Mixed-Up Chorus, a new multifaith choir launched by the Three Faiths Forum, gave its debut performance on Wednesday — at the behest of the government.

It sang at a Whitehall reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to celebrate the contribution of interfaith groups to community relations in London.

Members of the 60-strong choir span three generations, among them Elkan Presman, a lay chazan at New North London Synagogue, who sang with his nine-year-old granddaughter Yasmin.

Their repertoire ranged from Sufi to gospel and songs from South Africa. But was it coincidence that Mr Clegg made his entry just as they broke into When The Saints Go Marching In?