Britain’s Prince Charles has warned that the future of Christianity is under very real threat in the Middle East.

The Prince of Wales made his comments during a meeting with refugees from across the Middle East hosted by Westminster’s Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

“There is a very real crisis that threatens the very existence of Christianity in its place of origin,” Prince Charles warned, adding, “Christianity is not a foreign religion in the Middle East. It has been part of the Middle East for 2,000 years.”

The Prince went on to warn that the Christian heritage of the region “is under threat as never before. The Churches are being targeted by fanatics. The impact that this violence has had on people is heart breaking. This is a reminder of what people will sink to in the name of faith.”

He urged all to pause during Advent and to pause and think “of that part of the world where the Word was made flesh”.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Nichols said that the British government’s plan to relocate 20,000 displaced Syrians in Britain runs the risk of “discriminating” against Christians as there is UN-backed refugee centres are being favoured over those backed by Churches.

Christians are frightened to go to UN camps because of the presence of militants in the camps.

Acknowledging that the adverse effect on Christian families hoping to escape the Syrian conflict is an “unintended consequence”, Dr Nichols said it nevertheless was “a point of deep concern” for Christian Churches currently assisting in the region.