The Church of England’s ruling body called this week on the Government to “do all it can” to support the protection of religious minorities in Nigeria.

In an address to General Synod, the Bishop of Durham the Rt Rev Justin Welby said violence in Nigeria had become “pervasive”.

“We are here to consider the fate of a church that in the north of Nigeria is systematically, deliberately and progressively being eliminated,” he said.

While he acknowledged that some attacks were being committed against Muslims, he said the “vast majority” of the violence was being directed at Christians.

Bishop Welby called upon Christians to pray for peace in Nigeria and for greater support for those working to end the violence.

He said: “We call for a prayer for peace with equity for all the people of Nigeria and we call for support for the vigorous, wonderful, imaginative, determined, courageous people of Nigeria, that our government will help them where they seek help and above all we will support them.

"For there is no place on this earth lonelier than being the victims of mass attack in a nation so often forgotten by our media.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, followed the address with an assurance that the Church was seeking to "intensify" its support for Christians in Nigeria.

"The Church will be delighted to see us and hear from us," he said.

"They need our prayers, they need tangible tokens of our solidarity."

Christian Today