People came to pray for Mr Bigley

Mr Bigley, 62, of Liverpool, was taken from his house in Baghdad last week, along with two Americans.

The Rev Trevor Latham opened St Mary's Parish Church in Walton on Tuesday evening after watching live television footage of the hostages.

"The people have all come together to support each other and to pray for the family," Rev Latham said.

The visitors lit candles and tea lights at the church.

At a time like this they can't just go and knock on the door Rev Trevor Latham

"Loads of people came," he said.

"They needed to come so that something within them could be released.

"At a time like this they can't just go and knock on the door."

Mr Bigley was kidnapped along with US citizen Jack Hensley and American Eugene Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong was beheaded on Monday by a group demanding the release of Iraqi women prisoners.

The second of his fellow captives, Mr Hensley, was reported killed by an Islamist website at about 2000 BST on Tuesday.