The Anglican Bishop of Harare, Sebastian Bakare, was forced to deal with riot police trying to disrupt last Sunday’s service.

The service was the first to have a full congregation in recent years, as violence by government forces against Anglicans has forced many away from the church.

During the service Bishop Bakare told riot police, who were at the altar trying to disrupt the service, “If you want to attack me, I am in your hands,” reports The Times.

Bishop Bakare was appointed in January 2008 to replace the former Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga. A supporter of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Kunonga broke off from the Anglican Diocese of Harare in 2007 and has refused to abide by a high court ruling ordering him to share churches with Anglican congregations.

Two weeks ago the Anglican churches received an affidavit from Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, which denied any police action aimed at keeping Anglicans away from churches. The affidavit called on parishioners to start returning to their churches.