui Dankworth - daughter of jazz musician and composer Sir John Dankworth and his wife Dame Cleo Laine - Black Voices and the Blackbird Leys "Singing Estate" choir.

The service was conducted by the Bishop of Dorchester the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher.

Schoolchildren read a list of names of people involved in the abolition of slavery, and those who died in Africa and at sea while being transported across the Atlantic.

The Black Voices gospel choir and children sang negro spirituals.

A representative of Oxford's Jewish community, university lecturer Jeremy Montagu, gave readings from the Old Testament Book of Micah.

Imam Monawar Hussain, from the Oxford Muslim community, read from the Koran and there were readings from the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner.

One of the organisers of the service and precentor at Christ Church Cathedral, Mary Bide, said afterwards: "It was a remarkable and joyous celebration enjoyed by so many people.

"Slavery was a terrible blot on the history of the world and should not be forgotten. The trouble is the fight is not yet over because there is still people-trafficking going on in the world today causing such misery."