ALMOST 2,000 worshippers packed York Minster for a moving service in remembrance of victims of the American terrorist outrage.

Hundreds of Americans were among a tearful congregation which heard the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, brand the attack "sheer viciousness of evil".

The Bishop of Tennessee, Bertram Herlong, also gave a passionate and moving address, thanking the British people for their compassion and graciousness.

"These times are hard for us and we genuinely appreciate the compassion we have been shown by your great nation," said the Bishop, who served for seven years at St Paul's Chapel, directly opposite the World Trade Centre.

The service ended with the American National Anthem played on the Minster organ, bringing many worshippers to tears.

Retired Texan oil worker Glenn Moffitt, 64, on his first-ever overseas trip, said after the service: "I really want to be at home right now. But being at York Minster has been an emotional thing for me.

"I am overwhelmed by the support of the British. I wish the people back home could see the support you are giving us."

York MP Hugh Bayley, who attended the service, said: "The service was very moving and reinforced my faith that good is more powerful than evil, that sanity will prevail over madness and that goodwill will heal wounds between people, nations and faiths."

Dr Hope told the congregation of his grief and distress at the New York atrocities - which he compared with "Armageddon in our very midst".

He said such acts of wickedness could never be justified, no matter how reasonable or just the cause might be.

He appealed for a spirit of civility and love, despite the hatred and evil which has been so apparent.

"There can be no doubt that the sheer viciousness of evil which we witnessed on Tuesday - that corrosive evil of resentment and hatred and revenge, deeply embedded within the human heart and mind and which becomes the motivating and driving force of the zealot and the fanatic.

"Yet, however right or reasonable or just a cause may be, it can never, ever justify such acts of wickedness."

The Archbishop, who visited New York just a few months ago, also emphasised the solidarity of everyone in Britain with America.

"We are with the people of the USA in our shock, in our profound grief and in our distress," he was saying.

"America's sadness is ours. America's resolve is ours. America's determination to come through so vicious an attack is ours too - and so it must be if democracy and civilisation is to survive."

Another American, Ricchie Bucktino, in the middle of a ten -day holiday travelling across Britain with his wife, was still in tears after leaving the service. He said: "This is a very difficult moment for us all. My heart goes out to the people back home in New York."

In York, the Minster has become a centre for the outpouring of grief.

All Saints' chapel at the Minster has been set aside since Wednesday morning for people to attend, light a candle and say prayers for those affected by the tragic events across the Atlantic.

Many have visited the chapel, where Americans and Britons have sat side-by-side, united in grief.

Updated: 12:40 Saturday, September 15, 2001