A church which held an interfaith ceremony with Muslims and Christians now hopes to reach out to other religions across the city.

About 60 people from different religions turned up at a joint service at Harris Manchester Chapel, in Mansfield Road, Oxford, on Sunday. The service included a Muslim call to prayer in both Arabic and English, Christian hymns and readings from the Koran.

Now the Unitarian chapel plans to include the city’s Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities in its services.

The Rev Peter Hewis, of the chapel, led the regular Sunday morning service. He said: “It went really well. There were Muslims, Christians, people open to different denominations and those interested in co-operation between religions, which is what we wanted.

“Often the media give the impression that people of religion are fanatics but these were thoughtful people who want co-operatation between religions.

“The more we share things, the more we understand each other – and if everyone did that we would have world peace.

“It is a wider spirit than just Sunday, and hopefully will be reciprocated across Oxford in the future.This is the second time we have had Muslims here at our service and we are planning to have Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists at ceremonies next year.”

The service was shared between the Muslim Education Centre of Oxford (Meco) and the Unitarian congregation based at Harris Manchester College.

The congregation was treated to a call to prayer from Dr Hayrettin Ozturq in both Arabic and English and a reading by Dr Taj Hargey, of Meco.

The service also featured a minute’s silence, the lighting of candles, Christian hymns and readings by Mr Hewis. Children were also treated to a separate multi-faith service.

Dr Hargey said: “It was a great session and we had around three times as many people than we thought we would. We had people from all walks of life and many were moved by the sermons and the service.

“We are prepared to work with any religion to promote and show that we have common ground. Some of the Muslims had never even stepped foot inside a church before so singing the hymns was something very new to them.”

Mr Hewis plans to visit Meco’s congregation in North Oxford for a similar shared service next year.