A CONGREGATION turned out for a church service in Bingley last night held in honour of the work of journalists and as a response to the atrocities carried out in Paris.

The service attended by dozens of people at All Saints Church in Main Street, was organised by the Rev Canon Bev Mason. It was attended by civic dignitaries including Lord Mayor Cllr Mike Gibbons and Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Roger L’Amie.

The Bishop of Bradford, Rt Rev Toby Howarth, said: “Good journalism always shows the complexity underneath events.

“The pen is mightier than the sword and we need to encourage journalists and people in the media to continue shining the light on difficult issues to get to the truth.”

Cllr Gibbons said: “I would like to thank the Rev Mason for putting this important service together to recognise the atrocities in Paris.”

Cllr L’Amie said the provision of good-quality news was always necessary to keep people informed of events.

The Rev Mason thanked the interdenominational congregation which attended and said: “We are conscious of the barbaric acts of last week in Paris at the offices of Charlie Hebdo but others too were killed or injured, Muslim, Christian, Jew and of other and no faith.”

That made “the complexities of the world we inhabit inescapable,” she said, adding: “We are standing defiantly against the hand of tyranny and evil and celebrate the priceless value of free speech and the power of the word.”

Shipley MP Philip Davies was unable to attend the service but he said that although newspapers were sometimes guilty of overstepping the mark, they should not be regulated or stifled “just because we do not happen to like them or agree with them”.

He said: “It is much better to have a free Press which makes mistakes than a Press controlled by the state.”

Telegraph & Argus reporter Chris Tate also attended the service to speak on behalf of journalists.