Their father was so special that even the Queen wants to have a memorial service for him and the others who died

Maureen Maddison

In his sermon, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey condemned acts of terror but called for good to come out of evil.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and actress Dame Judi Dench read at the service.

Archbishop Carey said: "There are, of course, no adequate words for the shameful and evil deeds of 11 September."

'Heal wounds'

He told the congregation that one innocent life lost was one too many.

"Let us work sincerely and even-handedly for justice - the justice that may bring the balm of peace to those open wounds that deface our dealings as nations, peoples and communities.

"But whatever good we bring forth from the events of 11 September, nothing and no cause can justify its barbarity."

He urged religions to put their own "house in order".

Relative request

Caroline Burbank, whose British fianc� Geoffrey Campbell died in the WTC, told the BBC: "It's good that almost three months after the facts, people still realise the significance of the events and want to show their respects".

Dame Judi Dench was asked to read a poem

During the service, Dame Judi Dench read the 19th Century poem Remember by Christina Rossetti on the request of relatives.

And Mr Blair read a lesson from the New Testament.

Later the Queen along with relatives of the Britons who died, placed flowers on the Memorial to Innocent Victims at the Abbey.

Among the relatives was Maureen Maddison whose 40-year-old British husband Simon died in the WTC.

She flew in from New Jersey with her three children to attend the service.

Her husband, who was originally from Harlow, in Essex, worked on the 103rd floor of the north tower as a consultant for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Her children Caileigh, 7, and Kyle, 4, presented a posy to the Queen as she arrived at the West Gate.

Ahead of the service, Mrs Maddison said: "The real importance of presenting the flowers is about them knowing that their father was so special that even the Queen wants to have a memorial service for him and the others who died".

Former US President George Bush was among those who attended the private remembrance service, as did Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the US ambassador to Britain, William Farish.

The US emergency services and representatives of companies such as Cantor Fitzgerald, joined in the service.

It is now thought some 3,600 people from 51 countries were killed in the hijacked plane attacks on New York and the Pentagon, and in another hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Britain is planning a permanent memorial to the victims.

The families of the victims were expected to discuss these plans over a lunch organised by the British government.