LEADERS of the Church of England and the Methodist Church in North Yorkshire will meet this weekend for the second time in two years.

The synods of the Church of England York diocese and the Methodists' York and Hull district will meet at Askham Bryan College, York, on Saturday.

The two first met in 2000 when they resolved to affirm and support the growth of closer relationships between Anglicans and Methodists across the region covered by both - approximately bounded by Northallerton, Scarborough, Hull and Selby.

The April 2000 meeting further resolved that joint meetings of the two synods should take place at least every two years.

Saturday's meeting will include a report and discussion on progress towards formal covenants between the Meth-odist and Anglican churches at various levels. The Mowbray Deanery, which groups Anglican churches around Northallerton and Thirsk, and the Thirsk and North-allerton Methodist Circuit are already at an advanced stage in agreeing a local covenant, while the churches nationally are due to debate a proposed covenant later this year.

The meeting will consider an outline proposal for a cov-enant specifically between the York and Hull Methodist District and the Diocese of York.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, and the chairman of the York and Hull District, Dr Stuart Burgess, will both take part, and delegates are expected from the Roman Catholic, United Reformed and Celtic Orthodox churches and the Society of Friends.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, the Most Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, will also address the joint synod.