Methodists and fellow Christians from across the North-East will gather in Weardale on Sunday to celebrate a special date - the 250th anniversary of John Wesley's epic journey through the Weardale valley. In the second part of his special report, John Hobbs looks at the lasting legacy of that journey through the teeth of a gale to bring the Gospel to the farthest corners of the kingdom.

METHODIST minister Les Hann has only ridden a horse once in his life. But tomorrow, he will saddle up for a historic ride, re-tracing the last stage of John Wesley's first visit to Weardale.

Hundreds of visitors are expected at the tiny chapel at High House to see Mr Hann arrive at the thorn tree where Wesley preached his first sermon in Weardale on May 26, 1752.

The minister, who cares for the nine Methodist congregations in the dale, will be followed by members of the Kids on Sunday children's group, based at High House.

The organisers have even laid on a special bus service for the day.

Mr Hann, dressed in a black cloak and large floppy hat, like John Wesley, will ride a black fell pony called Sledal Gem, lent to him for the day by the Alston and Killhope Riding Centre.

"I'm assured he's a pretty placid mount, so I shouldn't have any problems," said the minister, who came to Weardale from the Shetland islands. "I've only ridden a horse once before in my life and I have been looking forward to this day with some trepidation."

The original plan was for Mr Hann and followers to ride the five miles or so "across the tops" to the chapel at Newbiggin, in Teesdale, which is holding a Wesley memorial service in the evening.

"I thought this was just a bit too far for someone who's a complete novice on horseback," said Mr Hann.

Instead, he will ride from Ireshopeburn about half-a-mile to High House.

Helping to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Wesley's first visit to Weardale has given Mr Hann time to reflect on the present state of the Methodist church in the dale.

Wesley preached 13 times there, inspiring the large population of small farmers and lead miners to build chapels in a fervour of Methodism. They became not only centres for worship, but places for education and a range of social activities.

At one stage, in the mid-1800s and early 1900s, there were 22 chapels in Weardale.

Historian Ralph Featherstone recorded in his book, Weardale Man and Manners, in 1840: "The High House on a Sunday afternoon - were it not for some regular sleepers, and they are not a few - is a spectacle worth beholding; here you may see assembled from 600 to 1,000 good-looking, fresh coloured, and well dressed persons."

Today, there are just nine chapels - one of them shared with the Anglicans at Rookhope. On an average Sunday, all nine share a total congregation of about 140.

Both Methodist and Anglican leaders are pleased with the pioneering merger of the two churches at Rookhope, started two years ago, although, they admit there is still a long way to go before further link-ups.

In bad weather they have even worshipped together in private houses at Rookhope. Wesley preached most of his early sermons in both Teesdale and Weardale in private dwellings.

Les Hann is keen to see the development of children's groups such as Kids on Sunday. But church leaders are ready to admit that there will be no return to the heady days when Methodism was a supreme passion in Weardale.

But the spirit today is still willing.